Electrical System Problems of Ford Escape - part 1

Back up camera glitches, shows images upside down, or not at all. This has been happening for at least 6+ months. Component has not been inspected. There is a current recall on edge and expedition in the same years as mine but the Escape was not included in in the recall.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Escape 🔎.

My Ford currently has 80k miles on it with no accidents and all recalls fixed by the dealer. This morning when I was driving my kids to school, a light I've never seen appeared on the bottom right hand side of the drivers screen. The light was a red triangle with an exclamation point inside of it. Not long after I noticed the light, we started to smell something burning and our car began loosing power. I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. I googled the meaning of the light. Apparently, it was a "stop safely now" light. The various reasons online could not pinpoint any reason I could come up with. I popped the hood, checked the oil, coolant, and I checked that the hybrid battery located in the trunk had a good connection. Everything was fine, as far as I could tell. When I restarted the car, after about 15 mins of investigations and online research, the light was gone and so was the smell. However, now I am super nervous to drive this car on the highway. What if that light comes on again and I loose power when all the cars around me are driving 70 mph? the chances of getting rear ended and seriously hurt are a very real possibility. What if my kids are in the car? I'm scared.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Escape 🔎.

When using automatic start stop I get a message to put in park and restart.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Escape 🔎.

Vehicle has active alerts for powertrain control module, and low boost pressure with the turbocharge along with emissions codes p0299, p0496 and p0456. The vehicle is constantly going into deep sleep mode. While driving the vehicle started to enter safe mode. And displayed an alert that said please turn ignition on. The dash and screen went black like vehicle was off but it was still running. This happened multiple times. My vehicle also will not start after pumping gas so I have to leave vehicle running every time I pump gas. My vehicle will not pass NY state inspection because of the recalls.

My car is having a coolant intrusion/ head gasket failure. There is a recall already for my car which was code csp 21n12 for this issue. Yet when I put in my VIN for csp coverage it shows no recalls for my vehicle. I have a 2017 Ford Escape eco boost 1. 5l. It matches the make , year, and engine for the problem. My car is misfiring, white smoke from exhaust from cold start , and having coolant loss with no dripping on the ground.

My adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, pre collision warning all quit working and just flash across the screen, my light indicators for blind spot on my side mirrors quit working, my back up camera just has a bluescreen, there is no audio so no alerts can be heard and my sync doesnt work it has the screen but wont let you hear anything so yes I drive a bit away to work not having these features has been a major safety concern I have almost backed into someone because they were in my blind spot and no warning lights or warning sounds I have perviously went to a dealership for four active recalls they only look at the powertrain one there was one about spot welds nothing was done about either they broke like within the first few months of me having the car I have never received anything on extending my warrenty partly because I moved I guess but they basically told me when I was there for the recalls I would have to come back and pay for them to look at the rest which I said I wasn't aware that I had to pay for something that was a safety concern so then I contacted the place where I purchased the car that was 2 weeks ago they still have not contacted me back after several attempt and no response I then got on chat with Ford gave them a list of what was going on and they have yet to respond either but it was read just being ignored at this point and I'm at the end of my patience these are major safety issues I haven't even had this car a maybe a year if that and no one care to help I was told there was nothing wrong with anything basically I would have to wait for something to happen when I went for the recalls.

Stop /start button would kill the car would need a jump. Coolant leak in engine blew a gasket. Need a new engine. 54,000 moles on a 2019 fors Escape.

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Around the 38,000 mile mark on our 2020 Ford Escape we received many different errors (awd fault, abs, advancetrac service, hill assist, etc). I found out via NHTSA and other forums that this is a common issue in the vehicle from the awd module, and although it is awd related, it is not eligible for the powertrain warranty per Ford because it is an electrical component. I declined the $1200 repair at the dealership so I could first call Ford customer service, at the recommendation of the dealership, though the service tech did mention it is a safety concern because the abs is apparently also controlled by the awd. After a couple different calls to Ford, they have refused to acknowledge that it is a manufacturer defect, or pay for the repair. With no help from Ford, I have no other option than to file a complaint here. Based on other resources online, the issue seems to stem from improper grounding of the wiring on the awd module.

All the tpms sensors have had to be replaced on the Escape with under 51k miles on them. The Ford dealer admitted this is a serious safety issue and have had numerous complaints.

I was driving the car and I was having issues with it shutting off when I was driving the car it shut off in the middle of me driving and it just wouldn't move after that until a tow truck driver came and gave me a jumpstart that happened a number of times, but in the middle of traffic was the worst and very dangerous when my kids are in the car.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph with the cruise control activated, the brakes engaged independently. The contact stated that while attempting to start to vehicle, the radio displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. A warning light was illuminated; however, the contact was unable to state which warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and remained for nine days, and was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

My 2020 Ford Escape hybrid experiences complete electrical failure - battery saving mode followed by total power loss. Ford has published technical service bulletins ssm 49990 (NHTSA mc-10199655-0001) and ssm 49574 (NHTSA mc-10187983-0001) addressing this exact issue through abs module programming. However, both my local Ford dealership and Ford customer service claim these documented tsbs do not exist in their systems. This appears to be systematic denial of safety-related warranty repairs for a known defect. According to my research, some of Ford owners could receive a 8 year hybrid component warranty through these tsbs. It seems to be a typical pattern for Ford to avoid warranty procedures by denying tsbs. I have records of the calls. I cannnot upload it from this page.

Around Aug. 3, I noticed that when I drove, the interior lights would not turn off. When the car was off, they went out as they should. But every time I started the car they came on and would not turn off. It made it very difficult to drive went it was getting dark. The dealership confirmed that it wasn't the knobs inside the car that were causing this problem. Later, I took it in for them to find out what was wrong. I scheduled an appointment and dropped off the car. That was Aug, 7. Today is September 1, and I have no idea when I might get my car back. Apparently, it needed a 'body control module'. They got a new Ford part, put it in and it solved the problem with the interior lights, but nothing else was working. They tried a second new, Ford part with the same results. So, I've been without a car, I have had a rental for a week, but will be turning it in, too expensive for me. I need a car I work mornings. What are my options now? it only has 52,000 miles. And while I am the 2nd owner, it belonged to a friend that I lived with and took care of and was the primary driver. How long before they should say we can't fix it?.

Obd communication with emissions and state safety inspection. Ford knows -- will not fix under recall.

Hazard flashers turn on by themselves any rime night or day even while driving. Transmission oil cooler leaks. Transmission shift lever bushing in shift cable broke [ thankfully while not on the road ] this car only has 25,000 miles on it.

See all problems of the 2008 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle for the state inspection, the contact was informed that the gateway module of the vehicle was not communicating, preventing the inspection from being performed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the gateway module needed to be reprogrammed. The contact was informed that a fee would be charged for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford campaign number: 22n15 (gateway module reprogramming for inspection and maintenance (I/m) testing); however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the campaign. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 45,160.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Escape 🔎.

Warning lights coming on and staying on unless I press ok on steering wheel. Warning lights are: pre-collision assist not available, and fault service required, and off, and traction light comes on and stays on.

This vehicle has had multiple issues with starting. But now there’s a “steering assist fault” that clearly Ford is aware of but has decided that manufacturing this vehicle anyway was the way to go. The vehicle won’t start again now because of this issue. What happens is the vehicle loses its assisted steering and sometimes while driving which is extremely dangerous.

The car won’t shift into the intended gear. The car stalls as well. The transmission fault service now light is on.

Rear view camera doesn't work. Ford just recalled a bunch of 2015-2019 vehicles for this exact issue but the Escapes didnt get a recall. I have been having this issue for a few months now. The screen with go blue or black and then say no camera available.

I am the owner of a 2020 Ford Escape. My vehicle falls under the recall dealing with defective fuel injectors. The dealership preformed the suggested service or installing the drain tube and updating the software. I’ve been noticing that my vehicle has a slight hesitation while accelerating in speed and I would periodically smell the strong scent of gasoline, but no check engine or warning lights ever come on. Here recently while driving, my car started slowing down unexpectedly by itself and started idling extremely rough, almost like a tractor and the check engine light came on. I pulled over in the nearest parking lot, turned the car off and looked under the hood but didn’t see anything out of the norm except a small wet spot on the engine cover and there was the slight smell of gasoline. I didn’t think anything of it because I had recently had my oil changed and thought it was probably just a slight spill from there they and refilled the engine oil. I was able to restart my car and everything seemed to have went back to normal. I was able to drive my car to the nearest auto part store where they were able to run a diagnostic scan to see why my check engine light was on. The scan pulled two error codes: the first one being p0302 which is a cylinder 2 misfire, and the second one being p3402 which is a cylinder 1 deactivation/intake valve control circuit performance. I called Ford to see what could be done and they informed me that there was currently no fix for my vehicle. And when asked what I should do the person on the phone told me to “drive the car until it was inoperable”. Which is absolutely crazy to me!.

When I push the driver window down and when I want to roll it up. The driver window don't go up I have to play with button by pushing it up and down for about 5 to 10 minutes. I have to keep pushing the button up-and-down or turn my car off, open my door it takes a minute for it to go back up. The passenger window goes up and on its on like for example I want to let the window up it comes down by itself. Ford has fixed the driver door panel for the window, but it's doing the same thing. My tire system, it doesn't give me the tire pressure. And when I put gas in my SUV, my engine is revving up-and-down, and it cuts off. And when I'm driving, he doesn't want to go I have to push on the gas to make it go. But as far as the window, I have issues with that every single day ever since Ford fixed my SUV. And the gas, every time I put gas in my SUV make like it wanna shut off, and it do shut off. Sometimes when I put my foot on the gas after pumping gas. This is a ongoing procedure for me. This happens every single day, and every time that I put gas in my SUV. This has been going on for about six months or more.

I purchased this 2018 Ford Escape in August 2022 from richmond Ford. Within 2 days to a week I noticed fault indicators stating check engine, failed auto stop and start malfunctioning. I immediately reported this issue. Richmond Ford put me in a loaner for approximately 2 months to only remedy the problem with a new battery. This has happened for 3 years. I’ve had 4 batteries replaced even recently after having extreme high heat engine failure fault while in traffic with my grand children in the car and had to be towed. My engine has faulted several times and always shuts down in the middle of traffic. This issue could have killed me and my grand children and other vehicles. Richmond Ford kept replacing the battery and charging me for other things. The technician and general manager has claimed it’s nothing wrong but kept replacing the batteries. 4 times. My life and my grandchildren have been in danger several times while driving on the highway and local streets. Today richmond Ford says it’s that I need a new engine because antifreeze has intruded into the engine blowing head gaskets, mind you it was just there on June 23 of 2025 or so for engine malfunction fault extreme high temp no antifreeze and the only band aid that was offered was yet another new battery. Then today I was advised that it will cost $14,000. 00 plus to replace my engine. There is definitely a problem and should recall this model 2018 Ford Escape sel because the manufacturer has fixed the notification system and or the faults to not warn owners of major engine failures which cost thousands to repair and is always covered up by replacing the battery. Please add this make and model to the recent recall. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Escape 🔎.

All kinds of warning lights come in and stay on, which a lot of people are having the same issue which is due to a faulty sensor module. . I almost hit a truck who pulled out of a parking lot once I was on top of him ( was trucks fault) and no warning lights were functioning properly. There's also a recall for a fuel injector issue that Ford is taking their sweet time to remedy, but technically I'm driving a time bomb that st any moment this fuel injection issue could crack and leak and cause a fire. And I'm not about to lose my life because of it. I've contacted Ford for a lemon law buyback and they are taking their sweet time in that. No warning lights are functioning properly causing a danger for me to drive it. But I have to have a reliable care to get to dr appts and to shop for groceries. Something has got to be done about this. And further more when I purchased this car used I questioned the salesperson at the used car lot about this recall paper that was in the glove compartment about the recall on the fuel injection. He told me it was nothing. Bull!!! why have that paper in the car if there wasn't a recall for the fuel injection when I bought it back in July 2023. No dealership should have the right to sell any car with a recall already in place. I want to sue the used car dealership for selling me this lemon. The car dealership was key auto of somersworth nh but now they have a new place in rochester nh. . . They should be held accountable for selling me the vehicle with a recall already in place. Ford said recall didn't go into effect till 2025, but why have a document in the car about it when I purchased car in 2023. Makes no sense.

1. The transmission has continuously slipped and stuck in gears when significantly outside of standard rpm:speed standards for the vehicle. 2. The vehicle has recently started leaking oil via a lower pressure valve. 3. The engine thermostat and/or sensor need to be replaced with faulty internal temperatures being registered. 4. The rear collision warning and camera system started malfunctioning after an update that happened middle of 2024. The camera won't work at all approximately 50% of the time. 5. The brake issues haven't been fully diagnosed, but I'm aware of the model year/series of vehicle having several faulty components that could have a hand in the weakened braking. 6. I recently had aaa come diagnose the vehicle (reference the photos provided). My objective is to have my vehicle included in the widespread recalls that were released for my car model, year, and overall series. For some reason my VIN in registering as a vehicle that qualifies for the recalls but seems to have the exact same issues. I'm more than happy to take part in an investigation and or third-party inspection to expedite the process as well. I've also included the reports I've found when searching for the 2014 Ford Escape recall/repair list (via your website and others).

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Escape 🔎.

Rear view camera not displaying when put in reverse frequently or camera displaying but goes blank in the middle of backing up. This has been occurring for at least 3-4 months. It is very frightening as it takes my mind a second or two to comprehend the rearview camera has gone blank in the middle of backin up. The camera does not always have a problem but is too frequent. I have been I’ll so have not driven too much last 2 months but I am better now. Please add my vehicle to the rearview recall.

I'm having transmission problems. . And it stopped in the middle of traffic. . And the shop my car is in said they've repairing transmissions in a lot 2015 Ford Escape vehicles. . And the engine leaks these are serious defects that (Ford) needs to fix for the owners of this (year) it's costing $5,000 to replace for the transmission. . I'm so so so so disappointed in this vehicle and the company. . Your doing recalls for all these others vehicles but the 2015 Escape .

Parasitic draw in battery that Ford can't find reading for. Paid almost 1k in parts they suggested ' may' work along. Did not work and told us not to call corporate because they'll just tell us to go back to dealer. Then engine throws a p0303 code. Cylinder 3 seems to have the death sentence these cars are facing. We still owe 9800 on this car. It has 70k miles. The battery issue has been problem for over a year. It's our family car so never unsafe for my wife to be stranded with a child somewhere because the battery might die. And now the engine may seize. From reading all over, Ford was certainly negligent about this issue and it's sad so many people are in the same situation as our family.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being emissions tested, the contact was informed that the obd port was inoperable, and the emissions test was unable to be performed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed obd port. The contact was informed that the obd port needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall or warranty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed, and the case was denied. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,702.

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and pulling into a parking lot, after shifting the vehicle into park(p), the vehicle inadvertently lost electrical power and all electrical functionality, and the contact became locked inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to exit the vehicle and suffered heat strokes during a hot summer day. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to provide the cause for the failure. The contact stated that the mechanic at the dealer was also locked inside the vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

On June 24, 2025 at approx 4:45 pm, my wife and I were driving home. The car was running fine, no lights, gauges were normal, no info on screen, when all of a sudden the engine shut down, info on screen stated steering assisi unavailable, and smoke started coming from vents. We were aproaching a sharp curve in the road, so I had to manhandle the steering to keep from crashing. Then used the emergency brake to stop after insuring we cleared the curve. By that time, we were unable to see anything for all the smoke inside the car. Nothing would work so we could not roll the electric windows down. When stopped, we opened the doors and jumped out. Then I heard the engine compartment crackling due to a fire. Luckily, we Escaped with no injuries except for smoke inhalation. I have been driving for over 58 years and doing mechanical repairs for over 60 years. I have never experienced anything like this. We bought this car new and I have maintained it in 'like new' condition since. Now it is completely destroyed. I also know Ford has had recalls on this vehicle and we have taken care of all these except the one on the shifter linkage bushing. I am very concerned something went very wrong with this car and others may, too. Plus, I am a dedicated Ford owner and may be concerned on replacing with something else after this terrifying incident.

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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the message "tire pressure sensor fault" was displayed for the rear passenger's side tire; however, the tire air pressure appeared to be normal upon inspection. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 20v635000 (electrical system, tires). The failure mileage was 78,000.

A couple of years ago my car started having problems when accelerating, it would not accelerate or almost get to stall without warning, a couple times I got the message " engine fault - service now" . I took my car to the dealership and they could not find the root cause because the message would disappear when turning the car off and on again, therefore they could not reproduce the issue but my car had this same episode 3 times over the past 8 years without resolution from the dealership. Finally a few days ago the issue came back but this time the message is not going away after turning off the car, I used a code reader and the error code reads: p0236. I am trying to get an appointment at the dealership to have my car looked at and finally have the repair done. But I believe my Ford Escape should be part of recall no. 14v495000 for Ford Escape my 2013-2014 along with other Ford Escapes model year 2016.

While going on the highway it braked hard and displayed service stabilitrak light with traction control light flashing went away after 10 seconds. Then I pulled into my driveway and it snapped the wheel out of my hand forcefully almost breaking my wrist and wouldn't let me turn right. Towed it to Ford where they claim a loose battery terminal was present. No warning at all before this. Upper engine noise too (possibly pulley) 28k miles and trans is shifting hard as well. The trust for the vehicle is gone. I have a video as well of the steering wheel snapping.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Escape 🔎.

The rearview backup camera no longer functions at all. Upon putting the car in reverse, I receive a black screen with glitching colors for a few seconds that turns completely black and gives me an error stating rearview camera is unavailable. There has been no damage recently to the vehicle or any other modifications made, or no other known contributing events, it just stopped working on its own. I also received no warning prior to this happening from any systems in the vehicle. This is especially dangerous since I rely upon this camera and alert sensors to safely back up and avoid damage to my vehicle, myself, others, and surrounding objects. I am aware that several Ford models built the same year have an active recall for this exact issue, in addition to the 2023-2024 Escape models. I would highly recommend looking into this issue as it pertains to the 2022 Escape as well.