Equipment Problems of Ford Escape - part 2

Ford Escape owners have reported 2,313 problems related to equipment (under the equipment category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the Escape.

36 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/10/2026

Cloth interior cover of sunroof has come loose. It drapes like a curtain when we try to open the sunroof, blocking the rear view. This appears to be a common, known issue across various years of Escapes, but Ford wants $3000 to fix a simple problem.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Escape 🔎.

37 Equipment problem of the 2018 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/08/2026

Engine coolant intrusion- I don't feel safe driving this vehicle due to engine problems known to Ford even at/before time of sale. Possible fire hazard. Transmission- I don't feel safe driving this vehicle due to transmission problems known to Ford even at/before time of sale. Vehicle lurched around while backing from my garage. Electronic emergency brake- occasionally sticks in lock on position not allowing me to operate. Report date is today 02/08/2026 for issues as of manufacture date 12/17/17 I request Ford buy back this vehicle at full purchase price. I'm a single widow and don't feel safe driving this vehicle alone. Ford selling vehicles with long known problems to unsuspecting customers is shameful.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Escape 🔎.

38 Equipment problem of the 2016 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/06/2026

Recall issue: the vehicle failed and became disabled due to the shift cable bushing while in a parking lot on private property, with driver in the vehicle. The gear would not shift or go into park and continued to roll forward until either I hit the curb or applied the brake. Ford will not pay for the tow or diagnostic fee to have the problem diagnosed at another body shop (before I knew of the recall) Ford will not replace shift cable, only install protective cap. Recall issue: rearview camera displays distorted images, and does not always show rear view when backing up. It shows blank sometimes, and forward when reversing. Visibility unclear when backing. Ford will not replace as they say they do not have the parts to replace. This leaves the vehicle at high risk for safety issues.

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39 Equipment problem of the 2021 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/05/2026

The sunshade panotramic panel cover that sperates the two roofs seems to be falling off due to cheap two side tape which caused the whole sunshade assembly and motor to break. I took my car to the dealer yeasterday anderson Ford based in Lincoln ne, and they cahrged $119 to diagnis and qouted me over $2000 to fix it. This is manufacturere fault that caused this to happed by using cheap, unreliable two side tape to attach panel cover!. Please address this as alot of Ford Escape owners suffer from this issue.

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40 Equipment problem of the 2018 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/04/2026

Battery light came on, its a new battery with warning of 12v battery failure. The back camera has been giving blank screen and camera unavailable message.

41 Equipment problem of the 2016 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/04/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The rearview camera failure was intermittent. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v695000 (back over prevention) and 26v011000 (equipment); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.

42 Equipment problem of the 2015 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/03/2026

Upon putting car in reverse backup camera screen shows upside picture. Upon putting car in reverse backup camera screen goes completely black being a senior driver the backup camera system is a huge safety necessity.

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43 Equipment problem of the 2018 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 02/01/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed, and the failure was not duplicated. The dealer cleared the check engine warning light. The contact then received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v011000 (equipment); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The check engine warning light returned, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer acknowledged the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available, and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test, but the contact declined. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. An independent mechanic was contacted and confirmed that there was a coolant leak and that coolant might have leaked into the engine. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

44 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/27/2026

The vehicle is subject to an open federal safety recall involving a fuel injector that may crack and leak fuel onto the top of the engine. According to NHTSA, liquid fuel or fuel vapor may accumulate near hot engine or exhaust components, creating a risk of an under-hood fire and injury. I purchased this vehicle after the recall had already been issued. The recall was not disclosed to me at the time of sale, and the vehicle was presented for service multiple times after purchase without any disclosure of the recall or safety warnings. When I contacted an authorized dealer to ask whether there were any open recalls, I was initially told there were none. After I specifically referenced the recall, I was told that parts were not available and that no repair had been completed. The safety risk is that the vehicle may leak fuel near hot components without warning, creating a fire hazard while driving or after the engine is shut off. I have not been provided interim safety guidance or a timeline for repair. Nhtsa records currently show the recall remains open, unrepaired, and without an available remedy.

45 Equipment problem of the 2021 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/27/2026

Car stalled soon after start up showing many faults in the system. Initially thinking it was the battery with cold weather I took it to the dealership and had them look at it/replace the battery. The next day it stalled again the exact same way. I read the codes that it was showing and it came back with p061a u1011 and u1028. Was able to get it to another dealership to look at it and they performed computer updates and resets. I picked it up from the dealership and it died again a mile down the road with the same issue. They were able to get it back to the dealership where it died on them again. They have not been able to identify the issue but are wanting me to come pick up the car. The car is unsafe to drive as it can randomly shut off in the middle of the road with no warning and not even the dealership can identify the issue after multiple attempts. This is very concerning as it is a relatively new car and still under warranty. Even though it is under warranty, they claim they can not fix the issue under warranty until they prove a failing part.

46 Equipment problem of the 2013 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/24/2026

As I was traveling down hwy [xxx] the Ford Escape lost power and started excessively smoking. When I looked under the hood flames were coming from the passenger side of the SUV under the hood. The fire begin to grow and finally engulfed the entire front of the SUV and moved to the interior of the SUV before the fire department arrived. The vehicle has not been inspected as this happened last night [xxx]. The engine light and oil light appeared before the SUV shut down. I purchased the vehicle on [xxx] I did research and found a recall on the 2013 Ford Escape. Please see below. A 2013 Ford Escape may catch fire primarily due to engine overheating caused by a cracked cylinder head, leading to oil leaks, or due to a faulty engine block heater that can short circuit. Specifically, models with the 1. 6l ecoboost engine are prone to these issues, with several recalls issued for fire hazards. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Escape 🔎.

47 Equipment problem of the 2016 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/24/2026

I have replaced the transmission due to the toque converter acting up and then failing. I have replaced now 3 coolant parts as well due to leaking and constant overheating and have replaced the block once as well.

48 Equipment problem of the 2017 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/22/2026

Engine failure due to coolant intrusion. Ford has issued a technical bulletin to its technicians regarding this issue. While my wife was driving the vehicle, a warning light first appeared indicating that the engine temperature was high. Shortly afterward, the warning escalated to a red alert stating that the transmission was blocked. My wife immediately turned off the engine to prevent further damage. The vehicle was then towed to a Ford dealership for inspection. After evaluating the vehicle, the dealership informed us that the engine had suffered severe damage and would need to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. We have maintained the vehicle responsibly and have documentation of regular oil changes and other maintenance and repairs. When we contacted Ford motor company, we were informed that the vehicle was outside the warranty period. We opened a case with Ford’s customer relationship department requesting assistance; however, the case was denied. Although the vehicle is outside the warranty period, Ford has acknowledged this issue in a technical service bulletin, indicating that coolant intrusion is a known problem affecting this engine design in the Ford Escape 2017.

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49 Equipment problem of the 2023 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/22/2026

Rearview camera has turned dark. . . .

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50 Equipment problem of the 2013 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/16/2026

I was parking vehicle & noticed from center console burning smoke coming from heater vents & middle console. I turned it off right away, waited a while & it stopped, driving at 60mph a back & forth forward & back hesitation or vibration. Shifting back & forth, no check engine light, but I feel that this vehicle has the recalls that are listed for this same year model & it has never being corrected. I need to bring this vehicle to a Ford dealership to get it checked. I'm in the madison wisconsin area, please have this matter taken care ove. 2013 Ford Escape 2. 0l.

51 Equipment problem of the 2023 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/15/2026

I was driving on a very flat highway (no other cars around me) and it sounded like an explosion and glass rained down the back of the car. When I get to my destination, I looked at my roof and the sun roof glass had exploded.

52 Equipment problem of the 2021 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/08/2026

The retractable panoramic sunroof cover snapped out of it's clips while I was driving and the shade fell over my head. After reading about this online, numerous consumers have had this exact problem.

53 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/05/2026

Multiple warning lights 4wd, advance track, power train, hill start coming up on in my 2020 Ford Escape titanium. Some go off for a few days and then come back on, some go on and off while driving. Also purge valve evap codes come up.

54 Equipment problem of the 2015 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/05/2026

The transmission just failed. No warning lights or anything. I was just driving along and it started to flutter then it hesitated and went into limp mode. Took it to the shop and it they said it needs a whole new transmission.

55 Equipment problem of the 2013 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 01/02/2026

I took my car in for a safety recall for the bushing on the transmission. A short time after getting it back my cabin filled with smoke when I used the remote start. I had never had this problem until it came back from the dealer. So I stopped using the remote start! but after that the car's cabin began filling with acrid smoke whenever it idled for more than a minute. It now fills with smoke when sitting at a stop sign or in slow traffic, so I have to open the windows to breathe! on top of that the transmission started slipping in park again! I don't think they actually fixed it. And that they may have caused the smoke problem. There are no warning lights going on. I am [xxx] and on socsec. I need my car to be safe! I have been dealing with this for a while now because I don't trust the dealer now. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

56 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/29/2025

Sunroof shade blocking rear visibility when open, when open it’s not rolling up into cavity.

57 Equipment problem of the 2018 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/26/2025

I purchased a 2018 Ford Escape from metropolitan Ford dealership in eden prairie, mn on 5/15/2025. The very next day the engine light came on. I called them, made an appointment and brought it in thinking that it was a sensor. They checked it out and tried to charge me $1000 for the fix. I argued with them that I had just bought the car and the should be responsible for fixing it. In end I paid $300 and knew from that point that they would take no responsibility for anything wrong with th car. Fast forward to 12/12/2025 I was driving to work and as soon as I entered the interstate the engine light came on as well as the temperature gage going through the roof. I found that I couldn't accelerate and slowly drove the car off the next exit. I was able to get it to my mechanic right there, where he said I had a slow leak in the coolant and gave me a rough estimate of $1000 possible fix but he couldn't do it then. He advised me to keep the coolant filled and took it out of the "limp" mode so I could drive it. A week later I went out to my car and it was in the "limp" mode again, I had it towed to the nearest service station where they came back with the issue. A coolant intrusion. The engine was no longer functional. I went back to the dealer and they told me it was my problem to deal with and that they had no responsibility to do anything. That's when I found out about the recall that they knew about and ignored and sold me a car that they knew was problematic. I'm hoping to join this class action lawsuit because I'm out $12,000 the largest amount that I ever paid for a car and I don't have a working car. I still owe $5000 on this one. I thought going to a Ford dealership and spending the kind of money I spent would protect me from this exact thing. I'm devastated and really don't know what to do.

58 Equipment problem of the 2022 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/26/2025

Fabric cover of sunroof got detached from rails, so it rolls the fabric to the back of the vehicle leaving the clips hanging and no way to get the sunroof cover reattached.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Escape 🔎.

59 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/25/2025

Unknown December 25th, 2025, my vehicle started to shift poorly, breaking very harshly, giving a clonking sound when putting the vehicle into any gear, and when putting it into reverse, the car rocked roughly and threw a wrench light onto the dash. That wrench light gave a torque converter/transmission code. I took it to a dealership to get it diagnosed and they told me nothing was wrong with it and that it is driving as it should. I took it to a different shop for a second opinion and as soon as my vehicle was in the air, the mechanic found that all of my mounts were bad, I had a transmission leak and might possibly have a bad torque converter. My safety as well as my [xxx] daughters was put at risk from the dealership not doing a thorough diagnostic on my vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

60 Equipment problem of the 2017 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/18/2025

2017 Ford Escape 65,000 miles,1. 5l coolant intrusion. #2 cylinder misfire code. First thing upon raising the hood noticed and acknowledged there was no coolant in resevoir. Attempting to replace spark plugs. Removed/replaced #4 plug. Attempting to replace #3 spark plug, plug broke off. Researching and collaborating with reputable mechanic concluded that short block coolant intrusion has occurred. Upon disassembly have encountered turbo boost and catalytic converter full of oil, also needing replaced. Head has been sent to machine shop for inspection and repair. Presently awaiting for repairs to be completed and costs established. Present estimate over $5000. I paid cash for this vehicle in 2019. Vehicle had been leased for 2 years previous. Vehicle had 20,000 miles on it. Ford was well aware of the coolant intrusion (bad engineering) is before they sold me the vehicle in November 2019. They never mentioned or offered any warranty specific to this issue. They sold me a a vehicle knowing that if enough things went wrong while driving this vehicle, catastrophic situation was possible. They should have corrected this issue before they sold it to the next customer.

61 Equipment problem of the 2016 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/18/2025

My backup camera is experiencing the problems in the recall. Ford dealership wants to charge me 200 dollars for diagnostics. I should not have to pay for diagnostics or a new camera since it’s covered under the recall.

62 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/17/2025

While driving and idling, strong exhaust fumes enter the cabin, especially when the vehicle is in park or stopped at a traffic light. Air recirculation shuts off by itself and the airflow is very weak even on high settings. Remote start caused the cabin to fill with fumes before entering the vehicle, leading to headache and difficulty breathing within minutes. Symptoms are consistent with carbon monoxide exposure. Cabin and engine air filter is brand new. Just replaced 12/13/2025. Fumes are significantly worse at idle, suggesting an exhaust manifold crack or turbo exhaust leak. This is a serious safety hazard, and I am concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning and risk of losing consciousness while driving. It was so bad I had to have all windows open and the heat off in 30 or below temperature just to breathe. I have a very small child with heart problems and I'm concerned my vehicle is no longer safe to drive.

63 Equipment problem of the 2013 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/15/2025

The coolant leaks into the engine. I had the coolant container replaced as well as the coolant bypass valve. Coolant still leaks into the engine and container has to be filled every day. It’s unsafe to drive. It stalls. The mechanic says it’s dangerous and to get another car but I can’t. There is a class action for same issue. Coolant leak has destroyed the engine making it unsafe to drive. I can’t afford another car for my kids and I. Mechanic says his mom had same issue with her Ford Escape and it’s a fatal engine flaw and u safe to drive. This has been a problem since I purchased the car. I finally could afford to get the new container thinking that was the leak problem but it wasn’t. Then the coolant bypass valve broke too. I’ll put the date the repairs were made but this has been a problem with coolant contaminating the engine forever.

64 Equipment problem of the 2016 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/15/2025

The Ford sync infotainment system failed and produced no audio and no hands-free phone functionality. This created a safety risk because the driver could not use hands-free calling and could not hear navigation prompts, warning chimes, or system alerts, increasing distraction while driving. A Ford dealer diagnosed internal failures in the apim and audio control module (acm). The apim was replaced and programmed, but audio did not return until the acm was also replaced. The issue was repaired. This report is submitted to document a safety-related failure of the Ford sync system for review of potential defects affecting other vehicles.

65 Equipment problem of the 2021 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/14/2025

The car has indicated that it was getting hot, vehicle had tossed out some smoke, which raised our concerns due to the recall and there being no remedy.

66 Equipment problem of the 2005 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/12/2025

I bought a 2005 Ford Escape the VIN number on the dash and the title do match however the ecu and the door jamb VIN fmyu02z56ka33314 which is for a 2006 Ford Escape 4 cylinder 2. 3. The vehicle I bought should be a 6 cylinder with a 3. 0 l the mechanic says mismatched VIN the dealership refuses to listen. About the vehicle on November 25th 2025 drove it 30 miles then was able to call the mechanic for some maintenance as his car was for my daughter and that is when I got to bad news of a mismatched VIN. Not even your odometer reading is correct has less on it now than it did back in 2018 and it's documented as accurate.

See all problems of the 2005 Ford Escape 🔎.

67 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/06/2025

As a firefighter, I find it concerning that this recall has been issued for so long and no resolution has been found. The amount of vehicle fires that I see with reports of it "just starting to smoke, and then was on fire when I pulled over!" can easily be explained by fuel leaking into the hot engine compartment and combusting. This is my wife's primary vehicle, so I do not see it as fair that we have to send her on her way while there is no resolution to a potentially catastrophic issue. These vehicles need to be pulled off the roads before someone dies!.

68 Equipment problem of the 2010 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/05/2025

The complaint is regarding a 2010 Ford Escape, original owner and maintained mostly at dealer shop. Vehicle only has 79k miles on it, and has been garage stored. It has rust in the rear wheel wells and a crack in the rear right subframe due to rust.

See all problems of the 2010 Ford Escape 🔎.

69 Equipment problem of the 2018 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/01/2025

Blown head gasket, it is available for inspection. The engine overheating could’ve left me and my family stranded. The problem has not been confirmed by anyone. It also has not been inspected yet either. There were no other indicators lit on the dashboard other than the check engine light.

70 Equipment problem of the 2020 Ford Escape

Failure Date: 12/01/2025

Chrome around shifter knob is peeling up causing gashes in drivers fingers. A key function to adjust gears that is causing bodily harm. Chrome tips were addressed on window nobs due to sharp chrome peeling up. Vehicle was inspected by Ford dealership and I was informed it was not included in the recall.



Escape Service Bulletins
Escape Safety Recalls
Escape Defect Investigations