What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2015 Ford Escape

Typical pattern

3.2% of complaints about the 2015 Ford Escape came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2015 vehicle — around the middle of the 195 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (286 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 94,000 miles.

Complaints
1,356
Median age at failure
7.9 yr
Median mileage
75,282 n=767
Crash / fire / tow
12.6% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
286 reports · 94,000 mi
7.8 yr
22%
Engine
238 reports · 73,900 mi
8.0 yr
13%
Back over prevention
142 reports · 95,000 mi
11.1 yr
1.4%
Other
138 reports · 48,616 mi
8.9 yr
8%
Electrical system
137 reports · 62,000 mi
6.5 yr
10.2%
Steering
81 reports · 46,554 mi
6.0 yr
14.8%
Fuel / propulsion
50 reports · 52,000 mi
6.3 yr
4%
Engine cooling
44 reports · 114,000 mi
9.5 yr
20.5%
Structure
36 reports · 49,000 mi
4.2 yr
8.3%
Latches / locks
29 reports · 98,000 mi
6.5 yr
0%
Wheels
26 reports · 60,000 mi
4.9 yr
0%
Service brakes
24 reports · 47,000 mi
5.8 yr
25%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V011000 2026-01-15
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

25V695000 2025-10-13
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

22V413000 2022-06-10
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

22V254000 2022-04-14
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

20V331000 2020-06-08
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

17V472000 2017-07-25
Seat belts

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.

The improperly manufactured bolts may fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

16V643000 2016-09-06
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

15V436000 2015-07-08
Electrical system:ignition

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.

15V406000 2015-06-24
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster be inoperative including a blank multiple functional display (MFD), and non-functional warning chimes, messages and warning lights. Specific warning chimes, messages and warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control

If the instrument cluster is inoperative, the driver of may not be warned of safety related issues such as low tire pressures or disabled air bags, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash.

In owners’ own words

Structure 1,800 mi 3 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800. UPDATED 03/04/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS
Structure 19,000 mi 1.7 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TRUNK, THE LIFT GATE HANDLE WAS LOOSEN FROM THE LOCK HITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFT GATE NEEDED TWO LONGER SCREWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Structure mileage not reported 2.0 yr in service
FORD ISSUED A RECALL (16S30) FOR THE DOOR LATCH SPRINGS WHICH ARE APPARENTLY FAULTY AND CAN CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN AT ANY TIME. WE CALLED FORD AND THE PARTS WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE 2ND QUARTER OF 2017. I HAVE A NEWBORN PLUS DO A LOT OF DRIVING FOR WORK, I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS AND HOPE THAT THE DOOR(S) DO NOT FLY OPEN.
Fuel / propulsion 788 mi 5 mo in service
PURCHASED VEHICLE 1/30/2015 AND DROVE OFF LOT WITH 3 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND HESITATING UPON ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS IN FORD REPAIR SHOP FOR 12 DAYS WITH 1200 WORTH OF PARTS REPLACED ON TRANSMISSION. PICKED UP VEHICLE WITH 810 MILES ON IT AND LESS THAN A WEEK AND 150 MILES LATER THE VEHICLE IS AGAIN STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! *TR

Other Escape model years

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