2014 Ford Escape Problems and Recalls (2,079 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2014 Ford Escape is Engine (33% of 2,079 owner reports). There are 16 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 2,079 complaints · 16 recalls

What problems show up on the 2014 Ford Escape?

695 of 2,079 filings named Engine (33% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (424 reports).

There are 16 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Fuel system, Engine, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2013 has 2,752 reports on file; this year has 2,079. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2014 Ford Escape

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 16 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 695 complaints · 33.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 46
  • Fires 104
  • Injuries 41
  • Deaths 4
Compare with 2013 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 695 of 2,079 owner complaints (33.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 695 complaints, 33.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 69 fire reports 695 · 33.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 424 complaints, 20.4% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 9 crash reports 2 fire reports 424 · 20.4% Steering (STEERING): 139 complaints, 6.7% of reports Steering (STEERING) 5 crash reports 139 · 6.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 109 complaints, 5.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 2 fire reports 109 · 5.2% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 99 complaints, 4.8% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 99 · 4.8% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 62 complaints, 3.0% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 62 · 3.0% Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION): 46 complaints, 2.2% of reports Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 46 · 2.2% Wheels (WHEELS): 41 complaints, 2.0% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 41 · 2.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 32 complaints, 1.5% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 crash reports 32 · 1.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 501 complaints, 24.1% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 crash reports 26 fire reports 501 · 24.1% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 695 33.4% 1 crashes · 69 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 424 20.4% 9 crashes · 2 fires
Steering (STEERING) 139 6.7% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 109 5.2% 1 crashes · 2 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 99 4.8% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 62 3.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 46 2.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 41 2.0% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 32 1.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 501 24.1% 11 crashes · 26 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2013; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2014. 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2014-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2014-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2014-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2015-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2015-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2015-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2016-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2016-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2016-Q4: 29 owner reports 29 2017-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2017-Q2: 40 owner reports 40 2017-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2017-Q4: 49 owner reports 49 2018-Q1: 53 owner reports 53 2018-Q2: 41 owner reports 41 2018-Q3: 82 owner reports 82 2018-Q4: 74 owner reports 74 2019-Q1: 68 owner reports 68 2019-Q2: 72 owner reports 72 2019-Q3: 84 owner reports 84 2019-Q4: 62 owner reports 62 2020-Q1: 53 owner reports 53 2020-Q2: 42 owner reports 42 2020-Q3: 73 owner reports 73 2020-Q4: 51 owner reports 51 2021-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2021-Q2: 30 owner reports 30 2021-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2021-Q4: 40 owner reports 40 2022-Q1: 41 owner reports 41 2022-Q2: 49 owner reports 49 2022-Q3: 87 owner reports 87 2022-Q4: 55 owner reports 55 2023-Q1: 51 owner reports 51 2023-Q2: 51 owner reports 51 2023-Q3: 50 owner reports 50 2023-Q4: 53 owner reports 53 2024-Q1: 51 owner reports 51 2024-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2024-Q3: 43 owner reports 43 2024-Q4: 36 owner reports 36 2025-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2025-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2025-Q3: 44 owner reports 44 2025-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2026-Q1: 34 owner reports 34 2026-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2026-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2026-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Jul 2013 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 14V164000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V164000 Recall campaign 14V237000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V237000 Recall campaign 14V239000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V239000 Recall campaign 14V403000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V403000 Recall campaign 14V495000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V495000 Recall campaign 14V525000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V525000 Recall campaign 14V597000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V597000 Recall campaign 15V005000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V005000 Recall campaign 15V406000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V406000 Recall campaign 16V643000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V643000 Recall campaign 17V209000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V209000 Recall campaign 17V472000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V472000 Recall campaign 18V471000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V471000 Recall campaign 20V331000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V331000 Recall campaign 22V413000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V413000 Recall campaign 26V011000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V011000 Investigation PE16001 ● Investigation PE16001 Investigation RQ19005 ● Investigation RQ19005
  • Campaign 14V239000 was reported 124 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V403000 was reported 256 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V495000 was reported 259 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V005000 was reported 81 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V406000 was reported 576 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V643000 was reported 888 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V209000 was reported 1,171 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V471000 was reported 1,727 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V331000 was reported 2,259 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V413000 was reported 3,152 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V011000 was reported 4,306 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 4
2014-Q1 Owner reports 12
2014-Q2 Owner reports 12
2014-Q3 Owner reports 19
2014-Q4 Owner reports 16
2015-Q1 Owner reports 18
2015-Q2 Owner reports 9
2015-Q3 Owner reports 13
2015-Q4 Owner reports 17
2016-Q1 Owner reports 8
2016-Q2 Owner reports 17
2016-Q3 Owner reports 13
2016-Q4 Owner reports 29
2017-Q1 Owner reports 30
2017-Q2 Owner reports 40
2017-Q3 Owner reports 45
2017-Q4 Owner reports 49
2018-Q1 Owner reports 53
2018-Q2 Owner reports 41
2018-Q3 Owner reports 82
2018-Q4 Owner reports 74
2019-Q1 Owner reports 68
2019-Q2 Owner reports 72
2019-Q3 Owner reports 84
2019-Q4 Owner reports 62
2020-Q1 Owner reports 53
2020-Q2 Owner reports 42
2020-Q3 Owner reports 73
2020-Q4 Owner reports 51
2021-Q1 Owner reports 39
2021-Q2 Owner reports 30
2021-Q3 Owner reports 27
2021-Q4 Owner reports 40
2022-Q1 Owner reports 41
2022-Q2 Owner reports 49
2022-Q3 Owner reports 87
2022-Q4 Owner reports 55
2023-Q1 Owner reports 51
2023-Q2 Owner reports 51
2023-Q3 Owner reports 50
2023-Q4 Owner reports 53
2024-Q1 Owner reports 51
2024-Q2 Owner reports 37
2024-Q3 Owner reports 43
2024-Q4 Owner reports 36
2025-Q1 Owner reports 39
2025-Q2 Owner reports 32
2025-Q3 Owner reports 44
2025-Q4 Owner reports 30
2026-Q1 Owner reports 34
2026-Q2 Owner reports 32
2026-Q3 Owner reports 19
2026-Q4 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 14V164000
Recall campaign 1 14V237000
Recall campaign 1 14V239000
Recall campaign 1 14V403000
Recall campaign 1 14V495000
Recall campaign 1 14V525000
Recall campaign 1 14V597000
Recall campaign 1 15V005000
Recall campaign 1 15V406000
Recall campaign 1 16V643000
Recall campaign 1 17V209000
Recall campaign 1 17V472000
Recall campaign 1 18V471000
Recall campaign 1 20V331000
Recall campaign 1 22V413000
Recall campaign 1 26V011000
Defect investigation 1 PE16001
Defect investigation 1 RQ19005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (16)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Fuel system, Engine, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 14V164000

    Safety recall 14V164000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 14V237000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 14V239000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    A door that opens unexpectedly may result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 14V403000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    If the glass panel is improperly bonded, the glass may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect each vehicle and replace the front roof glass if its production date and sequence number falls within the affected range, free of charge. The recall is began on July 14, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S13.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 14V495000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 14V525000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    A reduction in fuel pressure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S20.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 14V597000

    Safety recall 14V597000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 15V005000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 15V406000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 16V643000

    Safety recall 16V643000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 17V209000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 17V472000

    Safety recall 17V472000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available in the fourth quarter of 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Recall campaign 18V471000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Recall campaign 20V331000

    Safety recall 20V331000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Recall campaign 22V413000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Recall campaign 26V011000

    Safety recall 26V011000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 2,079 complaints · page 1 of 84
2026-10-02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEUnclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11768433
CrashFireInjuryDeath
While driving, a message was displayed [Hill Start Assist Not Available] and all mileage figures previously displayed disappered. Additional warning lights were displayed indicating Traction Control, and ABS failures. Electric Power steering assist also stopped. Subsequent testing indicated the EBCM had failed. The part is on National Backorder. While drivable, I'm afraid other issues will arise. This is my only vehicle and I'm within 20,000 miles of needing the timing belt and water pump replaced as well. I could not find a recall for the EBCM (a part not usually prone to failure) for the 2014 Ford Escape SE 1.6L 4-cyl Ecoboost. In 2017, I had the entire transmission replaced @ 70,000 miles, under warranty, but Ford did not honor the warranty terms: coverage for lodging and rental vehicle, so I lost $$$$ that shouldn't have happened.
2026-10-01Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11768215
CrashFireInjuryDeath
At first, I just bought it two weeks ago. It was smoke coming from the engine and there was no coolant. The coolant wasn’t holding in the car now I was driving last night. I had coolant in it and there was just flames coming out by where the Oil is
2026-09-28Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11767576
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My car warned me via service light that there was low coolant in my car, so I went to go get it topped off but the guys at valvoline said my coolant was almost completely full. I continued to drive it since the service light turned off, but when I drove it a day later, it suddenly warned me that my car was over heating and I needed to stop immediately. A local mechanic said that my head gasket failed and my coolant hose was leaking. My car only warned me once of the coolant being low, then the light turned off until my head gasket blew.
2026-09-28Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11767575
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My car warned me via service light that there was low coolant in my car, so I went to go get it topped off but the guys at valvoline said my coolant was almost completely full. I continued to drive it since the service light turned off, but when I drove it a day later, it suddenly warned me that my car was over heating and I needed to stop immediately. A local mechanic said that my head gasket failed and my coolant hose was leaking. My car only warned me once of the coolant being low, then the light turned off until my head gasket blew.
2026-09-21Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11765816
CrashFireInjuryDeath
In the ford escape, when the remote start is activated. The car will show as overheating. I was told it was a known issue with ford. This occurred twice resulting in over $1900 in towing and repairs. Those repairs did not fix issue as 4 weeks later it did it again.
2026-09-17Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11765087
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Car is eating antifreeze with no visible leaks. The vehicle overheats if not enough antifreeze. I had to use stop leak just to keep the antifreeze from leaking. The vehicle had a recall fix in 2018 for coolant intrusion by the previous owner but problem is occurring again. Have asked multiple ford dealerships to help but they said the warranty is expired but after doing research I saw that even after a recall occurs if the problem was not fixed even after a warranty expires the company is still liable for repairs. I would like to make a complaint because I feel as if Ford is not honoring their recall policy. Even after correct information was given.
2026-09-15Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11764342
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine light and low coolant warning light were illuminated. Upon checking the coolant level, the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant to the vehicle; however, the coolant disappeared and gushed back into the reservoir. Additionally, upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start and chugged, with a white sweet-smelling smoke coming from the tailpipe while idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased, and the contact inquired about a free diagnostic test, but the dealer denied assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 104,353.

Ford Escape Complaints by Model Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2014 Ford Escape?

Owners named Engine most often — 695 of 2,079 reports (33%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2014 Ford Escape?

NHTSA lists 16 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Fuel system, Engine, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2014 Ford Escape?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources