Car Defect Radar
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Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 19 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

19 total · 19 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Body & glass recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 26V117000 · Mar 2026

Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 26V123000 · Mar 2026

An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Structure recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V829000 · Dec 2025

A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V685000 · Oct 2025

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 blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V467000 · Jul 2025

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Dealers will update the engine control software. In addition, dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and fuel injectors, free of charge. As an interim repair, dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 29, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S76. This recall expands and replaces previous recall numbers 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165 will need to have the new final remedy performed once it is available.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V442000 · Jun 2025

A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V345000 · May 2025

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy
Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S54.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V165000 · Mar 2025

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S21.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Transmission recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V133000 · Feb 2025

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S16.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V954000 · Dec 2024

Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S79.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V852000 · Nov 2024

Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Transmission recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V330000 · May 2024

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S33.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V187000 · Mar 2024

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 24, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S16. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-859.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 23V380000 · May 2023

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy
Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023 Escape and Corsair vehicles. For the other vehicles, dealers will update the powertrain control module software. If a connecting rod bearing failure is detected, dealers will replace the engine long-block. All inspections and repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S27. This recall expands and replaces recall number 22V-484. Vehicles previously repaired under 22V-484 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V859000 · Nov 2022

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed January 9, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 1st Quarter of 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S73. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 22V-191. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V-191 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V484000 · Jul 2022

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy
Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will modify the under engine shield and active grille shutter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S47.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V191000 · Mar 2022

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S21.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V149000 · Mar 2022

A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S48.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Brakes recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V922000 · Nov 2021

During certain situations, the driver may have to apply more brake pedal force, and the distance required to stop the vehicle may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the front brake pads, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C31.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

231 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
114

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 18sudden stalling 15
A recent report: car has act6ive recall from July 16th 2025 with no remedy related to the fuel injection system, car is currently experiencing fuel related mechanical failures , ford does not have a fix for these…
Read full complaint

car has act6ive recall from July 16th 2025 with no remedy related to the fuel injection system, car is currently experiencing fuel related mechanical failures , ford does not have a fix for these issues that can cause the car to catch fire while driving

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764301 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
22

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 11fire 3
A recent report: Vehicle has trouble turning back on after filling with gas. The engine clicks and sometimes will not start back up without a jump. The battery has been replaced. The check engine light is on.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11743448 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
33

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

premature wear 9loss of braking 9
A recent report: While traveling on the interstate, the driver of the Ford Escape moved into the left lane from behind an 18-wheeler that had stopped while attempting to enter a turning lane. After moving into the…
Read full complaint

While traveling on the interstate, the driver of the Ford Escape moved into the left lane from behind an 18-wheeler that had stopped while attempting to enter a turning lane. After moving into the left lane, the driver observed traffic ahead stopping. The vehicle ahead was at or beyond the front of the 18-wheeler. The Escape was still behind the rear of the 18-wheeler when the driver began braking. The driver pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop as expected. It may have slowed slightly at first. The driver released the brake pedal and pressed it again. On the second application, the vehicle did not appear to slow further, and the brake pedal felt as though it went straight to the floor. The driver continued holding the brake pedal down until the Escape collided with the vehicle ahead, which was at or beyond the front of the 18-wheeler's cab. The driver had applied the brakes twice before the vehicle's forward-collision/impact warning activated. There were no known brake warning lights or brake-related messages before the incident. The suspected system involved is the braking system; the exact cause is UNKNOWN. The collision resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle is currently being held at the insurance company's investigation yard and has not yet been released to the salvage department, so it remains available for inspection at this time. During approximately three years of ownership, the vehicle had previously experienced recurring squealing from the rear brakes when backing up. The vehicle was taken to Ford regarding the brakes on two occasions, and the brake pads were replaced once. Ford advised that no other issue was found at those times though squealing happened occasionally after.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757137 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
12

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 7premature wear 1
A recent report: Excessive bilateral play/backlash in the steering rack unit was identified by a 3rd party repair organization. Ball-joint wear was ruled out and the problem suspected to be caused by internal wear of…
Read full complaint

Excessive bilateral play/backlash in the steering rack unit was identified by a 3rd party repair organization. Ball-joint wear was ruled out and the problem suspected to be caused by internal wear of mechanical restraints. Third party mechanic advised that the car was unsafe to drive due to possible uncontrolled loss of steering function and that corrective action by the manufacturer was required. Vehicle was subsequently towed to Big Valley Ford where the dealership confirmed the initial diagnosis: "Upon inspection found play - severe internal play in rack". Normal vehicle use was not considered a causal factor of the defect on the vehicle with only 73,394miles. No warning messages were displayed to indicate the problem but front-end noise was noted while operating the vehicle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759808 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 2fluid leaks 1
A recent report: Airbag light and rear seat Restraint lights are coming on. Driver seatbelt doesn't lock when leaning forward.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11679686 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
28

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: Ford has issued a safety recall (Campaign 25DD6/2025-665) for the 2022 model year Escape. Part of the roof's hinge cover comes off and poses a hazard. The problem is my Ford 2022 Escape is not…
Read full complaint

Ford has issued a safety recall (Campaign 25DD6/2025-665) for the 2022 model year Escape. Part of the roof's hinge cover comes off and poses a hazard. The problem is my Ford 2022 Escape is not included even though it suffers from this identical hazard. How can I get my vehicle (VIN: [XXX]) included in the recall? Thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11749422 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
18

Most reports here involve fluid leaks. Of these, 3 mention an injury.

fluid leaks 2electrical shorts 1
A recent report: Ford refuses to fix this recall for over a year I am stuck with a car I cannot sell because dealer will not honor recall.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11753032 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 231 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2022 and 2026, roughly 53 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2022 has 231 complaints on file, fewer than the 2021 (343) and more than the 2023 (95). Of the 16 model years of the Ford Escape we cover, the 2013 has the most (2,748). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.