Summary
The Ford Escape has 120 recalls spanning the 2001–2025 model years, with the most serious recent issue being a high-voltage battery defect on 2020–2024 plug-in hybrid models where an internal short circuit can cut drive power or cause a fire, even while parked.
On the current generation, 2024–2025 models have a passenger-side instrument panel that can cause the front airbag to deploy incorrectly in a crash, with panel fragments potentially flying toward occupants. The 2025 model also has a rearview camera that can display an inverted image while reversing, and an electric brake booster controller that can overheat and cut anti-lock brakes, stability control, and brake power assist. On 2023–2025 models with 1.5L engines, improperly made cylinder head plugs can fail and allow oil to leak onto hot components, cutting drive power and raising the risk of a fire. The 2023–2024 model years have a misaligned adaptive cruise control radar that can brake the vehicle suddenly for objects that are not in its path. There is also a 2023 engine block heater on 1.5L and 2.0L equipped vehicles that can overheat and start a fire when plugged in.
The 2020–2023 generation saw a heavy concentration of powertrain fire risks. On 2020–2022 models with 1.5L engines, the oil separator housing can crack and drip oil onto hot exhaust components, and fuel injectors can crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment, with prior repair attempts proving insufficient in some cases and requiring additional work. The 2020–2022 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models with 2.5L engines face engine failure that can allow oil and fuel vapor to accumulate near ignition sources, and a separate high-voltage battery weld defect can cause sudden loss of drive power. The 2020 model year also had rear brake pads that reduce stopping ability if the brake booster fails, a side curtain airbag diffuser that can detach during deployment and prevent the bag from inflating, a software issue causing the rearview camera to display incorrectly, a body control module that may miss signals from rear tire pressure sensors, and a software update that could put the transmission in neutral unexpectedly. On 2021–2022 hybrid models, the high-voltage battery can fail without warning and cut drive power, and rear brake linings can require excessive pedal force to stop the vehicle. The 2021 Escape Hybrid has a specific crankshaft defect that can cause engine failure, fire, or sudden power loss.
Going back further, 2013–2019 models share a shifter cable bushing that can degrade and allow the transmission to be in a different gear than shown, with the 2013 model year particularly recall-heavy: the 1.6L engine on those vehicles was subject to overheating that cracked cylinder heads and fuel lines, raising the risk of engine compartment fires. Door handles on 2013–2014 models can bind and cause doors to open unexpectedly while driving, side curtain airbag software can delay deployment in a rollover, front seat recliner welds can fail and allow the seatback to lean, and airbag control module wiring can short out and disable frontal airbags, side curtains, and seatbelt pretensioners. The 2014 model has a panoramic roof panel that can separate from the vehicle and a fuel pump that can fail and stall the engine. The 2
