Engine. Review the 1,564 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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Power Train. Review the 390 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports15 fire reports38 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

45 reports

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18,000 miles · Jan 28, 2018

Service Brakes

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MY 2017 FORD ESCAPE WITH 18,000 HAD A MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE AT 18,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OVER NIGHT IN SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT THE NEXT DAY ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THE FIRST TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKES ENGAGED , BUT NOT VERY WELL. THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY AFTER TRYING SEVERAL MORE BRAKE APPLICATIONS, OR BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION FROM THE CAR'S WARNING SYSTEMS THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FORD PASS APP ON MY PHONE DIDN'T REPORT ANY PROBLEM EITHER. THE TOTAL LACK OF WARNING IS A REAL CONCERN. THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A WARMER GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OR WHAT FAILED. THEY DID SAY THE FAULTY BRAKE CYLINDER WOULD BE SENT TO FORD FOR ANALYSIS. THIS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IS A REAL CONCERN. IN OVER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAIL ON A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES. WITHOUT KNOWING WHY IT FAILED I AM CONCERNED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. NEXT TIME IT COULD HAPPEN AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHER SPEED, OR IN TRAFFIC RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS TYPE OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY NEWER CAR, AND THE CAR'S WARNING SYSTEMS SHOULD BE ABLE LET YOU KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ANY PART OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #11065538

1,200 miles · Oct 4, 2017

Service BrakesInjury

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE WAS ON. I OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DOOR BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING THE CAR STARTED MOVING. THE CAR DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND RAN OVER MY RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. I WAS DRAGGED DOWN MY DRIVE WAY. THE CAR STOPPED AT THE STREET. THE BRAKE WAS STILL ON. EMS TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ODI #11031757

6,000 miles · Jul 6, 2017

Service Brakes

WHEN BACKING MY VEHICLE I GET A LOUD CLUNK THE FIRST TIME EACH DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERS WHO ADVISED ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE NOISE, BUT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. I FEEL THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. HE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY VEHICLE LAST ADVISED HIS WIFE DRIVES A 2016 ESCAPE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN Y…

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NHTSA ODI #11003518

4,400 miles · May 15, 2017

Service BrakesWheels

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH EXITING A RAMP THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,400. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ VHEICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR OVER 6 WEEKS. *AS

NHTSA ODI #10985849

250 miles · Mar 9, 2017

Service Brakes

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IN EVENT OF MAIN BRAKE FAILURE, PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE MANUALLY ENGAGED AS A SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE REQUIRING VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED TO ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. THIS COULD RESULT IN FATALITY IN THE EVENT OF MAIN BRAKE FAILURE. (FYI. I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE HOSE FAIL ON A '99 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. USING THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A COLLISION. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE THE WAY IT IS IMPLEMENTED ON 2017 FORD VEHICLES.)

NHTSA ODI #10959716

Official recalls

26V374000 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Jun 9, 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 15, 2026

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 10, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

16V617000 · Electrical System:software; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Aug 24, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

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