Engine. Review the 1,145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 342 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports5 fire reports23 injury reports

Steering complaints

32 reports

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15,300 miles · Nov 19, 2018

Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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THE WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON IN APRIL 2018. MOSTLY CHECK ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TOOK TO AUTO ZONE GOT A READ OUT FOR SENSOR. BUT AAA REPAIR SHOP WOULDN'T USE THEIR REPORT AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THEM, LIGHT WASN'T ON. SO THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT IT. WAS GONE OUT OF TOWN 6 MONTHS. LIGHT OFF AND ON. RANDOMLY. OCT 2018, HEADING CROSS COUNTRY BACK HOME TO AZ. LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON MORE OFTEN. MORE LIGHTS, ABS, SKID, SEAT BELT, WITHIN THE WEEK, VERY RANDOM OFF AND ON. THEN MORE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. AUTO ZONE AGAIN GAVE ME A SENSOR REPORT, O2 AND FUEL. WHILE WAITING IN BANK LINE,, WHOLE PANEL OF LIGHTS CAME ON. ACTED STALED, BUT WAS RUNNING, COULD PUSH GAS AND RUN, BUT COULDN'T STEER, BABIED TO A PARKING SPOT, EVEN THE MILEAGE ODOMETER WENT TO SLASH MARKS AND NO NUMBERS. I TOOK A PHOTO. TURNED CAR OFF AND WAITED TO TRY TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT AFTER FEW MINUTES, WORKED FINE. THAT NEXT WEEK, I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING, WHOLE PANEL CAME ON, DASHES FOR NUMBERS AND NO STEERING> SCARED TO DEATH. STILL COULD PUSH GAS AND BRAKED, FEW SECONDS FELT LIKE MINUTES. LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR DROVE FINE. LEFT AT A MECHANIC AND HE CHANGED OXYGEN SENSOR, DIAGNOSED THE STALLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AND OTHER CODES. R/R OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR/FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE FLUSH, AND COMPUTER / PROGRAMMING UPDATE. RAN ME $568.70. LIGHTS STILL RANDOMLY COME ON, BRAKE ABS, SKID, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. I PARKED THE CAR AND BOUGHT A NEW ONE. WHERE CAN I TAKE IT. I NEED TO SELL IT TO HELP PAY FOR OTHER CAR, BUT DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO GET HURT WHILE DRIVING THIS ONE. I LOOKED UP KBB AND SAW 3 RECALLS ON ONE WAS PCSM SENSOR AND WHEN I CALLED FORD DEALER, HE SAID NO RECALLS FOR IT. PLEASE HELP. I'M DESPERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11152488

9,000 miles · Sep 9, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury

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WENT TO STOP ON WET ROAD TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN WHEELS LOCKED UP CAUSING ME NOT BE ABLE TO GUIDE MYSELF OFF THE ROAD FROM HITTING CAR IT FRONT SLIDE THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN DOORS LOCKED CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT HAD TO KICK THE DOOR OPEN AND MY PHONE WAS HOOKED UP TO THE BLUETOOTH AND NO COPS WERE CONTACTED LIKE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE! IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS A ROBOT AND SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN AND I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AFTER HITTING MY BRAKES IT WAS LIKE HAVING NO TIRES FROM THAT POINT ON AND MY CAR ONLY HAD 9,000 MILES ON IT!

NHTSA ODI #11128379

Official recalls

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)

18V104000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 12, 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.

17V803000 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 18, 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S44.

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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