Is the 2014 Ford ESCAPE reliable?

The 2014 Ford ESCAPE has 2645 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.1x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2014 Ford ESCAPE?

Top problems: ENGINE (902 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (490 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (275 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2014 Ford ESCAPE?

Yes, there are 16 recall(s): POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, SEAT BELTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2014 Ford ESCAPE?

The 2014 Ford ESCAPE gets 25 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1920. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2014 Ford ESCAPE?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2014 Ford ESCAPE is approximately $1,585/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2014 Ford ESCAPE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ford ESCAPE has 2645 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 1283. The most common issue is engine problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: due to cold weather, walked out and started car, right foot on brake, right index finger on starter button, left foot on outside parking lot and left hand holding cell phone. after starting car, closed door, went back into office for over 3-5 minutes, did five web searches before sister who works i. There are 16 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 139 fire reports filed.

139 fire reports 40 crash reports 30 injuries

2645

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

902 complaints

34%

• DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WALKED OUT AND STARTED CAR, RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, RIGHT INDEX FINGER ON STARTER BUTTON, LEFT FOOT ON OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AND LEFT HAND HOLDING CELL PHONE. AFTER STARTING CAR, CLOSED DOOR, WENT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR OVER 3-5 MINUTES, DID FIVE WEB SEARCHES BEFORE SISTER WHO WORKS I
• WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BETWEEN 1400-1600 RPM IT STARTS TO VIBRATE AND DRIVES ROUGH. IS THIS USUAL? HAD IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND COMPLAINED TO FORD. NO SATISFACTION!! *TR
• THE CAR TAKES APPROXIMATELY 18-22 MINUTES TO ATTAIN A SAFE AND PROPER INSIDE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE. EVEN WITH A REMOTE START INSTALLED IT WILL USUALLY TWO STARTS FOR THE CAR TO REACH A TEMPERATURE THAT IS NOT DANGEROUS TO MY INFANT NEPHEW. I CAN NO LONGER PICK HIM UP WITHOUT WARMING CAR UP FOR HALF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 84 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WALKED OUT AND STARTED CAR, RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, RIGHT INDEX FINGER ON STARTER BUTTON, LEFT FOOT ON OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AND LEFT HAND HOLDING CELL PHONE. AFTER STARTING CAR, CLOSED DOOR, WENT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR OVER 3-5 MINUTES, DID FIVE WEB SEARCHES BEFORE SISTER WHO WORKS I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2014 Ford ESCAPE

Based on 1,718 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 74K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

260

30-60K

351

60-100K

639

100-150K

387

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 54K mi · 28 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Earlier than typicalmedian 32K mi · 26 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 45K mi · 23 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 32K mi · 22 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 46K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Earlier than typicalmedian 9K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (16)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT16/07/2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2014 Ford ESCAPE

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,920

Per month

$160

Per mile

16.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,286/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,656/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2014 Ford ESCAPE

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,585

Full coverage / month

$132

Liability only / year

$626

vs US avg

-5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1585

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford ESCAPE Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2014 ESCAPE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Videos About the 2014 Ford ESCAPE

Videos hosted on YouTube — embedded via official player

2014 Ford Escape - Review & Test Drive

Engineering ExplainedSep 2014

2014 Ford Escape Review

CarPreview.com Expert Car ReviewsNov 2013

REVIEW at 179K miles - 2014 Ford Escape 3rd Generation Ownership Experience

TheCopCarAug 2019

Ford Escape 2013-2019 Problems, Engines and Reliability

MaxTheCarGuyFeb 2023

2014 Ford Escape Titanium Review, Walkaround, Exhaust & Test Drive

Redline ReviewsJun 2013

Videos are hosted on YouTube and embedded here via YouTube's official player. BestCarRank does not host or produce these videos. Watch counts and channel information are pulled from YouTube's public Data API.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2645 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WALKED OUT AND STARTED CAR, RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, RIGHT INDEX FINGER ON STARTER BUTTON, LEFT FOOT ON OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AND LEFT HAND HOLDING CELL PHONE. AFTER STARTING CAR, CLOSED DOOR, WENT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR OVER 3-5 MINUTES, DID FIVE WEB SEARCHES BEFORE SISTER WHO WORKS I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND STALL WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN TOO SLOWLY. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR HARDE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PICKED UP 2014 FORD ESCAPE 1.6 ECOBOOST- OCTOBER 2013- ENGINE RPM' S REV TO 3-4 FOR NO REASON - SPORADICALLY- WHEN REMOTE STARTED, AND WHEN ELECTRIC STARTING CAR. BRAKES LOUD WHISTLING NOISES- COMES AND GOES- AUTO LIFT GATE OPENS HALF WAY SOMETIMES, CLOSES ON YOU WHEN YOUR LOADING THINGS SOMETIMES,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: FIRST TIME (WHILE DRIVING)INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDLES JUMPED, DISPLAY READ P TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK. CYCLE REPEATED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN CLUSTER LIGHT TURNED OFF AND NEEDLES WENT TO OFF POSITION. DISPLAY ONLY READ PRND AND MILEAGE. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER ON11-7-13. CLUSTER REPLACED BY DEALER. PI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 16 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)