2014 Ford ESCAPE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ford ESCAPE has 2645 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 33.1x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 139 fire reports filed.

139 fire reports 40 crash reports 30 injuries

2645

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

33.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

TRANSMISSION

490 complaints

19%

• 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
• 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
• 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,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 13 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

275 complaints

10%

• 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,
• WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT'S APPROACH SENSOR WENT OFF. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO BEING IN TRAFFIC BUT THEN IT WENT OFF ON A CONSTANT HIGH PITCH SQUEAL. IT LASTED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES THEN SHUT OFF. THEN WHEN I WAS ON THE HANDS FREE TELEPHONE DEVICE THROUGH THE FORD CONSAL IT WENT OFF AGAIN AND I COUL
• WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT'S APPROACH SENSOR WENT OFF. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO BEING IN TRAFFIC BUT THEN IT WENT OFF ON A CONSTANT HIGH PITCH SQUEAL. IT LASTED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES THEN SHUT OFF. THEN WHEN I WAS ON THE HANDS FREE TELEPHONE DEVICE THROUGH THE FORD CONSAL IT WENT OFF AGAIN AND I COUL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 26 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“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, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

212 complaints

• 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
• THE DASH LIGHTS WILL NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL AS WELL AS FROM FORD TECHNICIANS. THEY ARE ON FULL BRIGHT ALL THE TIME. AN ANALOGY WOULD BE LIKE HAVING AN ONCOMING CAR HAVING ITS HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM AT NIGHT AND THEREFORE BE BLINDING. THERE IS A MANUAL OVERRIDE TO ADJUST
• THE 2014 FORD ESCAPE HAS A SOFTWARE/HARDWARE BUG IN WHICH THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER DOES NOT RETAIN ITS MANUAL DIMMER SETTINGS. AFTER 20-30 MINUTES WITH THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIMMER SETTING REVERTS TO MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS AUTOMATICALLY. MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 17 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

150 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AND THE CAR STEERING STIFFENED UP. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT SO LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR BUT IT WAS STILL STIFF THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND TAKE CAR OUT OF THE LOT. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND BRING THE KID
• WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE KEYLESS START-STOP BUTTON. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST AND ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART BY PUSHING START-STOP BUTTON. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW CAR - WITH OTHER CARS CLOSE BEHIND- SHIFT GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND APPLY BRAKE PE
• THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IS TOO SENSITIVE AT HIGHER SPEED. GENERALLY SPEAKING ABOVE 65 MPH ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO THAT DIRECTION. WHEN A CORRECTION IS MADE, THE VEHICLE GOES THE OPPOSITE WAY (TOO MUCH) WHICH TENDS TO MAKE VEHICLE FEEL AND LOOK AS IF IT WANDER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AND THE CAR STEERING STIFFENED UP. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT SO LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR BUT IT WAS STILL STIFF THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND TAKE CAR OUT OF THE LOT. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND BRING THE KID”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)