41 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
When you shift into reverse, the picture from the backup camera can show up flipped or upside down on the center screen. A reversed image makes it hard to tell what is actually behind you and which way to steer, so you could back into a person or an object. It is a software problem, and the dealer will load the correct software into the screen system at no cost.
The motor that drives the windshield wipers can fail, so the wipers may not work the way they should or may stop working at all. If that happens during rain or snow, you can lose your clear view of the road. Ford has already mailed a letter warning owners about the risk, but the final fix is not ready yet; it is expected in October 2026. Dealers will inspect and replace the motor free of charge.
These vehicles have an engine block heater, the plug-in heater that warms the engine in cold weather. The heater can crack and leak coolant onto its electrical parts. When the heater is plugged in, that leak can cause an electrical short circuit, and a short circuit can start a fire. Ford is telling owners not to plug in the block heater at all until the vehicle is repaired. A dealer will replace the heater free of charge.
The liftgate is the rear hatch you lift to load the back of the vehicle, and small covers sit over its hinges. On these Escapes those covers may not be fastened properly. A cover can work loose and come off the vehicle. If it comes off while you are driving, it can distract you or land in the road, where another driver could hit it. The dealer inspects the covers and reattaches or replaces any that are loose or missing.
The rear brake pads on these Escapes may have been made incorrectly. If the brake booster, the part that makes the brake pedal easy to press, ever stops working, the faulty pads mean the brakes do less than they should. You would have to push much harder on the pedal, and the vehicle would take a longer distance to stop. The notice says dealers will replace the front brake pads free of charge; letters were mailed in November 2025.
An engine block heater is the plug-in warmer some vehicles have to help the engine start in very cold weather. On these Fords and Lincolns the heater can crack and leak coolant, and the leak can cause an electrical short when the heater is plugged in. That short can start a fire. Ford is telling owners not to plug in the block heater at all until the vehicle is fixed. Dealers will replace it, or seal it off and remove the cord, free.
A fuel injector — the part that sprays gasoline into the engine — can crack and leak fuel under the hood. Gasoline dripping onto hot engine or exhaust parts can start a fire. Dealers can update the engine software now as a temporary measure; the full repair, a new fuel rail and injectors, is expected around July 2026. Vehicles already fixed under the earlier related recalls still need this new final repair.
A software error affects the backup camera. The screen may show a blank image when you shift into reverse, so you cannot see what is behind the vehicle. Or the camera picture may stay on the screen after you have shifted out of reverse, which can distract you while driving forward. Either situation raises the risk of a crash. A dealer will update the rearview camera software free of charge.
The cylinder head, a major part sitting on top of the engine, may have been made incorrectly. Small plugs pressed into it can fail and let engine oil leak out. Losing oil can make the engine lose power while you are driving. Oil that drips onto hot engine or exhaust parts can also catch fire. The fix is replacing the cylinder head assembly at a Ford dealer.
These vehicles have an engine block heater, a device that warms the engine in cold weather while the car is plugged into an outlet. On the recalled vehicles, that heater can get too hot while the car sits plugged in, and the heat can start a fire. Ford will replace the heating element and check the cord, replacing it if needed. You can instead ask to have the heater element taken out, the opening plugged, and the cord removed.
Some Escape, Maverick and Corsair hybrids and plug-in hybrids with the 2.5-liter engine were fixed incorrectly during an earlier recall, so the original problem is still there. If the engine breaks down, engine oil and fuel vapor can spray into the engine bay and land on hot engine or exhaust parts. That can start a fire under the hood. Ford will reprogram the engine's computer at no cost to reduce the chance of this happening.
A software error in the module that runs the screen can make the backup camera image lag, freeze, or not appear at all when you put the vehicle in reverse. You could back into something or someone you cannot see. The fix is a software update to that module, done free at a dealer or, on some vehicles, sent to the vehicle over the air. Ford is doing this in phases, so timing depends on your model and year.
These vehicles had an earlier repair done incorrectly. A fuel injector, the part that sprays gasoline into the engine, can crack and let fuel leak out under the hood. Engine and exhaust parts nearby get very hot, so leaking gasoline there can catch fire. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving or park outside, but a fuel smell should be taken seriously. Dealers will update the engine software free.
Certain Ford Maverick, Escape and Lincoln Corsair hybrids were repaired incorrectly under an earlier recall, so the original problem is still there. Software in the hybrid powertrain computer can shift the vehicle into neutral on its own. When that happens, the engine still runs but the wheels get no power, so the vehicle coasts and slows down even though you are pressing the gas pedal. Losing power like that, especially in traffic or while merging, raises the chance of a crash.
A defect in the high-voltage battery cells can cause a short circuit inside the pack. The battery can fail while you drive, so the car may suddenly lose power, and the failure can also start a fire. Ford tells owners not to charge the battery until the repair is done. The dealer will update the battery control computer and replace the battery pack if needed, free. Ford has since issued a newer recall with an updated fix for these same vehicles.
The airbag warning label that belongs on the dashboard may be missing from your vehicle. That label explains how people should be seated and buckled in — for example, where children should ride — so the airbags and seat belts protect everyone properly in a crash. Without it, someone riding in the vehicle could sit in a way that increases their risk of injury. Ford will mail the warning labels to owners free of charge.
The plastic cover on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat may have been made wrong. That cover sits over the passenger airbag and is supposed to split open cleanly so the bag can inflate. Because it was built incorrectly, the cover can break apart and throw pieces into the cabin, or the airbag may not open the way it should. Either way, a passenger could be hurt in a crash.
The fuel injectors spray gasoline into the engine. On these vehicles, some injectors were put together at the factory without a small support disc that helps the rubber seal hold tight. Without that disc, gasoline can leak out. If leaking fuel reaches something hot, such as the engine or exhaust, it can catch fire. Only certain vehicles built with the faulty assembly are affected. A dealer will install new seals and the missing support discs at no cost.
The radar sensor at the front of these Escapes was aimed incorrectly when the vehicle was built. Because of that, adaptive cruise control can mistake something overhead, such as a bridge or a sign, for an object in your lane and slow the vehicle down or even stop it for no reason. The same radar also feeds the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems, so those may work poorly or not work at all. A dealer adjusts the angle of the sensor.
The software in the hybrid system on these vehicles can slip the transmission into neutral on its own. When that happens the engine keeps running but no power reaches the wheels, so the vehicle coasts and slows down even though you are pressing the gas. That can leave you stranded in traffic with little warning. The fix is a software update that a dealer loads onto the vehicle at no charge; it does not require new parts.
Ford is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles with the 1.5-liter engine. A fuel injector, the part that sprays gasoline into the engine, can crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. If that gasoline reaches something hot, such as the engine or exhaust parts, it can start a fire. Dealers will update the engine software so it can detect a leak and will add a drain tube, all free. Letters were mailed April 24, 2024.
The digital display behind the steering wheel, the screen that shows your speed and warning lights, may have been soldered badly at the factory. Because of that, the display can fail to light up at all. With a dark screen you cannot see how fast you are going or whether a warning light is trying to tell you something, such as a brake or engine problem. That also breaks a federal rule on controls and displays. Dealers will replace the module or the panel free.
Certain Escape, Maverick and Corsair models with the 2.5-liter hybrid or plug-in hybrid engine can fail in a way that lets engine oil and fuel vapor escape into the engine bay. Those fluids can reach hot engine or exhaust parts and catch fire under the hood. Depending on your vehicle, the dealer will either replace the engine or update the engine computer software, and will replace the engine if a worn bearing is found. All work is free.
These Escape and Bronco Sport models with the 1.5-liter engine have fuel injectors — the parts that spray gasoline into the engine — that can crack. A cracked injector lets fuel leak out under the hood, where the engine and exhaust get very hot. Leaking gasoline near hot parts can catch fire. The dealer fix is new engine software that watches for a leak, plus a drain tube that carries any leaking fuel away from hot parts. Cars fixed under the earlier recall need this newer repair too.
These hybrid and plug-in hybrid models use a 2.5-liter engine. If that engine fails, engine oil and fuel vapor can escape into the engine bay and collect near hot parts such as the engine itself or the exhaust. Those hot parts can set the oil and vapor alight, starting a fire under the hood. Ford's repair modifies the shield under the engine and the movable grille shutters at the front, free of charge.
A small bushing connects the gear shifter to the transmission, and it can wear out or come off. When that happens, the vehicle may not go into the gear you selected, so it can move in a direction you did not expect. It can also roll away after you shift into Park. Dealers replace the bushing and add a protective cap over the cable at no cost to you.
These hybrid vehicles use a large high-voltage battery to help drive the wheels. Inside that battery, some of the welds that join parts together were not made well enough and can break. If a weld fails, the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that moves it, which could leave you coasting in traffic with no ability to speed up or pull away. Dealers replace the entire high-voltage battery at no cost to you.
These vehicles have a part on the engine called an oil separator housing. On the recalled vehicles that housing can crack, and engine oil can leak out. If the oil drips onto hot parts such as the engine or exhaust, it can catch fire. A dealer will look at the oil separator for cracks or leaks and replace the part and its seals if needed. Watch for oil spots under the car or a burning smell while you wait for service.
The big battery that helps power these hybrid vehicles can fail. If it does, the vehicle can suddenly stop pulling — you lose the ability to accelerate while you are driving, with no warning beforehand. This affects Escape and Corsair models built with the 2.5-liter hybrid engine. Ford is fixing it by putting in a brand-new high-voltage battery at no cost to you. Letters went out to owners at the end of March 2022, so the repair has been available for a while.
The rear brake material on these vehicles may have been made wrong, which can hurt how well the vehicle stops. In some situations you would have to push the brake pedal harder than normal, and the vehicle would take a longer distance to come to a stop. The notice says dealers will replace the front brake pads at no charge. Nothing about the brakes looks different from the outside, so a dealer has to do the work.
This recall covers a single 2021 Escape hybrid. The large battery pack that helps drive the car can fail. If it does, the car can suddenly lose power to the wheels while you are driving, with no time to prepare. You could be left coasting in traffic or on a highway. Ford is replacing the battery pack at no cost to you. Because only one vehicle is involved, most owners will not be affected.
The fuel pump assembly inside the gas tank can leak, so fuel reaches the engine at too low a pressure. The engine can then stall while you are driving. A stall can happen in traffic or at highway speed, which raises the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly at no cost. Owners were sent an early notice in September 2021 and a follow-up letter in December 2021 once the repair was available.
Some of the Continental tires on these vehicles were cured, or baked, for too long when they were made. An over-cured tire can break open at the sidewall and lose air all at once, or the tread can start separating and peel off the tire. Either one can make the vehicle hard to control. Only some tires are affected, so the dealer will look at the tires on your vehicle and replace any bad ones at no charge.
The rear axle unit on these vehicles may not have enough oil inside it. Running low on that lubricant can make the rear drive unit lock up. If it locks up while you are driving, the vehicle can lose power to the wheels and become hard to control. Dealers will check the oil level, top it up if it is low, and replace the whole unit if it is too low. All free of charge.
On some Escapes with a key-start ignition, the computer that handles body electronics sometimes does not pick up the signal from the rear tire pressure sensors or from your key fob. That means if a back tire goes low, you may not get a proper warning on the dash. Driving on a soft tire makes the vehicle handle poorly and you could lose control. The dealer replaces that computer free of charge, and you need to bring both key fobs.
A poor electrical connection to the backup camera can make the screen go blank or show a fuzzy, distorted picture when you shift into reverse. It may happen on and off rather than all the time. If you cannot see what is behind you, it is easier to back into a person or an object. Federal rules require a working rear camera on these vehicles. Dealers will replace the camera at no charge.
Bolts on a part of the transmission tied to the automatic start/stop feature may be loose or missing entirely. That lets transmission fluid leak out. As the fluid drains away the transmission can stop working, and if leaking fluid reaches a hot enough source it can start a fire. Ford is replacing that part on affected vehicles. A dealer will fit a new start/stop accumulator free of charge, and this repair is not one to put off.
These vehicles have side curtain airbags that come down over the side windows in a crash to protect your head. A small part inside the airbag, which directs the gas that fills it, may not have been crimped on tightly. It can come loose from the inflator when the airbag goes off, so the curtain may not fill out the way it should and may not protect you properly in a crash. Dealers replace the curtain airbag units free.
The mechanism that lets a seat back tilt is supposed to have three metal catches holding it in place, and on these vehicles one catch may be missing. With a catch missing, the seat back is weaker than it should be and may feel loose. In a crash, a seat back like this may not hold the person in the seat properly, which can make injuries worse. Dealers will inspect the seats and replace them as needed, free of charge.
Some 2018 Escape and MKC vehicles left the factory with the wrong front brake hoses. Because they are not the right ones, they can rub against nearby parts until they wear through and start leaking brake fluid. Losing brake fluid means your brakes get weaker and the vehicle takes longer to stop than you expect. Dealers will look at the hoses and put in correct ones wherever the wrong parts were used.
Certain 2018 Ford Escapes have a problem with the side curtain airbags, the ones that drop down along the windows to protect your head in a crash. A part inside the airbag can come loose when the airbag inflates. If that happens, the loose piece can be thrown into the cabin where you and your passengers are sitting. Dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain airbags at no cost.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Ford Escape. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1784 | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| 2019 | 583 | 24 | 3 | 28 |
| 2020 | 1523 | 20 | 4 | 28 |
| 2021 | 341 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| 2022 | 230 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
| 2023 | 95 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 76 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: