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.
Ford is recalling certain Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles because the windshield wiper motor may fail. If the motor fails, the windshield wipers may stop working properly, which can make it harder for the driver to see the road. Dealers will inspect the front wiper motors and replace them if necessary, at no cost to the owner. A final repair is expected to be available in October 2026.
The image on the center display may flip or turn upside down, showing an incorrect rearview image when the vehicle is put into reverse. Because the rearview image is not displayed correctly, these vehicles do not meet federal safety standards for rear visibility. To fix the problem, Ford dealers will update the software in the accessory protocol interface module at no charge to the owner.
The engine block heater in some Ford Escape and Focus vehicles can crack over time and leak coolant. If coolant leaks while the heater is plugged in, it can cause an electrical short circuit inside the heater. This short circuit raises the chance that a fire could start in the vehicle.
Ford is recalling certain Escape vehicles because the covers over the liftgate hinges may not be attached properly. The liftgate is the rear door that lifts up. A cover that is not secured can come off the vehicle. Dealers will inspect the covers and reinstall them, or replace any that are missing, at no cost to the owner. Ford mailed notification letters to owners, and the company has a customer service line for owners who have questions about this recall.
Certain Escape SUVs have rear brake pads that were not manufactured correctly. If the brake booster ever malfunctions, these incorrectly made pads can reduce how well your brakes work, meaning the brakes may not perform as they should when you need them most.
In certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles, the engine block heater can crack and develop a coolant leak. If the block heater is plugged in when this happens, it can short circuit.
On certain Ford Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles with 1.5-liter engines, a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. If this fuel leak occurs near a hot engine or exhaust part, it could ignite. Ford will update the engine control software as an interim fix, and will later replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and fuel injectors to fully correct the problem.
Ford is recalling certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including the Explorer, Escape, F-150, Expedition, Ranger, Mustang, Bronco Sport, Maverick, Transit and the Lincoln Aviator, Corsair, Navigator and Nautilus. A software problem can make the rearview camera show a blank picture when the vehicle is backing up. The picture can also stay on the screen after the driver has finished backing up. Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost. Letters were mailed to owners in September 2025.
The engine's cylinder head may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause small plugs inside it to fail. When a plug fails, engine oil can leak out. Losing oil can cause the engine to lose power while driving. If the leaking oil reaches a hot part of the engine or the exhaust system, it can also start a fire.
Ford is recalling certain Lincoln Nautilus, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L engine and an engine block heater. The block heater may overheat while the vehicle is parked with it plugged in.
Certain Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and Ford Maverick hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles were repaired incorrectly under an earlier recall. If the engine fails, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and build up near hot engine or exhaust parts, which are possible sources of ignition. This may result in a fire in the engine compartment.
Ford is recalling certain 2021 through 2025 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including Bronco, Edge, Escape, Expedition, Mustang, Ranger, Transit, F-150, Super Duty pickups, Mach-E and the Lincoln Nautilus, Navigator and Corsair. A software error can make the backup camera picture come up late, freeze, or not appear at all when the vehicle is in reverse. Ford is handling this recall in phases, so the fix becomes available at different times depending on the model and model year.
This recall covers certain Ford Escape and Bronco Sport vehicles that were already repaired once for a related fuel system problem, but the repair did not fully fix it. A fuel injector in these vehicles may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Ford is recalling certain Maverick, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles that were fixed incorrectly under an earlier recall for this same issue. A software problem in the hybrid transmission control module may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, which means the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that drives the wheels.
Certain Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles have a manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells. This defect may cause an internal short circuit and battery failure. A failed battery can cause the vehicle to lose drive power, and it can also increase the risk of a fire.
Ford is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles because the passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly. This can prevent the air bag underneath from deploying as intended. During deployment, the air bag cover may break apart and send fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag itself may deploy improperly. As a result, these vehicles do not meet federal occupant crash protection standards.
Ford is recalling certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including the Explorer, Escape, F-150, Expedition and the Lincoln Aviator, Corsair and Navigator. The airbag warning label that belongs on the dashboard may be missing. That label shows how seat belts and other restraints should be used. Because the label is missing, these vehicles do not meet the federal safety standard for occupant crash protection. Ford will mail owners the warning labels at no cost. Letters were mailed to owners in December 2024.
Ford is recalling these vehicles because the fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs. Without these discs in place, the fuel injectors can develop a fuel leak. A fuel leak that happens near something that could ignite it raises the chance of a fire starting in the vehicle. This affects certain Lincoln Corsair, Escape, Mustang, and Explorer vehicles built with this fuel injector assembly problem.
On certain Ford Escape two-wheel drive vehicles with adaptive cruise control, the radar module used by the system was not lined up correctly when the vehicle was built. Because of this, the cruise control may mistake something like an overhead object for something actually in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow down or stop. Other features that rely on this radar, like collision warning and automatic braking, may also not work as well as they should.
This recall covers certain Ford Maverick, Ford Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A software problem in the system that manages the hybrid powertrain may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, resulting in a loss of drive power.
In certain Ford Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles with 1.5L engines, a fuel injector inside the engine may develop a crack. If the injector cracks, fuel can leak out of it and collect inside the engine compartment. If that leaking fuel reaches an ignition source, such as a hot engine part or hot exhaust component, it can lead to a fire.
Some Ford Escape, F-450, and F-550 trucks with a digital instrument panel cluster may have a module that was not soldered correctly. This can prevent the instrument panel from lighting up at all. Dealers will replace the module or the instrument panel as needed, at no cost to owners. Ford has already mailed notification letters to owners about this issue.
Certain hybrid and plug-in hybrid Escape, Maverick, and Corsair vehicles can suffer an engine failure that releases engine oil and fuel vapor into the engine compartment. This vapor can collect near hot parts of the engine or exhaust, close to sources that could ignite it. If that happens, it may start a fire in the engine compartment, which raises the risk of injury to anyone in or near the vehicle.
On these Ford Escape and Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5-liter engines, a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
If the hybrid engine fails, oil and fuel vapor could leak into the engine compartment. This vapor may collect near hot parts of the engine or exhaust system, which are potential ignition sources. This buildup could lead to a fire in the engine compartment, which increases the risk of injury. This affects certain Escape, Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles with hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines.
On certain Ford Edge, Escape, and Transit Connect vehicles, the bushing that connects the shifter cable to the transmission may wear out or come loose. If this happens, the vehicle may not shift into the gear the driver selects, and could move in a direction the driver doesn't expect. The vehicle may also roll after the driver puts it in Park. Dealers will replace the bushing and add a protective cap, free of charge.
Certain hybrid Escape and Corsair models have a high voltage battery built with insufficient welds inside. If those welds fail, the battery can no longer properly deliver power, and the vehicle can lose the ability to drive while it's being used.
On vehicles with the 1.5L engine, the engine oil separator housing may crack. Once cracked, it can develop an oil leak. If that leaking oil reaches a hot engine or exhaust component that could ignite it, it raises the chance of a fire.
Ford is recalling certain Corsair and Escape vehicles equipped with the 2.5L hybrid powertrain because the high voltage battery may fail. If the battery fails, the vehicle can experience a sudden loss of drive power while it is being driven, meaning the vehicle stops moving forward under its own power. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge, so the vehicle's power system works as intended.
The rear brake linings on these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affect how well the brakes perform. In certain situations, you may need to press the brake pedal harder than usual, and the distance needed to stop the vehicle may be longer than expected. To fix this, dealers will replace the front brake pads at no charge to the owner.
On a 2021 Escape with the 2.5L hybrid powertrain, the high voltage battery may fail. If this happens, the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that drives it forward.
Ford is recalling certain Escape, Bronco Sport, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles because the fuel delivery module inside the fuel tank may leak. This can cause low fuel pressure, which could cause the engine to stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Certain Ford Escape, F-150, and F-250/F-350 vehicles were built with Continental tires that may have been cured for too long during manufacturing. An over-cured tire can develop a break in its sidewall, leading to sudden air loss or the belt separating from the tire.
Certain Ford Edge, Escape and Bronco Sport, along with Lincoln Corsair and Nautilus vehicles, may have an inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit. Without enough lubricant, the rear drive axle can seize while the vehicle is being driven, affecting how the vehicle moves.
In vehicles with a key-start ignition, the body control module may sometimes fail to pick up signals from the rear tire pressure sensors or the remote key fob. If tire pressure gets low, the system may not give an adequate warning.
Ford is recalling a wide range of vehicles, including the F-150 and Super Duty pickups, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, plus the Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair. A poor electrical connection can cause the rearview camera to show a blank or distorted image from time to time. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rear visibility standard. Dealers will replace the rearview camera free of charge, and owners have been notified by mail.
This recall covers certain Ford Edge, Ford Escape, Ford Transit Connect, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The bolts on the start/stop accumulator end cap may be missing or loose.
Ford is recalling certain Escape and Transit vehicles because a part inside the side curtain airbags, called the diffuser, may not have been crimped correctly. In a crash, the diffuser could detach from the inflator, and the curtain airbag may not inflate the way it is supposed to.
Ford is recalling certain trucks and SUVs, along with some Lincoln Aviator vehicles, that have manual front seat back recliners, or in some cases rear outboard seat recliners. The mechanism that lets the seat back recline may be missing a part needed to keep the seat back strong and secure. Without it, the seat back can become loose and may not hold together as it should.
Some Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles may have the wrong front brake hoses installed. These hoses can rub against other parts of the vehicle. Over time, that rubbing may wear through a hose and cause brake fluid to leak out. Losing brake fluid can make it take longer for the vehicle to stop when the brakes are applied.
On some Ford Escape vehicles, the side curtain airbags have a component that may come loose while the airbag is deploying. If it detaches, that piece could become a loose object flying inside the vehicle cabin.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1,784 | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 583 | 24 | 3 | 28 |
| 2020 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 1,523 | 20 | 4 | 28 |
| 2021 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 341 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| 2022 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 230 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
| 2023 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 102 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 78 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
NHTSA lists 41 safety recalls covering the 2018–2024 Ford Escape. 33 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Ford, Lincoln Wiper Motor May Fail To Work" (NHTSA campaign 26V117000), reported Mar 3, 2026.
The 2020 Ford Escape has the most, with 23 recalls. The 2019 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 3. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
No. None of the 41 Ford Escape recalls on file carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Ford dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: