2015 Ford Escape problems and recalls

Owners have filed 1,081 complaints on the 2015 Ford Escape, and NHTSA has issued 9 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (284 complaints).

1,081
Complaints
9
Recalls
29
Crash reports
19
Fire reports
32
Injuries
46.3
Severity index

Severity index 46.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 46.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 117 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 18% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 284 complaints (26.3%)284 26%EngineEngine: 238 complaints (22.0%)238 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 140 complaints (13.0%)140 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 134 complaints (12.4%)134 12%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 133 complaints (12.3%)133 12%SteeringSteering: 80 complaints (7.4%)80 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 50 complaints (4.6%)50 5%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 44 complaints (4.1%)44 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN28426.3%
ENGINE23822.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14013.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13412.4%
BACK OVER PREVENTION13312.3%
STEERING807.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM504.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING444.1%

Complaints filed per year

0801602014: 12015: 282016: 322017: 432018: 692019: 832020: 1112021: 672022: 1362023: 1102024: 992025: 1422026: 160 (partial year)14151617181920212223242526160
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20141
201528
201632
201743
201869
201983
2020111
202167
2022136
2023110
202499
2025142
2026 (year to date)160
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (351 against 314).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V47200025/07/2017SEAT BELTSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.
16V64300006/09/2016LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching
15V40600024/06/2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster
15V43600008/07/2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affec
20V33100008/06/2020LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recal
22V25400014/04/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
22V41300010/06/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)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.
25V69500013/10/2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermitten
26V01100015/01/2026EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERFord 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.

Other Ford Escape model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.