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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2024 Ford Escape

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

76

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

6

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2024 Ford Escape have filed 76 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2024 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 27 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 11,531 miles, the median across the 12 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 8 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (8)

ENGINE

25V372000 · June 3, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
The risk
An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.

Ford Motor Company · up to 404 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

25V343000 · May 23, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
The risk
An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.

Ford Motor Company · up to 6,781 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V315000 · May 9, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,076,138 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)

24V954000 · December 20, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
The risk
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S79.

Ford Motor Company · up to 20,484 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

24V852000 · November 8, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

Ford Motor Company · up to 27,678 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

24V850000 · November 8, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.

Ford Motor Company · up to 15 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

24V634000 · August 23, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.

Ford Motor Company · up to 24 vehicles across all model years covered

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

24V440000 · June 14, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Escape two-wheel drive vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
The risk
Misalignment of the radar module can result in the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) misclassifying an overhead object as an object in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow and/or stop. Other safety systems that depend on the radar model (Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Auto Emergency Braking) could have diminished or lost function. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S39.

Ford Motor Company · up to 209 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 76.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27 36%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 19 25%
LANE DEPARTURE 18 24%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16 21%
ENGINE 13 17%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 10 13%
AIR BAGS 6 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 5%
POWER TRAIN 2 3%
SEAT BELTS 2 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 56.

2024 2025 2026
2024 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

1 death · 2 injured · crash · towed

We are concerned that the seatbelt and possibly airbag malfunctioned and contributed to my mother in laws death on 11/17/2025. The drivers seatbelt had not been latching properly and would come unlatched at random times prior to the accident. The car was taken to dealership, based on the seatbelt not staying latched and it was repaired on 10/20/2025. She continued to have issues with it after the repair. Less than a month later, she was killed in a low speed collision. The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the chest. The officer on the scene expressed concern that the seatbelt malfunctioned and that it did not hold her securely.

NHTSA complaint 11754539. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

2 injured · towed · 16,000 miles

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving, there was an unusual noise detected before the failure. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking lot, there was an extremely loud boom. The contact noticed that the rear windshield exploded without warning or impact. The contact and her sister, occupying the passenger seat, sustained injuries to their ears. The occupants reported that their ears were clogged, but medical attention was not provided. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The contact called the local dealer, who said to bring the vehicle in for inspection. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or

NHTSA complaint 11699748, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

The car was in an accident. The curtain bags and the ones in the floor went off. The steering wheel did not.

NHTSA complaint 11746059. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · 14,000 miles

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that his wife had driven approximately 500 miles during a trip from Tennessee to Michigan, where she made stops as needed. The contact stated that after his wife arrived to the destination, she noticed that she had sustained third-degree burns on the right buttock and on the right upper leg from the front driver's side seat heater. The contact stated that his wife was a nurse and was self-treating at the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately

NHTSA complaint 11627243, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

crash

I was driving my 2024 Ford Escape approximately at 20-25 mph on the street when the hood flew open, hit, and shattered my windshield. The hood remained against the windshield and I immediately stopped the car and removed the hood from the windshield. I was not injured as a result of this incident. There was no warning or alert that the hood might have been open. Most cars have a hood ajar alert but it appears that in this case the system failed. I subsequently drove the car home and alerted my insurance company and the Bill Brown Ford Dealership. I took the car to the dealership and they inspected the car and stated the safety hood latch was intact. However, prior to the incident, I did not

NHTSA complaint 11751097, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I had problems with the brakes at first (system pressure). Than it was a powertrain failure. Followed by Turbocharger wastegate failure. It affected the vacuum system, brakes, and acceleration ability. Brakes became firm, but not stopping as well when applied. Had extreme loss of power trying to get up to speeds to enter highway & interstate at 60 then 70 mph. Dealership ended up replacing turbo wastegate. Exactly one week after getting it back. All the same happened again. Seeing others complaining of turbo wastegate failure (which is tied into vacuum/ pressure system & does in turn affect vehicle breaking system)

NHTSA complaint 11739552. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
On January [Insert Date], 2026, my 2024 Ford Escape suffered a sudden turbocharger failure that saturated the vehicle’s internal HVAC system with toxic ethylene glycol coolant. The vehicle’s ventilation system subsequently pumped these toxic chemical vapors directly into the enclosed passenger cabin. The inhalation of these toxic chemical vapors posed an immediate, life-threatening risk to my pregnant wife and myself (a patient with moderate persistent asthma), backed by formal medical warning letters from our OB/GYN and Pulmonologist. When I refused to take delivery of the un-remedied vehicle, a Ford corporate representative mandated that I drive it anyway, stating that if I suffered a

NHTSA complaint 11738745, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Power lift get kept closing which caused injury to my son. Lift gate if there is obstruction anywhere it should stop and go back up. Well this kept closing hit my son in the head caused severely bruised nose, laceration on his head and a mild concussion.

NHTSA complaint 11733934. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Escape

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 21 9 —
2023 94 11 —
2022 227 19 —
2021 332 19 —
2020 1,580 23 —
2019 572 3 —
2018 1,768 4 —
2017 2,658 4 —
2016 1,083 4 —
2015 1,058 9 —
2014 2,074 16 4
2013 2,744 18 —
2012 598 1 —
2011 1,314 2 —
2010 2,068 3 —

Other 2024 Ford models

F-150 183 Bronco Sport 100 Maverick Hybrid 98 Bronco 73 Mustang 73 Expedition 71 Ranger 69 Maverick 67

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst