CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2025 Ford Escape

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

Owners have filed 24 safety complaints about the 2025 Ford Escape with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 9 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 6 complaints, 25% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 5,000 miles, the median across the 6 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers June 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

24 complaints on file

24

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 25%
ENGINE 5 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 21%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 8%
STRUCTURE 2 · 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 8%
AIR BAGS 1 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 · 4%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 24.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 17.

20 15 10 5
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2025 Ford Escape. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

9 on file

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

26V122000 · March 3, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 47,804 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

25V862000 · December 12, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
The risk
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 780 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

25V829000 · December 1, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
The risk
A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 108,762 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

25V787000 · November 14, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Maverick and Escape vehicles. The cover for the electric brake booster's ECU may cause the printed circuit board to overheat and result in a loss of vehicle stability control systems (anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and traction control) or a loss of brake power assist.
The risk
Loss of vehicle stability control or brake power assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the electric brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 17, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2 vehicles across all model years covered

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: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V161000 · March 14, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Escape vehicles. The rearview camera may incorrectly display an inverted image when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
An inverted rearview camera image will not accurately display what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C08.

Ford Motor Company · up to 4,721 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

25V049000 · January 31, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305.
The risk
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C02.

Ford Motor Company · up to 298 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

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The audible sound to let the driver know the blinker is on is too low of a volume to hear. This has created situations where the blinkers are activated, but the driver doesn't know. This could lead to accidents in lane changing, intersections and confusion for pedestrians.

NHTSA complaint 11766433. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Several spots on the body are misaligned which could indicate underlying assembly issues down to the frame which could impact crumple zones and safety.

NHTSA complaint 11763917. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Multiple computer related problems, including sensing objects that do not exist while using automated cruise control. Automatic braking engagement when car senses objects that do not exist both in the front and rear while driving. Rear sensor occupancy alert randomly triggered when it has been turned off, And when there is nobody in the back seat. GPS unable to locate signal even in wide open spaces, randomly drops service. Various climate control components read improperly, or do not display appropriately. Numerous morning messages both before and after incidents. The vehicle has been to Ford dealer, they have been unable to reproduce or determine what caused these faults.

NHTSA complaint 11761617. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

4,000 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the message that the engine was overheating was displayed, and the vehicle drove under reduced power. The contact exited the highway, pulled into a gas station, and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact resumed driving, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer later informed the contact that the warning light was no longer illuminated, and the failure could not be duplicated while test-driving the vehicle for an hour. The vehicle was not diagnosed or

NHTSA complaint 11752454, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My Ford Pass notified me that it detected an issue with the EGR valve. The dealership said I have to pay for this because it was not part of the recall. It is a 2025 Ford Escape which to my understanding most were included under a recall but my car is not part of this but clearly is an issue with my car. The day I got the warning I made appt to have fixed the following week but on my way to work the next day which is today XXX the car started misfiring and sporadically moving. When I got to stop light, car died and I had to start it 5 times for it to stay running. People were honking because the light changed and I couldn't get the car to move.Then it started sputtering again and I drove it

NHTSA complaint 11748056, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
While driving, the hood of my vehicle flew up and broke my windshield and caused damage to body by the hood hinge on both sides. There were no warning lamps or signals that warned me that the hood was loose. I had limited visual to pull over and close the hood. Fortunately I was going slow and there were not other vehicles that were impacted. Because the hood is opened inside with the double pull mechanism it is too easy to open the hood without the secondary safety hook outside like most vehicles have. I have had the windshield replaced and am working with insurance to complete repairs on the body.

NHTSA complaint 11743429. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Escape

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 76 8 1
2023 99 11 —
2022 232 19 —
2021 348 19 —
2020 1,602 23 —
2019 588 3 —
2018 1,804 4 —
2017 2,689 4 —
2016 1,131 4 —
2015 1,106 9 —
2014 2,086 16 4
2013 2,750 18 —
2012 602 1 —
2011 1,316 2 —
2010 2,070 3 —

Other 2025 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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