2025 Ford Escape problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Ford Escape, most often about engine. There are 9 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
25
Recalls
9
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Median mileage
5,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 9 of 25 complaints (36%).
  • Electrical System (6) and driver assistance & safety tech (3) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 5,000 mi.
  • The 2025 Ford Escape has 9 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 21st of 22 Ford Escape model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 67% fewer complaints than the 2024 model year (76).

2025 Ford Escape problems by category

  • Engine
    9 complaints
  • Electrical System
    6 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    5 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    3 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    3 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    2 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    2 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    2 complaints
  • Brakes
    1 complaints
  • Airbags
    1 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    1 complaints
  • Lighting
    1 complaints
  • Steering
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system6
Engine5
Unknown or other5
Engine and engine cooling4
Power train3
Structure:body2
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2
Fuel/propulsion system2

When problems happen (mileage)

4Under 10k110k–30k130k–60k60k–100k100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2025 Ford Escape complaints that list mileage.

2025 Ford Escape recalls (9)

  • Recall 26V122000Mar 3, 202647,804 vehicles
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

    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.

    Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

    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.

  • Recall 25V862000Dec 12, 2025780 vehicles
    SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

    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.

    Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    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.

  • Recall 25V829000Dec 1, 2025108,762 vehicles
    STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

    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.

    Risk: A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  • Recall 25V787000Nov 14, 20252 vehicles
    ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

    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.

    Risk: Loss of vehicle stability control or brake power assist can increase the risk of a crash.

    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.

  • Recall 25V372000Jun 3, 2025404 vehicles
    ENGINE

    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.

    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.

    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.

  • Recall 25V343000May 23, 20256,781 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

    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.

    Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.

    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.

  • Recall 25V161000Mar 14, 20254,721 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

    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."

    Risk: An inverted rearview camera image will not accurately display what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    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.

  • Recall 25V049000Jan 31, 2025298 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

    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.

    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.

    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.

  • Recall 24V850000Nov 8, 202415 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

    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."

    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.

    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.

Recent 2025 Ford Escape complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 7, 2026CADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding a systemic, life-threatening defect in the tuning of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software in modern vehicles, specifically experienced in the 2024 Ford Escape. I am a professional driver who operates vehicles for approximately 14 hours a day. My livelihood and my life depend on predictable vehicle handling. The current federal mandates surrounding un-deletable active…
    NHTSA complaint #11769493 · source
  2. Filed Sep 23, 2026MNLighting
    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 · source
  3. Filed Sep 13, 2026WABody & Structure
    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 · source
  4. Filed Sep 2, 2026ILDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    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,…
    NHTSA complaint #11761617 · source
  5. Filed Jul 23, 20264,000 miNCEngine
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11752454 · source
  6. Filed Jul 2, 2026TNOther / Unknown
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11748056 · source
  7. Filed Jun 11, 2026NCBody & StructureVisibility & Wipers
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11743429 · source
  8. Filed May 24, 2026GAEngine
    I bought this vehicle in mid April 2026 with 9,500 miles. It has the 1.5L Ecoboost engine. I drove the car for 3,000 miles and noticed the coolant was at ‘minimum’ and wondered why a car with so few miles is using coolant. I took the car to my dealer and they confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine due to a bad head gasket. The vehicle is now at the dealer waiting on either a new head gasket or other more intensive repairs due to internal damage. I wanted to flag this…
    NHTSA complaint #11739774 · source

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Other 2025 Ford models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology