What 2,068 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Escape Gas

The contact owned a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, he noticed smoke exiting from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and exited the vehicle safely. The contact opened the hood and saw fire located around the engine. The contact stated a bystander attempted to extinguish the fire but the vehicle was engulfed in the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire but no fire report was filed. The contact stated the police officers did arrive at the location and deemed the vehicle a total loss but no report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11514839

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where they repaired the bushing shifter cable. The failure recurred and the steering wheel became stiff. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the contact the steering wheel became stiff. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the contact to side swiped another vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11510331

I was driving on I95 southbound with my 3.5 month old daughter when my cars engine failed, my brakes and acceleration failed, and my car started being engulfed in smoke. I had to veer off of I95 as far as I could with my breaks or gas working. Within 2 minutes my car was in complete flames. I was able to get my daughter and I out in time but everything in the car was demolished. Ford has refused to reimburse for any value of the car as well as any value of the items that were in the car. The value of the items in the car totaled more than $5,000. My husband and I were forced to sell our other car in order to afford to buy a new car. Both of our cars were paid off.

NHTSA ODI 11506932

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the low coolant warning light was illuminated. The contact then pulled into a gas station and turned off the vehicle. The message "High Engine Temperature. Stop Safely" was displayed. The contact stated that her husband who was following her at the time also pulled into the gas station and opened the hood of the vehicle. The contact's husband saw flames coming from the engine compartment. The contact was able to extinguish the fire by pouring soda on the flames. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine And Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to follow up on the case. The failure mileage was approximately 111,344.

NHTSA ODI 11498588

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that as her husband grabbed the front passenger's side assist grab handle to adjust himself in the front passenger's side seat, the grab handle fractured and separated from the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her husband was grabbing the rear passenger's side grab handle to exit the vehicle. The contact stated that her husband fell on the ground and sustained a sore right ankle and bruises on and above the knee of the left foot. Additionally, the contact's husband sustained back pain. The contact's husband had not sought medical assistance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

NHTSA ODI 11494730

Transmission without warning; "check engine light'. It was collision. I made a left turn from the stop sign when I pulled into the path of the vehicle which had the right way. I saw white vehicle and it was little further and I can make it to turn left without collision. But the suv won't let me move to 2 lanes and collision. I remember that one day before collision. I notice that rpm was 5 when I was on highway after traffic light. It is not normal for rpm 5 and usually 3. NO warning - 'check engine light'. I feel that it is not safe without warning. The grandchildren and I were in accident and escaped from hurt. Airbag curtains are really work.

NHTSA ODI 11478448

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after driving into a parking space and switching the transmission to the park position, the vehicle suddenly jolted forward and crashed into a brick wall. During the crash, the vehicle experienced significant damage to the front end but no air bag was deployed. The driver sustained neck and back injuries but no medical treatment was required. The vehicle was not towed. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11477370

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, he was rear-ended by another vehicle that was driving at 70 MPH. The contact applied the emergency brake to prevent his vehicle from hitting the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sought treatment at a urgent care where he was treated for the pain in his neck and back. A police report was not filed. The contact drove the vehicle home and contacted a dealer who referred him to an independent collision center. The vehicle was towed to the collision center where the vehicle was repaired. Upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that the instrument cluster screen was white and would flicker. The vehicle was taken back to the collision center where they towed the vehicle to the Ford dealer. The dealer informed that contact that the instrument cluster was an internal failure and would not cover the cost of repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000( Electrical System) which he linked to his failure. The manufacturer was notified and informed him that his vehicle was not included in the recall; he was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown due to the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11475891

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while parking the vehicle in the garage, the vehicle unintended accelerated causing the vehicle to damage the garage wall, garage freezer, and into the next room which was a bedroom. The vehicle was taken to a collision center for repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that there were no recalls and the vehicle did not have an extended warranty. The failure mileage was 55,465. The consumer stated the vehicle is not repaired as of yet, presently waiting for the parts.

NHTSA ODI 11470222

Car rolled backwards down driveway dragging driver, car was in park and keys were out of ignition. I have the entire incident on video, it was recorded by a security camera.

NHTSA ODI 11470080

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?-Coolant/temperature sensor causing the vehicle to overheat, cylinder head to crack, and coolant leak into the engine. Safety jeopardized?-Yes, the car was then burning the coolant and it was entering the air and inhaled. Possible connection to a confirmed cancer case in the main driver. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?-Yes, it was reported to two separate Ford dealerships a total of 5 times. Each time the dealership told me they could not diagnose the problem. I took the car to an independent service center and it was confirmed the head was visibly cracked in 3 locations and the car was burning coolant and emitting it through the exhaust. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?-The vehicle has been to Ford dealerships and inspected for service, recalls, and multiple times for this specific issue. Were there any warning lamps?-No warning lamps, no other symptoms prior to the failure. I purchased the vehicle from Fred Beans Ford, West Chester in Feb. 2016. In Oct. 2016 the vehicle overheated without any warning lamps or messages and it was towed to Fred Beans Ford. The service department stated there were no issues with the vehicle but replaced the temperature sensor that was recalled. The problem continued with the coolant level decreasing and no leaks could be found. The vehicle was taken to Fred Beans for a coolant leak 3 additional times and each time I was told they could not diagnose it and they just refilled the coolant. After this I checked the coolant daily and refilled it if needed to the appropriate level. October 2021 I took it to New Holland Ford where they could not diagnose it. May 2021 an independent center and machine shop where 3 cracks were found in the head causing coolant to leak into the engine and come out the exhaust.

NHTSA ODI 11469312

NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 This current recall, is not attached to the VIN for my Ford Escape and the car is in the shop for the exact issue. Ford said the NHSTA would have to attach the known recall to the VIN Ford Repair order 787886

NHTSA ODI 11468206

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while idled and attempting to park in her driveway, there were flames coming from under the hood. The hood was opened and flames were visible from the engine. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle overheated, there was a cracked cylinder and an oil leak prior to the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was not notified. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468035

Owner was driving vehicle approximately 40-45 mph when a yellow light appeared on the dash and message 'powering down' came on. Owner pulled over opened the hood to find smoke and then flames which caused damage to their vehicle. Claim 31V4FM458

NHTSA ODI 11461490

Owner scheduled appointment with Lakeview Ford due to no heat in vehicle, stalling when fuel was full, an active indicator for airbags. They completed the repairs for total around $1500. Shop went to test drive and vehicle caught fire.

NHTSA ODI 11455895

The contact's niece owned a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his niece was driving at 60-65 MPH, she saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The coolant warning light illuminated. The contact stated that as his niece veered to the side of the road and exited the vehicle, she saw fire underneath the vehicle. The contact's niece was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was totaled. The used car dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11439999

Engine caught on fire

NHTSA ODI 11435078

Driving a friends vehicle, got out to run into an open garage for an errand. Placed floor shift in park, left driver door open, vehicle running...no chime! Came back to SUV, friend had gotten out of the passenger side, closed door and was standing at the rear of the vehicle. She stated that she needed to get into the cargo area and that I needed to turn the vehicle off so that it could be opened. I questioned why I could not just push the door open button and she stated that it was a safety feature. She came around to the outside of the driver's door and said to reach in and turn it off, at which time the SUV immediately went into reverse, caught me under the door and dragged me approximately 20-25 feet The vehicle came to rest partially on the driveway and partially in grass. I had road rash on my back and massive blood loss in my abdomen as well as bruising on thigh and elbows. It is my understanding that this model has been recalled for both the lack of chime when running, key in the ignition, door open AND a transmission bushing that malfunctions and does not properly go into park by using the gear shifter. And that others have been dragged by their 2014 Escapes. I do not own this vehicle and the owner stated that I did not properly put it into park OR knocked it out of park when I reached in to turn the ignition off. Therefore she will not have the vehicle checked for a malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11429747

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY REVERSED AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING DRAGGING THE CONTACT ABOUT 20 FEET. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ROAD RASH AND A BRUISED THIGH AND ABDOMEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE ISSUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V471000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11413246

2014 FORD ESCAPE TITANIUM TAKEN IN FOR EVERY RECALL, AND MAINTAINED. WHILE DRIVING ON A 3 LANE ROAD GOING 40 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ON FULL SPEED (NOT RAINING) AND WOULD NOT/COULD NOT TURN THEM OFF. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEY WENT DOWN TO SLOW SPEED. THEN THE CAR LOST POWER, NO STEERING OR BRAKES. NO WAY TO STOP OR STEER THE CAR. IT SLOWED AND FINALLY CAME TO A CLUNKY STOP. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR ONTO THE ROAD AT THAT TIME. WITHIN 1-2 MINUTES THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, UP AND OVER THE HOOD ONTO THE TOP AND OVER THE CAR COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI 11407861

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT THEN SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GORDY'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR (2639 S FIELDSPAN RD, DUSON, LA 70529). THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,883.

NHTSA ODI 11405443

A CAR TOOK THE RED LIGHT AS WE HAD THE GREEN LIGHT SHE RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN FISH TALED AND HER REAR CAR SMASHED INTO MY FRONT... NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL BUT THE OTHER 2 CAR DID AND MY FRONT END DAMAGES ARE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ACCIDENT WAS ARRESTED AT THE SCENE AND THEY DID A SOBRIETY TEST ON HER

NHTSA ODI 11390646

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. AS A RESULT, THE EXHAUST PIPE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS HOT AND MAKING CRACKING SOUND. THE FAILURE CAUSE A COOLANT LEAK. THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK COUNTY FORD INC (1000 S. HUTCHINSON AVE, ADEL, GA 31620) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT SENSOR AND HOSES FAILURE HAD TO DO WITH A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11390659

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL BEEPING SOUND. AS THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, A FLAME QUICKLY ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE SHOCK OF THE SITUATION, THE CONTACT BECAME FRANTIC AND KICKED OUT HER DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE AUTHORITIES AND THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED AT THE SCENE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH SHE WAS UNAWARE OF PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11389483

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN MESSAGE BOARD READ CAR IS OVERHEATED AND TO PULL OVER AND CAR SHUT DOWN, THEN THE TEMP GAUGE SHOT UP TO H. FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP & CAR WAS SMOKING, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES, POURED WATER ON IT CALLED 911... APPARENTLY COOLLANT LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE TURBO TO GET HOT AND STARTED A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11387046