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

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the rearview camera flipped upside down and displayed a distorted image. The contact stated that a message displayed on the screen "Unavailable". The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was unsure what needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall and transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11522807

Anytime car is shifted out of Park or into Reverse, it pops up with a message on the dash saying the Parking Collision isnt working and the back up camera doesnt come on and the backup sensors no longer work either.

NHTSA ODI 11520565

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rearview camera was intermittently inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown software needed to be updated; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred and that the rearview camera was displaying the image upside down. The vehicle was then taken to Metro Ford, Inc. (2860 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055), who confirmed the prior dealer's diagnosis of replacing the software. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no recall on the VIN and was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11512409

The back-up camera has been out on my 2014 Ford Escape Titanium for years. I am constantly told by the dealership that it needs a software update and that it is a couple hundred dollars to do this. This is absurd to me that software updates are needed for backup cameras to continue to work properly AND that the consumer should be expected to pay for this. I do feel this is a safety issue, as since cameras have been placed on some vehicles years ago, people have grown accustom to using them. They are a huge safety factor in crowded, busy parking lots from my perspective. The backup cameras are also a GREAT safety feature for young, inexperienced drivers. It is my understanding that at this time, some of the NEWER Ford models currently have an issue with backup cameras NOT working and there has been a recall issued to correct it. How is this fair to consumers who have older Ford models or different Ford models but are experiencing the SAME issues as it pertains to back-up cameras not functioning properly and are told they need to pay out of pocket for the software update? I am writing a letter to Ford & I have also provided feedback over the phone to them and been given a case number. Windows does not charge me for software updates on my computer, nor does my cell phone carrier charge me for updates on my phone. It should be a cost of doing business if cameras are going to be offered as a feature on vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11505194

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the back-up camera failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the infotainment system was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11504388

The back up camera work”sometime doesn’t work. When it will not work it will all the sudden go black screen, or reverse the image on the screen (Everything is upside down) or will go black with glitching lines.

NHTSA ODI 11504541

Backup camera fails intermittently. Sometimes there will be a significant delay after shifting into reverse before the camera will appear. Camera may appear for a moment then the screen will go black and say Camera not available - contact your dealership. I have not been able to determine cause or related variables.

NHTSA ODI 11501182

First, my car had not a drop of antifreeze after driving two hours. Secondly, a week later, I was driving home routinely and began to drive forward when my car’s RPM’s went up very high and the car would not move as I was on a busy highway. Strangely, the vehicle had just had the transmission recall repair for the transmission bushing shifting cable a few weeks earlier. So although we he car was in drive it was not shifting. I turned the car off and on. Then the car did the same thing again and a message stating “transmission service” appeared on the dash board. I had to jump out of the car and run to the side of the road for safety as I broke down on a busy highway near my home. It was very scary.

NHTSA ODI 11494655

Rear view camera not operational and working intermittently with distortion.

NHTSA ODI 11492620

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power doors had failed to operate as needed and would independently lock and unlock at various times. The contact stated that the infotainment screen would intermittently display a black screen which caused the backup camera to fail to operate as designed. In addition, the contact stated that the START/STOP button would fail to respond after multiple attempts. On two separate occasions, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact had called the dealer and made an appointment; however, once she arrived, she was informed that parts for the recall repair was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11481346

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing at approximately 2 MPH, the Back Over Prevention camera failed to function as needed and there was no audible sound to indicate that the feature was operative. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that an audio control module (ACM) and the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,303.

NHTSA ODI 11480014

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rearview camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11471524

I am sure need be checked by technician

NHTSA ODI 11469914

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle at approximately 3 MPH, the backup camera would show as "camera not available" or the camera would start pixilating and go blank. The contact stated no other warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a module for the "blue tooth/hands free" phone system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure on the camera was still recurring. The contact researched a recall that could be related to her failure, NHTSA Campaign Number 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The radio quit working as well as hands free and backup camera comes and goes when it wants. They thought the radio module might fix all of it but only radio and hands free. This car has always been serviced and repaired at Wehr Ford.

NHTSA ODI 11458837

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing at approximately 2 MPH, the rear-view camera would malfunction and display a message "camera not available" also the camera image would display upside down on the monitor or was completely blank. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ODI 11457185

Back up camera not working. Occasionally comes on for short period of time. Error message sometimes says "camera not available". Sometimes nothing but home screen.

NHTSA ODI 11454348

Light went off for low tire pressure. Rear passenger side tire was low. Filled with air and drove for a couple weeks; light again went off. Filled tire again and took to service center this morning to see if something had penetrated tire or if bead had loosened. Service center found nail in tire and repaired. They had to replace 4 lug nuts as they were swollen. (I didn’t even know this was possible!). A simple and inexpensive tire repair turned into more than expected, which is rough when you’re on a small, fixed income. My fear is that I will eventually have the same experience/expense, at some point in time, with the other three tires. As a side note, and something that maybe should be filed as a separate complaint, is that the back-up camera malfunctions frequently…sometimes with image appearing upside down or a completely black screen. I spoke with two separate repair shops and was told it couldn’t be fixed…had to be replaced…and was quoted over $500 to replace it…obviously something I cannot afford to do. Was told it’s a common issue on Escapes, yet there have been no recalls for this issue. If we’re really trying to improve safety, then maybe this issue needs to be addressed as well. I have heard they will be required on new cars in the future; but something needs to be done about existing failures…and to set a standard regarding future failures on those new cars. My camera went out after warranty expiration, so I had no way to afford to fix it. Ford should stand behind their product and replace these defective cameras. My car now has 95,207 miles on it, and the camera failed over a year ago. I wouldn’t think a 7-year-old (6-year-old at time of failure) car with less than 100,000 miles on it should have that type of failure. Ford needs to use better equipment or offer better warranties. For most of us, $500 is a pretty substantial expense, and I’ll bet there are a lot of Escapes with defective cameras that people can’t afford to fix.

NHTSA ODI 11438158

UNKNOWN. Often back up camera when using reverse in automatic transmission display goes blank or says camera not found Doesn’t work often dealer twice or more nothing found. Darn.

NHTSA ODI 11436232

A recall was issued for back up camera malfunctions on Ford models under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000. My Escape has the exact same issue with the back up camera as described in the recall. The camera intermittently goes out and a message appears on the screen that the back up camera is not available or it goes blank. I have had the dealership look at the camera twice in the past three years and each time they tell me there is not an issue with the camera that it functions as expected.

NHTSA ODI 11426117

MY BACKUP CAMERA IS INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE, OTHER TIMES IT SHOWS AN ERROR MESSAGE "REAR VIEW CAMERA IS UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALERSHIP". THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FIXED BY THE RECENT RECALL BUT FOUND OUT IT ONLY COVERS 2020 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11363023

BACK UP CAMERA IS BLURRY OR BLACK AT TIMES WHEN STILL OR MOVING. IT MAY START OUT ON WHILE BACKING UP THEN GO BLACK. IT HAS HAPPENED VARIOUS PLACES.

NHTSA ODI 11362892

BACK UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY ONLY AFTER 3 YEARS OF BUYING MY NEW 2014 FORD ESCAPE. IT ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN SUNNYVALE FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT DECIDED TO WORK WHILE THERE SO THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IT WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING THEY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THESE BACKUP CAMERA'S ARE DEFINITELY A PROBLEM ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2014. WHY ARE THEY ONLY RECALLING NEWER RECENT MODELS WHEN 2014 IS ALSO FAULTY?

NHTSA ODI 11362917

MY FORD ESCAPE'S BACKUP CAMERA HAS GONE TO JUST COLORED BUBBLES! I HAVE A HARD TIME BACKING UP BECAUSE I CANT SEE WHAT'S COMING AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11308837

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CAMERA WENT BLACK OR DISPLAYED IMAGES BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT CALLED TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD OF NASHVILLE (LOCATED AT 101 ANDERSON LN, MADISON, TN 37115, (615) 865-1280) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR CAMERA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11232002

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE BACK UP SENSOR FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY BY THE CONTACT. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10892502