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

I WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND MY LUG NUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WENT "BAD." IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE LUG NUTS FOR THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT IN 2 PARTS. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD IT CAN CAUSE SWELLING AND DEBRIS TO GET TRAPPED IN BETWEEN. THEY TOLD ME ALL 20 OF MY LUG NUTS NEEDED REPLACED AND THIS JUST HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE I WOULD BE UNABLE TO CHANGE MY TIRE IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT BECAUSE THE TIRE IRON WOULD NOT FIT AROUND THE LUG NUTS ANYMORE. WHEN ON MY WAY BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE SHUTTLE, MY COURTESY DRIVER WAS CHATTING WITH ME ABOUT WHAT I HAD DONE. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND HOW I HAD TO PAY $150 TO GET MY LUG NUTS REPLACED. HE WAS SHOCKED IT WASN'T A RECALL. HE SAID THEY ALREADY KNOW THE MAKES AND MODELS AFFECTED BY THESE FAULTY LUG NUTS.

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PIRELLI TIRE TYPE P235/50 ZR18 97W RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW APART WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY . THE CAR BEGAN TO VEER FROM SIDE TO SIDE BUT I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT MILE 119.9 . CALLED AAA & THEY SENT REPAIRMAN FROM P&J TOWING TO CHANGE TO THE SPARE. TIRE WAS PURCHASED FROM HOLMAN FORD, TURNERSVILLE, NJ. WHEN CONTACTED THEY DIRECTED US TO CONTACT PIRELLI. WHEN CONTACTED, PIRELLI TOLD US TO HAVE FORD SHIP THE FAILED TIRE TO THEM SO "THEIR LAB" COULD EXAMINE IT. I INFORMED THE PIRELLI REPRESENTATIVE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 TIRES ON THE CAR FAILING IN THE SAME MANNER BUT HE OFFERED NOTHING. I WAS TOLD TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT AND THEY WOULD OFFER A PRORATED REFUND. THE TIRE WAS GIVEN TO FORD TO SHIP TO PIRELLI & REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS PURCHASED AT A COST OF $200. I AM STILL CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER TIRES COULD FAIL SIMILARLY. I HAVE ATTACHED PIX OF THE FAILED TIRE AND DATA FROM OTHER TIRES PURCHASED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL SET.

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I WENT IN FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE MY TIRES, AS MOST OF THE LUG NUTS WERE SWOLLEN. SHOP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REMOVE MY TIRE IF STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE, ALL BECAUSE FORD MANUFACTURED THE LUG NUTS WITH A 'SOLDERED CAP" UNLIKE MOST WHICH ARE ONE PIECE. THE SOLDERED CAP LEAKS WATER INSIDE, WHICH FREEZES AND CAUSES THE LUG NUT TO SWELL, AND NO LONGER FIT THE TIRE WRENCH.

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JANUARY 9, 2019 AT 10:39PM MY 2014 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 81, GOING SPEED LIMIT 70 MPH, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SAID "SERVICE ENGINE NOW". STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT LOCK UP BUT THE VEHICLE LOST RPMS AND WAS NOT RUNNING AS I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER, I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE WHEN MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS I STOPPED, I PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED KEY OFF, ALL WHILE IT SAID "SERVICE ENGINE NOW". I TURNED MY HAZARDS ON AND GOT OUT MY PHONE TO CALL SOMEONE FOR HELP. AS I LOOKED UP I SEEN FLAMES COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA AND SMOKE IN FRONT OF MY LIGHTS, I GRABBED MY WORK BAG AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, JUMPED ACROSS THE GUARD RAIL, AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. IN APPROXIMATELY 6-9 MINUTES THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911. TOOK RESPONDERS ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO ARRIVE AND TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. AS SOON AS RESPONDERS FINALLY SHOWED, I COULD HEAR BOTH TIRES EXPLODE A FEW MINUTES APART FROM EACH OTHER. ONCE FIRE WAS SAFELY PUT OUT, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS MELTED AND THE INSIDE AS WELL WAS BEYOND RECOGNIZABLE. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS TOTALLED, OBVIOUSLY, AND I GOT A TOW TO TAKE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE WHERE THE 2014 FORD ESCAPE IS SITTING IN MY YARD. I FIGURED MY INSURANCE COMPANY MIGHT COME LOOK AT IT BUT THEY DIDN'T BECAUSE ALL I HAD WAS LIABILITY ON IT. I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS LATER THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, DUE TO RISK OF ENGINE FIRE.

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HAD BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUBS REPLACED 10/18/18 AT COST OF $520.ON 10/20/18 A LOUD GRINDING SOUND STARTED HAPPENING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 10/25/18 WHO SAID ONE OF THE BEARINGS WAS DEFECTIVE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT BAD BEARINGS TO FORD DEALERSHIP BOB MAXEY FORD. BEARING COULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN MY DEATH OR THE DEATH OF ANOTHER MOTORIST.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT HEISER FORD LINCOLN (1700 W SILVER SPRING DR., GLENDALE, WI) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE LUG NUTS WERE SWOLLEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT RELATED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NHTSA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING RECALLS AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

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RECENTLY WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHILE THERE I WAS INFORMED OF A COOLANT FLUSH THAT WAS NEEDED HOWEVER I WAS NOT INFORMED OF A TECHNICIAN NOTE THAT STATES "PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL HAS SWOLLEN LUG NUTS. HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS. WHENRESEARCHING SWOLLEN LUGS NUTS FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE ONLINE COMPLAINTS. WHY WOULD THEY NOT INFORM ME? I DO HAVE RECEIPT WITH STATEMENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED; HOWEVER, THE LUG NUTS WERE UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (HARRISONBURG FORD, 3155 S. MAIN STREET, HARRISONBURG, VA 22801) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LUG NUTS SWELLED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO PRIOR COMPLAINTS FOR THAT FAILURE EXISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000. *BF *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT RUSS MILNE FORD (24777 HALL RD, MACOMB, MI 48042), THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE MATERIAL EXPANDING, WHICH WOULD CAUSE EXTREME DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

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BREAKING MAKES KNOCKING SOUND

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BOUGHT 2014 FORD ESCAPE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO NOTIFY ME WHEN ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES WERE NOT INFLATED AT PROPER TIER PRESSURE CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO DRIVE CORRECTLY ON ROAD CAUSING ME TO SLIDE OFF ROAD DROVE CAR HOME SINCE WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM HOUSE HUSBAND AND STEP SON CAME OUT TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY BOTH CHECKED ALL 4 TIRES SAID EVERYONE WAS UNDER INFLATED WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF CAR NOT DRIVING PROPERLY HUSBAND ASK IF THE PANEL TOLD ME AND I SAID NO THEY PUT AIR IN ALL 4 TIRES .TAKING CAR TO FORD DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT WHILE FIXING 2 OTHER RECALLS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A TIRE ROTATION, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE LUG NUTS FOR ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LUG NUTS FOR ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

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AAA OPERATOR REPORTED THAT LUG NUT WAS SWOLLEN; COULDN'T REMOVE WITH STANDARD EQUIPMENT. DEALER TODAY SAID ALL LUG NUTS NEEDED REPLACING AS THEY WERE "SWOLLEN" DUE TO CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE CAP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE SUPPLIED TIRE IRON CAN'T REMOVE THEM. SOMETIMES THEY MUST BE SAWED OFF TO REPLACE. APPARENTLY, SAME HAPPENED WITH MY 2010 FORD FUSION. MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON THE INTERNET.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRE RIMS WERE PACKED WITH SNOW AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL BALANCE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

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SOMEONE AT A REST STOP IN NASH COUNTY NC POINTED OUT A BULGE IN THE SIDE OF OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE BULGE. WE REMOVED THE TIRE AND REPLACED IT BEFORE IT COULD BLOW OUT. WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON I-95 FROM SUMMERVILLE SC EN ROUTE TO DELAWARE. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON OUR VEHICLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE SWOLLEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

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GOT A FLAT AS I DROVE INTO DRIVEWAY. FIGURED ILL JUST PUT THE DONUT SPARE ON AND GET THE FLAT FIXED IN THE AM. THE LUG WRENCH THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE, FACTORY (IM SINGLE OWNER) DOES NOT FIT LUG NUTS. REALLY FORD? 100 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS IS THIS IS WHAT YOU COME UP WITH? POOR HENRY WOULD HAVE A FIT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A LUG NUT WRENCH TO FIT THE LUG NUTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE ENLARGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,650.

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MY WIFE PULLED UP DRIVEWAY, I HAPPENED TO BE OUTSIDE NEXT TO CAR WHEN SHE PULLED IN. WE SUDDENLY HEARD LOUD CRUNCHING SOUND AND SHE STOPPED. WHEN WE FOUND NOTHING I ASKED HER TO BACK UP. WE HEARD CRUNCHING SOUND AGAIN AND SHE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT CONTROLLING CAR. SHE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. WE DISCOVERED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL PUSHED AGAINST TIRE WELL OF BODY FRAME. NEXT DAY WHEN TOW TRUCK LIFTED CAR, WE DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART. PERRY FORD (SAN DIEGO) CONFIRMED BALL JOINT APPEARS TO HAVE COME APART WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS SIGN OF DAMAGE DUE TO IMPACT OR DRIVER FAULT. NOTE: MY WIFE HAD JUST COME OFF FREEWAY, TRAVELING 15 MILES FROM WORK AND 1 MILE FROM OFF RAMP TO OUR HOME. IF SHE HAD BEEN JUST ANOTHER 5 MIN ON FREEWAY TRAVELING 65-70MPH...I HATE TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER WITH FORD. *TR

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MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAS A GROOVE CUT AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WALL AND IN ABOUT FOUR SPOTS CUT RIGHT DOWN TO THE THREADS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE TIRE. *TR

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