What 2,067 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Escape Hev

Environmental Contributing Circumstances (Select Up to 3):

NHTSA ODI 11709233

see attached documents: Subject: Ongoing Unresolved Recall Issues and Safety Concerns with My Ford Vehicle I am writing to formally express my deep concern and frustration regarding my Ford vehicle, which currently has 15 open recalls that have gone unresolved for nearly two years. During this time, I have contacted every Ford dealership within a 50-mile radius of my home in repeated attempts to have these recalls addressed. Each dealership has provided a different excuse for not completing the necessary repairs. Some initially allowed me to schedule service appointments, only to cancel them once they realized the work involved recall issues. In several cases, I was never notified that my appointment had been canceled—I only discovered this when no one showed up. Other dealerships claimed they did not have the required parts and assured me they would contact me once the parts became available. To date, none have followed up. One dealership required that I speak with a supervisor before scheduling any recall work, but despite multiple messages, my calls were never returned. On one dealership’s website, I attempted to schedule the recall repairs online. The system showed numerous open appointment dates until I selected “recall service,” at which point all availability disappeared, and I was unable to proceed. Each dealership I contacted referred me elsewhere, passing responsibility without resolution. Ford has been fully aware of the potential safety risks—including the risk of serious injury or death—associated with these recalls, yet I was repeatedly told it was “safe to continue driving.” This was clearly not the case. Recently, while driving, my vehicle suddenly lost all power and stopped moving. I managed to pull over to the side of the road and called for a tow truck. As the tow truck driver prepared to load my car, it unexpectedly lurched forward on its own and crashed into the tow truck. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the incident caused significant front-end damage to my vehicle. It could have easily resulted in a fatal accident. My vehicle has been inoperable since the incident. When I reported the matter to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), I was told to contact my insurance company to cover the damages. However, I do not believe I should bear the financial burden for Ford’s negligence in failing to repair known defects. Ford’s continued delay and lack of accountability have not only caused extreme inconvenience but also placed my safety—and the safety of others—at serious risk. I am requesting immediate action to resolve all recall issues and full compensation for the damage caused by Ford’s failure to act. Sincerely,

NHTSA ODI 11694223

MY CAR HAS 15 RECALLS AND 3 different FORD dealerships REFUSES TO do recall work This has gone on for more than 2 years. They claim to have done recall work that has not been done. It has a defective transmission. It took off while in park and hit a tow truck.

NHTSA ODI 11691261

The car announced a low coolant in the system and then 10 seconds after the car turn on fire and burned down completely.

NHTSA ODI 11554602

My driver passenger door does not close anymore as of 7/9/2023. My 2-year-old son could have flown out the door as he sits on that side in his car seat.

NHTSA ODI 11534084

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

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

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND HAD ONLY BEEN STARTED AND MOVING FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. NOTICED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF OR CHANGE SPEEDS, THEN NOTICED A SLIGHT ODOR IN CAR THAT INCREASINGLY STRENGTHENED. PHONED MY HUSBAND WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING BECAME MUCH STRONGER, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING BETWEEN THE THE DRIVERS SIDE HOOD SEAM AND BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE WINDSHIELD, THIS WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY NOTICABLE FLAME. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, BEGAN WITH SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, WITHOUT SUCCESS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENED HOOD AND APPLIED WATER TO EXTINGUISH. THIS WAS ON A CITY STREET IN O'FALLON, MO. UNCERTAIN OF CAUSE, BUT AM NOW AWARE THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS MODEL (RECALL 17S09) AND BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11300132

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE LOADING CARGO INTO THE VEHICLE, THE LIFTGATE FELL AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE BACK AND SHOULDERS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE INDEPENDENTLY OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOCK FORD SALES (LOCATED AT 913 SE 6TH ST, GRANTS PASS, OR 97526, (541) 476-6656) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RKE TRANSMITTER MODULES SHOWED NO CODES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HANDS-FREE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION SHOWED NO FAULT CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,180.

NHTSA ODI 11193153

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED (65), AS BY VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL OUT. THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY OTHER CARS. ONCE I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING. SMOKE QUICKLY FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I COULD ROLL ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE ENGINE HAD BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11184504

I HIT A DEER HEAD ON WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE DEER DID NOT HIT THE BUMPER.

NHTSA ODI 11162515

I WAS DRIVING UP THE INTERSTATE AFTER WORK AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING I BEGAN TO NOTICE SMOKE. I LOOKED AROUND AND REALIZED IT WAS MY CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND MY CAR STARTED FLASHING EVERYTHING ON THE DASH PANEL WAS RED AND FLASHING ENGINE FAILURE. I CUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN WENT TO TRY AND POP THE HOOD, I COULDN'T GET IT OPENED AND I LOOKED DOWN AND BEGAN TO SEE FLAMES. I CALLED 911 AND MY CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD SAYING THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE IF OILS WERE TO GET OUT AND HIT A HOT SURFACE. I GOT MY RECALL FIXED AND THEN MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE A FEW WEEKS LATER.

NHTSA ODI 11081930

I STARTED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY TO WARM UP AND ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES LATER HEARD A BIG BOOM, LOOKED OUT THE DOOR AND THE FRONT END OF MY ESCAPE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD SCHEDULED IT TO GET REPAIRED YESTERDAY MORNING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT AS WE RECEIVED A LOT OF SNOW AND SCHOOLS WERE CANCELLED AND SUCH. I HAD KNOWN OF THE RECALL SINCE LAST YEAR SINCE I ALREADY WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER RECALL WITH THE LATCH. I TRIED TO GET THEM TAKEN CARE OF AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULDN'T BE FOR SOME TIME. I RECEIVED A NOTICE DIRECTLY FROM FORD BETWEEN ONE AND TWO WEEKS AGO AND CALLED ZIEGLER IN ELKHART TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE FOR ALMOST A WEEK. IT IS OBVIOUS THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE WITH MY CAR ANYWAY, CONSIDERING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL, WHICH A WHOLE PROCESS OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING, COOLANT LEAKING OUT AND THAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM THANKFUL THAT THE CAR WAS JUST WARMING UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NEITHER MY KIDS NOR MYSELF WERE INSIDE. I AM ALSO GRATEFUL THAT OUR HOUSE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE AND JUST SUSTAINED SOME COSMETIC DAMAGE DUE TO THE HEAT. I DO NOT HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT YET, BUT THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE SOON. IT WAS THE PENN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPT THAT RESPONDED AND I TALKED TO DURGAN SPINSKY WHOSE WORK NUMBER IS 5742555075 * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 11072063