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

My vehicle had no warning lamps, messages or any other symptoms before driving that day. Vehicle was well maintained. Driving on a rural straight paved road that is in excellent condition, at approximately 55 miles per hour, smoke suddenly came through the dash top (defroster along windshield) and bottom (underneath the dash - heavier volume of smoke); almost immediately, the horn started sounding independently, a message appeared that read engine failure, brakes failed simultaneously and could not stop the vehicle. Only possible way to get the vehicle to stop was to remove the ignition key, put lever in park, pulled park break up. Flames now under the dash & smoke was pouring out from under the hood. My safety was at risk and had to exit the vehicle as fast as possible from drivers side with cars approaching. After exit, saw flames in the tire well also; witness saw flames under the car therefore he was yelling "get away from the car, it's on fire". Got away as fast as possible. The witness called the fire department who arrived extremely timely (and police even sooner). FD attempted to put out fire with water first, then needed foam as it ultimately turned into a gas tank fuel fire. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer since there was nothing to speak of left. The Police, Fire Department, Tow Company, and also the Insurance Claim Inspector did view and/or inspect the remnants of the vehicle. The insurance inspector took possession of the remnants of the vehicle from the tow company. My safety was extremely put at risk as I could have died from many factors including brake failure, smoke inhalation, burns from the fire, getting hit from another vehicle upon exit from the burning vehicle, or heart attack.

NHTSA ODI 11710410

Environmental Contributing Circumstances (Select Up to 3):

NHTSA ODI 11709233

Engine caught fire at the coolant reservoir

NHTSA ODI 11700958

Whenever I got the vehicle at the middle of 2025 I had issues with the shocks hub assembly axle motor mount electrical issues trunk was opening and closing by itself. Recent recently I drive it to Savannah and the vehicle started to skip and would not switch gears while I was driving down a 70 mph Road. I almost wrecked due to an issue with the vehicle I have looked up the recalls that hasn't been repaired on the vehicle and I believe it has something to do with unrepair recalls or maybe there is a recall that wasn't found or reported because I've seen a lot of recall information about the transmission. I also had a incident with the door unlocking and locking while my nephew was in the vehicle after stepping out the doors automatically locked but I still had the driver door open. My nephew freaked out cuz he can't get out the vehicle. The vehicle has some other issues that I do not know how to explain and if there is any possible way that the unrepared recalls has something to do with the repairs that the vehicle need now then I would like something done immediately. There is 19 recalls on a 2014 Ford escape. Now out of those 19 only two have been reported for my VIN number but I believe due to the car being sold five different times within a short period of time no one had the time to actually report the issues wrong with the vehicle I think people were just trying to get rid of it because they knew something was wrong with it.

NHTSA ODI 11693012

Unknown. Something at the backside of the motor caught on fire. The car overheated and would not drive. Pulled over, cooled off, added coolant, drove home. Car won't go over 40, shakes, and makes noises. Took it to automotive place. They took the manifold(?) and stopped! Called and told us there had been a fire in the motor, we need to call our insurance company and take it to a Ford dealership. Warranty and insurance company are both fighting with us. Neither one wants to pay!!! This is total BS!!!! No recalls?! Google this cars problems and their #1 problem is they catch on fire!!! WHY IS THERE NO RECALLS?!?!? Does someone have to die to get a recall?

NHTSA ODI 11593840

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

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

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

PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALERSHIP WHILE LIVING IN NEW YORK. UNDER THE WARRANTY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED IN 2016 (FORD CO), I NEVER RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING ANY RECALLS FROM FORD COMP. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND I HAD TO PAY $2K TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS. I MOVED TO WAXHAW, NC IN 2017. AFTER THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING, I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN LANCASTER, SC (MOVED HERE IN 01/2020). I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MULTIPLE "RECALLS" ONLY WHEN I CALLED FORD CO IN LANCASTER. I WAS NEVER MAILED ANY RECALLS. THE FORD CO FOUND RECALLS AND I TOOK IT TO THEM ON 3/11/2020. NOTE THAT THEY DID NOT OFFER ME A LOANER CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS RECALL WORK . I PICKED IT UP THE SAME DAY AND TWO DAYS LATER, IT OVERHEATED YET AGAIN. I CALLED FORD CO AND SPOKE TO JATOYA AND JAMIE. ON MARCH 17,2020, IT STALLED AND THEN STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO FORD CO AND THEY STATED IT HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT WOULD COST ME $6,700.60 TO REPAIR! THEY REPLACED THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR AND A LEAK. ON THE NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL SITE, I DISCOVERED 5 RECALLS. RECALL#'S 17V472000 (7/25/17),15V406000 (6/24/15)-ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT PANEL, 15V005000(1/9/15)-FUEL SYSTEM/GAS DELIVERY,FUEL PUMP), 17V209000(3/27/17)-ENGIINE/ENGINE COOLING), & 14V403000(7/2/14). I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS "LEMON LAW" OR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I RECEIVED NO NOTICES REGARDING THESE SIGNIFICANT RECALLS. LASTLY, I TRUST THAT YOU WILL RESOLVE THESE ISSUES IN A TIMELY MANNER, PROVIDE ME WITH A COST FREE LOANER VEHICLE, AND ALLOW ME TO TRADE IN THIS VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER ONE (CONSIDERING THE COSTS AND INCONVENIENCE INCURRED TO MYSELF AND THE INNATE POSSIBLE INJURIES THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF THESE. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [XXX] ASAP *DT REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER RECALL WAS CALLED WITHIN THE DOOR LATCHES. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11376299

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO A RECALL ISSUE (OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD, ETC.). FORD METRO MOTORS AT #405 ESTATE ANNAS RETREAT, ST. THOMAS, VI 00802 DID NOT AND WON'T FIX THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PAYMENT FROM ME AS THE VEHICLE OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THAT ESTABLISHMENT SINCE JUNE 2019. I'VE BEEN SENT MULTIPLE ESTIMATES AND SERVICE REPORTS THAT ARE NOT FACTUAL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11311347

I GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND CRANK IT UP AS I WAS LEAVING WORK ONE AFTERNOON AND WHEN I TURNED THE RADIO ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN FOR THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA AND RADIO WENT OUT.. ITS WAS FLASHING WHITE AND BLACK AND THEN BLACK WITH A WHITE LINE THRU IT AFTER IT KELLY FLASHING TURNING RED GREEN ORANGE WITH LIME JUST RUNNING THRU THE SCREEN.THEN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TOPS IT WAS GONE OUT.. IT ONLY TAKES ME 12 MINUTES TO GET HOME FROM WORK AND IT DIDN'T LAST THAT LONG SO TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WRONG WITH IT. BUT I HAVE NO RADIO AND NO CAMERA. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AROUND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK AND ONE NIGHT IT MAKE A SPARK AS I WAS SITTING WITH IT RUNNING AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT VENTS SO IT PARKED IT AND CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. QUICK TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A PROBLEM THEY JUST DISCONNECTED THE WIRING COMPLETELY SO I'M WORSE OFF AS FAR AS IT GOES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM . I DON'T SEE ANY FIXES FOR THESE ISSUES BUT I'VE SEEN LOTS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 11195315

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED STATIONARY WHILE I WENT INSIDE THE OFFICE BUILDING TO RUN AN ERRAND. WHEN I CAME OUT, MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FIRST AS I WAS OPENING MINE AND SHE SCREAMED AND SMOKE AND FIRE CAME BURSTING OUT OF THE CAR AND ALL THE WINDOWS BLEW OUT AND KNOCKED US BOTH OFF OUR FEET. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL AS THE ENGINE WAS STILL INTACT.

NHTSA ODI 11193177

THE FAN BLOWER MOTOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THAT IS, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. MOREOVER, IT HAS NOW COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THIS CAUSES EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHEN WINDOWS ARE FOGGED UP INSIDE VEHICLE, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM SEEING. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND WHEN STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11172667

WHILE ON HIGHWAY. RPM SCDROPPED TO 0. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIT UP. SMELL BURNING. CAR STOPPED WORKING ROLLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP. TOWED TO KUHLMANNS'S AUTOMOTIVE ON MERIDENRD WOLCOTT CT 06716

NHTSA ODI 11151165

ON 13 AUGUST 2018 MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING TO OUR NEW HOME WE'RE BUYING WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER AND GRAB HER PURSE AND GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. BY NOW FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY SHE HAD CRACKED OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE STOPPING BECAUSE BEFORE SHE STOPPED ALL THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. I HAD ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE CARS FRONT END HAD VIRTUALLY MELTED WITHIN 5 MINUTES. IF MY FIANCE HAD NOT CRACKED OPENED THE DOOR SHE MOST ASSUREDLY WOULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ESCAPING AS I AM A DISABLED VETERAN WITH SEVERAL MOBILITY PROBLEMS. OUR CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 64000 MILES ON IT. WE NEVER EXPECTED WE MIGHT POSSIBLY BE INJURED OR DIE FROM A NEWER VEHICLE. I REALLY HOPE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WASN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF ANY PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11128380

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10985751

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE. ENGINE BEGAN TO JERK A BIT THEN WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON SCREEN. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER CAR STOPPED SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM UNDER HOOD AND ENTERING CAB THROUGH THE VENTS. I OPENED THE WINDOW TO CLEAR THE SMOKE AND LOOKED FOR PHONE NUMBER TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THINKING IT WAS ONLY A BELT THAT HAD MELTED OR BURNED. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES I BEGAN TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY HAPPENED TO BE PULLING IN BEHIND ME AFTER SEEING MY CAR IN DISTRESS. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. WITHIN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AFTER A SHORT INVESTIGATION ON THE SCENE THE FD BELIEVED THE CAUSE TO BE ELECTRICAL AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEGUN AND CAUSED THE MOST DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10967033

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR THROUGH THE VENTS AND CAUSED THE ODOR TO PENETRATE THE INTERIOR FABRIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEW REASON WHY IT HAD THE BURNING RUBBER ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 10672355