Home · 2014 Ford Escape Hev · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,067)Crash / fire / injury (159)Engine (717)Transmission & drivetrain (479)Electrical system (210)Engine & cooling (186)Steering (150)Fuel system (136)Body & structure (84)Latches & locks (64)Backup camera & sensors (50)Wheels (46)

12 of 2,067 complaints match · Engine & cooling · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 6, 2025Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his daughter was driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the message "Engine Failure" was displayed intermittently. The driver continued driving to a safe location. The contact stated upon noticing smoke coming from underneath the hood, the driver pulled to the side of the road and opened the hood. The contact stated that the driver saw flames on the ignition coils, behind the engine compartment, and on the firewall. The contact's daughter picked up snow and was able to extinguish the fire with snow. The fire department was contacted and arrived at the scene, but no further action was required. The contact's daughter did not sustain any injuries. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to Pep Boys, who referred the contact to the dealer and to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic was contacted and informed the contact that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000( Engine and Engine Coolant). The contact became aware that the VIN was included in the recall. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11641086

Apr 2, 2024Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, she observed smoke issuing from under the hood and from under the vehicle. No warning lights had been illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and shut the vehicle off, however upon exiting the vehicle she saw that flames were coming from under the vehicle from an area just behind the front tires. The contact called the fire department, and the police department also was on the scene and issued an incident report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,355.

NHTSA ODI 11580616

Mar 14, 2024Engine & coolingEngineFire

The contact owned a 2014 Ford Escape. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a service appointment which included a system scan and replacement of the coolant valves. The contact stated that after the repair was completed and the mechanic was test-driving the vehicle, the engine caught on fire. A nearby Police Officer alerted the mechanic to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road because the vehicle was on fire. The mechanic drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The Police Officer extinguished the fire by using a fire extinguisher that was in the trunk of the officer's vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the cause of the fire was the engine and the engine coolant. The vehicle was destroyed due to the fire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11577362

Mar 31, 2023Engine & coolingFire

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

Dec 22, 2022Engine & coolingFirerelatedFire

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

Nov 10, 2021Engine & coolingFire

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

Jun 15, 2020Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD NOTICED THAT BOTH OIL AND COOLANT HAD LEAKED FROM HIS VEHICLE AS THE LOW COOLANT WARNING MESSAGE HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN TO A DEALER IN REGARDS TO HIS FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA, THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILLAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11328954

May 1, 2020Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TROTTER FORD LINCOLN (3801 BOBO RD, PINE BLUFF, AR 71603) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) 2 YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11322945

Apr 28, 2020Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED TO RELEASE ODORS OF OIL AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE'S WARNING MESSAGE INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED SMOKE AND DISCOVERED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LICCARDI FORD, INC. (1615 US-22 WATCHUNG, NJ 07069) FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER INFORMED HER THE COOLANT SENSORS WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SENSORS FAILED TO WARN OF LOW OR NO COOLANT LEVEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL WHICH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN AND SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI 11322514

Aug 15, 2018Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DECELERATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAW BLACK SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAW FLAMES. THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTESY FORD WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED WITH THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11120063

Jun 29, 2017Engine & coolingEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, FLAMES ERUPTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO WATERFORD TOWING LOT. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI 11002119

Jan 11, 2014Engine & coolingCrash

DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WALKED OUT AND STARTED CAR, RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, RIGHT INDEX FINGER ON STARTER BUTTON, LEFT FOOT ON OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AND LEFT HAND HOLDING CELL PHONE. AFTER STARTING CAR, CLOSED DOOR, WENT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR OVER 3-5 MINUTES, DID FIVE WEB SEARCHES BEFORE SISTER WHO WORKS IN OFFICE CAME IN TO MY OFFICE AND TOLD ME MY CAR HAD BACKED A PERFECT U, MISSED 6 VEHICLES PARKED OUTSIDE AND HIT OUR OFFICE BUILDING. MY CAR IS JUST THE DISTANCE OF THE SIDEWALK AND WALL PLUS A FEW FEET WITH WINDOW BETWEEN US, I HEARD THE CAR RUNNING WHILE IN OFFICE. WHEN I GOT TO CAR OUT SIDE IT WAS IN REVERSE, DOORS LOCKED AND IDLING, NO EXPLANATION OF HOW IT WENT FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAN DIRECTION I PULLED IN, MISSED ALL VEHICLES. FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, I HAD THREE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE PICTURES AND VIDEO OF TRACKS THAT ARE VERIFICATION THAT IT DID IT BY ITSELF, AS BEST WE CAN FIGURE THE PARK ASSIST TOOK OVER, HAD I ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED IT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD HAVE STARTED BACKING UP WITH ME HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF THE CAR, ALSO AM SURE THAT IT WAS IN PARK AS CAN'T START IT IN REVERSE, I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALERSHIP HERE THAT IS NOT REALLY WILLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, ALL THEY WILL TELL ME IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. I AM REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY ANYONE ELSE AND WHERE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION AS TO WHAT CAN BE CHECKED OUT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE MADE IT START MOVING ON IT'S OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559455

Working with the data? Download all 2,067 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Ford Escape Hev verdict →