What 1,035 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Escape Gas

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that occasionally there was an abnormal gasoline odor while the vehicle was idling and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated coolant was entering into the piston. The contact stated that the power train, ABS, the power train system, and service interval lights were illuminated. The contact stated that there several computer codes indicating an engine misfire, the control circuit was open, and the power train system showed coolant bypass had failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and there was no recall related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 11570968

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle started to sputter with white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11555140

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust system. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the air intake hose, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who determined that there was coolant inside the engine cylinders and the engine short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552278

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact stated that when the coolant was added, there was condensation underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11545171

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was very hesitant while accelerating. The contact smelled of fumes inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11542676

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the thermostat was reading high. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and it was determined that the failure was with the spark plug in cylinder #3. The spark plug was replaced; however, the failure recurred the following day. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11541499

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the DTC codes indicated that cylinder #1 and #3 were misfiring. The contact stated that a week later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with a message to turn off the vehicle displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The following day the failure reoccurred. The vehicle taken to the local service center and coolant was added to the reservoir; however, several hours later the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. There were no coolant leaks present. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was concerned that the manufacturer had recalled other year vehicles for the same failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11529760

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH the vehicle started overheating with the "Vehicle Overheating - Pull Over" message displayed. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11525101

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the engine was overheating with the coolant temperature warning light being illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the radiator fans were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 20 MPH. A message advising to pull over was displayed. The contact veered to the side of the road and remained there until the vehicle cooled down. The contact then drove to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the engine block. The mechanic contacted an unknown dealer, who referred him to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11513264

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her employee was driving the company vehicle at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started overheating with white smoke coming from under the hood. The employee pulled over and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that the employee had not noticed any warning lights. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant had leaked into the engine and cracked the engine block. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11501614

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the engine 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 Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497067

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that while the vehicle was idling or during start-up, he noticed a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to and independent mechanic; however, the mechanic suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine and the engine 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. The manufacturer provided the number to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497131

The contact's daughter owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was first taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test determined that coolant had leaked into the cylinder block. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by an authorized Ford dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the diagnosis was confirmed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 11487310

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon driving from a complete stop, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3 and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11485689

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact noticed that the coolant level was low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced and there was coolant in cylinder #4. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated there was oil in the turbo booster. The manufacturer was contacted and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

NHTSA ODI 11483331

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the warning message “Engine overheating pull off safely and stop” illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the road safely and turn off the vehicle. The contact waited for the vehicle to cool down, restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was notified of a coolant leak inside cylinder #4. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,208.

NHTSA ODI 11478193

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the engine overheated. The contact stated that the high engine temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the coolant hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11461557

I'm having to fill my reservoir with coolant. There is an indicator on dashboard that states coolant low. I can't see any visible leaks under the hood or on the ground. I am not sure if the 2015 ford escapes are apart of a recall like the 2014 escapes. The lack of coolant circulation could cause the engine to overheat and experience a crack in the cylinder head. A cracked head can cause pressurized oil leaks, oil that can leak onto hot engines. There had been reported fires.

NHTSA ODI 11457753

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHITE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BOB MOORE FORD (8948 S. I-35 SERVICE RD. OKLAHOMA CITY) WHO INDICATED THAT NO COOLANT WAS PRESENT IN THE COOLANT CONTAINER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11337701