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

Breaks suddenly failed with no warning.

NHTSA ODI 11745040

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing, the rear view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the contact was reversing out of the residential driveway. The contact's vehicle crashed into the contact's nephew's vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The nephew's vehicle was damaged to the driver's rear door and driver's rear quarter panel. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) however the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 11739349

On 4-13-26 an unknown subject hit my wife head on causing significant damage to our vehicle. None of the airbags deployed causing injury to my wife’s forehead, right foot and left knee

NHTSA ODI 11731970

My 2015 Ford Escape is diagnosed with a coolant intrusion due to flawed design issues by Ford. Coolant is slowly leaking into valve 2 and causing white smoke upon startup. The engine block is cracked due to faulty coolant system by per the designed of Ford. Only remedy is a new engine which is quoted at $8000. As this problem is entirely caused by Ford, it is unfair to expect the consumers to pay such a price.

NHTSA ODI 11730518

THE FORD ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THEN APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11726174

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact was in reverse (R) and backing into her driveway at approximately 4 MPH when the rear view camera failed. The contact stated that she crashed into her mailbox. The contact stated that there were dents and scratches on the rear bumper on the driver's side under the left tail light assembly. The contact stated that before the crash, she had had intermittent loss of the rear view image, but now there was no image at all, and the screen was black. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to call the Safety Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11665361

Older man pulled out in front of me, I t-boned his truck going 47 mph. His insurance totaled it. The airbags never deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11655901

The contact owned a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle died without warning. Due to the failure, the contact was left stranded in the middle of the highway. While the contact was on the phone with 911, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle from behind. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sustained mental trauma due to the accident, but no physical injuries. The police arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. No medical attention was rendered at the scene. No property damage was reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11612300

My Ford Escape ecoboost engine had a coolant leak. It gave no warning and suddenly stopped running in the middle of the road while I was driving. I opened the engine and there was a small piece of metal that looked like it was about to catch fire. I have visited the ford dealership multi times asking for them to repair car and fix any known issues and they ignored this well known problem with the 1.6 engines and racked up unrelated charges on unnecessary fixes (I believe) to get the most money out of me before catastrophic engine failure. If I had driven 100 yards or more I'm sure my engine would have completely caught fire.

NHTSA ODI 11600640

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON APRIL 25, 2024. THE ENGINE IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR COLLISIONS NO CONCERNS NO MAJOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE ON APRIL 25, 2024

NHTSA ODI 11585648

The contact owned a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the front of the vehicle collided with two trees. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained back, chest, and abdomen injuries and received medical attention. The vehcile was towed to a lot where it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11558725

While my family and I were returning from lunch and pulling into a parking space at my moms apartment complex, my 2015 Ford escape SE eco-boost, had a sudden unintentional acceleration where it basically accelerated forward and we hit a building. During this, the brakes were unresponsive, and there was building and vehicle damage. Luckily, the post to the building prevented us from driving through the entire building. I have read several reports of the Ford escape experiencing this exact problem. We are lucky we were not killed. Ford has had no recalls for this very deadly issue.

NHTSA ODI 11546486

Electric power steering intermittently loses communication with module. It's very dangerous. Just driving straight down the road or making a turn it cuts out and it's like a ghost grabs the wheels and jerks you off the road or into oncoming traffic. I've hit guardrails and many curbs, luckily no oncoming traffic. This should be a serious recall if I've ever seen one. One of the most dangerous malfunctions I've ever experienced and I'm a technician.

NHTSA ODI 11544234

While putting the vehicle in park, the vehicle continued to roll and accelerate in an unintended direction, forward. This caused the vehicle to crash into and through a house, causing around $15,000 worth of damage. The vehicle remained difficult to control for the driver.

NHTSA ODI 11536205

While driving my vehicle went into limp mode and then caught on fire.

NHTSA ODI 11531839

My car caught on fire While it was parked. I contacted ford ford had no knowledge of fires in the car. Come to find out. It's all over the internet that there are fires in the ecoboost fuel system. They are refusing to fix the car. I am disabled and I feel like they are taking advantage of me because of that. I had an extended warranty even at the same time which obviously meant nothing. This is a great injustice and I really really really really really need help. I have tried everywhere. Please help me.

NHTSA ODI 11512573

While driving the vehicle, I received a notice on the dash screen stating that the engine was overheated and to pull over as soon as possible. I followed the instructions (within 30 seconds) and shut the engine off but before I could exit the vehicle, there was a large amount smoke/steam coming from the engine area and it had also gotten into the inside of the vehicle. I began coughing and had a hard time catching my breath. I exited the vehicle. Once I was able, I raised the hood and found that the coolant reservoir was empty. I went up to the local parts store and purchased some coolant and once the engine had cooled off, I added it to the coolant tank. The temperature gauge returned to normal and I was able to drive it to my mechanic's shop. Upon inspection, it was found that the engine head was cracked and warped as well as the engine block. I will need to replace thye engine.

NHTSA ODI 11494230

The contact's wife owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was on and parked, the vehicle rolled forward about 3MPH and crashed into the house. The air bags did not deploy and no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not destroyed and the house was slightly damaged. The police was not called. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle will be towed to a dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,082.

NHTSA ODI 11466711

I had drove my car to chick fil a. I was inside for less than 5 minutes waiting on my order. When I came back outside my car was on fire. I’ve read articles about many other people having problems with their Ford Escaped catching fire. https://www.fordescape.org/threads/2014-ford-escape-engine-fire.88258/ If I had stayed in my car for a few more minutes I could’ve been inside and I could be dead right now. There seems to be a issue with the 2013 and 2014 model years combusting suddenly but, I think they need to include the 2015 model.

NHTSA ODI 11464296

I have been in two accidents since my purchase of the vehicle. I haven’t even had a year. When it’s an emergency and breaks need to be applied suddenly the breaks are locking up and will not go down. It eventually does once I start pumping them. But I was recently in two accident BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR HAS BECOME MY NIGHTMARE

NHTSA ODI 11418801

CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHEN I WAS NOT IN IT PERIOD FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THERE WAS A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK IN THE FRONT CABIN IN MANY OF THESE CARS THAT COULD SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11385483

CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF AFTER A 10 MINUTE TRIP. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11341799

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A CRASH. THE CONTACT REMEMBERED THAT THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN A DITCH. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER FRONT AND THE WHOLE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD CONCUSSION, NECK, BACK AND MOUTH INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FINALIZE BUT WILL BE SOON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAWNEE MISSION FORD (11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203) WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT HOW THE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOYED DEPENDING ON HOW THE VEHICLE WAS CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE AIR BAGS AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*AS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11338129

MY SON WAS T-BONED IN AN INTERSECTION WHILE IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON A GREEN ARROW. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. CITY STREET IN A STOP LIGHT. THE OTHER DRIVE RAN A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11338248

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