What 1,026 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Escape

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND AND A BYSTANDER MANAGED TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. NO BODILY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED FOR TREATMENT FOR HER HUSBANDS ODOR IN VENTILATION FROM THE FIRE. ERIE INSURANCE WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11328126

2015 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE STALLING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THEN LOSE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11315315

THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING PARKED UNDER A CARPORT FOR ALMOST 24 HRS. WHEN IT INEXPLICABLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENSUING FIRE BURNED THE CARPORT AND SPREAD TO THE STRUCTURE CAUSING EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE RESIDENCE. A PASSERBY MADE THE ELDERLY OCCUPANTS OF HOME AWARE OF THE FIRE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET OUT. THE AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME OTHER EVIDENCE AND/OR INSTANCES OF FIRES IN THESE VEHICLES OCCURRING THE SAME WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11270440

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY ROADS. HAVE HAD CONDITIONS WHERE WE ARE DRIVING AT 30 MILES/HR AND CAR STARTS SWITCHING OFF WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE PROPERLY UNTIL I SWITCH IT OFF AN ON AGAIN. HAS CAUSED 1 ACCIDENT AND 2 ALMOST ACCIDENTS WHERE CAR WAS REAR ENDED DUE TO STALLING. THERE ARE NO CODES TO SAY WHAT IS WRONG AND FORD STATES EVERYTHING IS FINE

NHTSA ODI 11179805

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN GRODY FORD CARLSBAD (5555 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008, (800) 748-7303) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,348.

NHTSA ODI 11120597

WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH. THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE STRONGLY WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN SPEED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND THEN A RED OIL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. IT SOUNDED ALSO LIKE A HEAD GASKET BLEW ON THE 1.6 LITER ECO-BOOST ENGINE AS THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE LIKE TUMBLING PEBBLES IN A CAN OR DRUM. WE LOST POWER. BLUE SMOKE STREAMED OUT THE TAIL PIPE OF THE CAR. WE COASTED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE CAR CAME TO A STOP SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED TOWARD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BELOW THE CAR JUST INSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. WE QUICKLY GOT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING OUT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS CONSUMED IN ABOUT 8 OR 9 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11032145

THE CAR ACCELERATED AFTER SLOWED DOWN TO PARK. IT SURGED TOWARD A CEMENT WALL AND ONLY SCRAPED IT BY ME TURNING WHEEL BUT WENT BETWEEN TWO CEMENT PILLARS AND KNOCKING OVER A CEMENT BENCH. DAMAGE ON THE CAR AND RECEIVED A CITATION . I AM JUST AFRAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN I WON'T BE SO LUCKY. SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVOLVED AND IT IS COSTING ME PLUS THE CITATION . I THINK FORD MOTOR SHOULD TAKE OF THIS AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 10883826