What 74 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Ford Escape

On January [Insert Date], 2026, my 2024 Ford Escape suffered a sudden turbocharger failure that saturated the vehicle’s internal HVAC system with toxic ethylene glycol coolant. The vehicle’s ventilation system subsequently pumped these toxic chemical vapors directly into the enclosed passenger cabin. The inhalation of these toxic chemical vapors posed an immediate, life-threatening risk to my pregnant wife and myself (a patient with moderate persistent asthma), backed by formal medical warning letters from our OB/GYN and Pulmonologist. When I refused to take delivery of the un-remedied vehicle, a Ford corporate representative mandated that I drive it anyway, stating that if I suffered a respiratory crisis while operating the vehicle, I should simply "call the ambulance". This ultimatum caused an immediate severe hypertensive crisis (160/112 BP), requiring emergency medical transport to CHI Health Immanuel and cardiac evaluation. This represents a critical component failure causing toxic cabin air contamination, compounded by a complete failure of the manufacturer’s remedy. Ford Engineering and Woodhouse Ford Service admitted in writing that they have NO scientific test to verify cabin air safety and NO official technical procedure to decontaminate the internal HVAC housing following this chemical saturation. Ford’s only attempt at a remedy was an external spot clean and a simple filter replacement, leaving toxic residual chemicals inside the blower housing. Ford's directive to operate a chemically contaminated vehicle without any scientific validation of air safety constitutes an extreme, ongoing non-operational safety defect that risks public safety. To protect my family from severe injury, I was forced to abandon the vehicle at a massive financial loss.

NHTSA ODI 11738745

When I am stopped at a light or stop sign and go to pull into an intersection, halfway into the intersection the vehicle stalls and does not want to move. It has caused me to almost get into several car accidents and thankfully other vehicles have been able to brake before hitting me. It has been scary as I have had my daughter each time in the back seat and a few times it would have been on her side she sits that would have been hit. Myself or a passenger is going to seriously get injured with the vehicle doing this. I took it to the garage and they can find nothing wrong with it as there are no lights on or codes but as soon as I pulled off the lot it happened again and it does it daily.

NHTSA ODI 11726985

My vehicle has been stalling for several months. I have taken to the dealership multiple times and it is still not fixed. Since the last visit at the service department it has done this 5 times. Twice today. It has done this multiple times crossing the interstate.

NHTSA ODI 11718952

I have had my car in the service department twice and continue to have the same issue. I am scheduled to have the car in the shop again on 2-19-26. For several months! After stopping and starting, my car stalls for a few seconds and then takes off. Yesterday, the car stalled while crossing the interstate and there was another vehicle behind me. I am terrified that the car is not going to restart and I will be trying to cross a road or I will be rear ended l.

NHTSA ODI 11717131

The vehicle has a documented defect involving [System, e.g., the HVAC system] which has resulted in [Defect, e.g., chemical residue entering the cabin]. This issue has caused [Safety/Health Impact, e.g., respiratory distress for the occupants] while the vehicle is in operation. I have taken the vehicle to an authorized dealership, and the service department has confirmed the presence of the [Defect], but they have stated they have no established protocol to decontaminate or repair the issue. Despite the documented health risks and the dealership's inability to clean the residue, the manufacturer has instructed that the vehicle is safe to drive. I am filing this complaint because the vehicle remains an unresolved safety hazard to all occupants.

NHTSA ODI 11714636

Got a dash warning that car was over temperature or something to that effect and had to pull over on a two-lane highway(uphill). This was unsafe because I had to get over to the shoulder as soon as possible and avoid traffic. Vehicle is scheduled to be serviced at my ford dealer but have no outcome yet. I did later on check car with my OBD2 reader and saw a P1285 code which meant the cylinder head was over temperature. Upon further research it appears issue is known by ford and needs to be addressed by SSM 52219 which says head may have metal shavings in it and may need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11706940

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the engine misfired, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts Store, where a handheld diagnostic machine provided information that the failure was associated with a random misfire. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where DTC: P0300 and P0316 were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began jerking and the check engine warning light started flashing. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a different dealer, where it was diagnosed and DTC P0301 was retrieved, and the contact was informed that the coil pack and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the jerking continued occasionally. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,076.

NHTSA ODI 11678879

While accelerating the Vehicle I felt a massive kickback via the gas pedal, I was able to drive for half a mile more before the vehicle would no longer accelerate at all. The gas pedal was no working. The engine was overheating and a new warning popped up, upon the kickback with a wrench, and engine warning, along with a coolant over temp warning among others and service engine soon. The vehicle had just had an oil change not even a full month prior. My safety was put as risk as I could not accelerate in the middle of a high way and it just stopped out of no where. I saw another Escape 5 minutes later, stopped in the middle of a busy intersection with the same issue. No this problem was not confirmed, but we saw another vehicle with the same issue. No inspection, although my boyfriend is a mechanic and noticed the coolant was just below the minimum line. There were no warnings prior to failure.

NHTSA ODI 11677347

The car would act like it would die or cut off after idling for a while at a drive thru or school pick up. Took the car twice to the dealership they couldn't replicate it. Then the car died and shut off in the middle of a busy intersection at a red light. I was nearly hit head on and rear ended. I got the car started and out of the way and I had it towed to the dealership. The cars check engine light was on. It had never shut off before or had the engine light come on until then. It said crank shaft sensor and the PCM weren't allowing proper engine control. And the dealership has had it sense then. Bought the car in August 2024 and January 2025 the dealership has had my car. It is now march 2025. I have invoices. They say it's fixed every time I would pick the vehicle up and it never is.

NHTSA ODI 11647511

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illuminated without an object or vehicle being nearby. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 300.

NHTSA ODI 11646264

Check engine light came on. Vehicle has around 5000 miles on it. My app told me it at misfire was detected. We took it to the dealer ship. All they said is ford is aware of this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11640176

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that DTC: P0300 (multiple cylinder misfire) and P0316 (a misfire in one or more cylinders during the initial startup phase). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 4,092.

NHTSA ODI 11637470

I stopped one day to get some gas and when I tried to start my 2024 Ford escape back up it failed to turn over. I started to get notices from my Ford pass app stating that I was having some issues with my turbine. The vehicle was leaving me stranded every time I tried to start it and it would try to stall on me. The engine didn't seem like it had enough power to run at a proper and normal status as an engine should properly run. When I would start the vehicle it would only start one time and then proceeded to stall on me and leave me stranded everywhere I went. The problem was never fixed. Then the dash lights started to tell me that the driver needed rest and flash a coffee cup in front of my eyes after I just got in the vehicle about 5 minutes before the lights came on. There was an awful smell that came out of the engine. I'm glad that my car didn't catch on fire before they repossessed it and I stopped making payments because the car was messed up and I'm not paying for a messed up vehicle but there was a serious issue with my 2024 Ford escape and I'm glad that they came and took it from me hopefully that kept me alive instead of burning up to death. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11589494