2014 Ford Escape Complaint Log

The mechanical brake booster is connected to the overhead cam on Fords Ecoboost engine. This part is a vacuum pump that is powered by the overhead cam shaft. Over time the vacuum pump begins to have issues and becomes increasingly harder for the cam to turn. As the vacuum pump slows, it causes the brakes to be less efficient and increases stopping distance. As the pump degrades, it eventually will fail and freeze up. When this happens, the internal connection to the overhead cam shaft shears off. This cause a complete loss of breaking power leaving only the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. It also drops the internal connectors from the vacuum pump into the motor which damages the motor to the point where the motor must be replaced at a very high cost (it exceeds $10,000). Fords warranty does not cover this design failure. Owners of these vehicles are forced to replace the motor at their own cost or to scrap the vehicle. I believe that ford was aware of the possibility of the mechanical vacuum pump failure when they tested the design on F150s. Ford made a design change on the F150s to an electric vacuum pump. This may have been due to the F150s use as work vehicle and as a towing vehicle which exasperated the issue. Please investigate this issue, I believe you will find many other people who have this same issue with the eco boost engine design.

Contacted local Ford dealership(s) in reference to 2 open recalls on my vehicle: Transmission gear shift linkage and door latches. I was made aware of the door latch recall when I was traveling with my 2 children who were in the back seat and the back door opened and would not latch closed. Upon researching, I found the 2 recalls and have tried for over 4 months to get it repaired as it is a serious safety issue. I was advised that it could be in the repair shop for 2-3 months and I would not have any transportation as they stated they do not have "courtesy" vehicles. I feel like Ford should honor the recall in a timely manner which they are NOT. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while idled and attempting to park in her driveway, there were flames coming from under the hood. The hood was opened and flames were visible from the engine. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle overheated, there was a cracked cylinder and an oil leak prior to the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was not notified. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to shift gear, the contact was unable to move the gear shifter. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was jump started and driven to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure with the cable shifter bushing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V413000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

bushing failure attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission. The condition didn't allow me to move shifter lever to park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in park, with no warning message or audible chime. This faulty bushing is currently a active recall #18s20. I reported to local dealer were he said my vehicles vin # wasn't part of active recall. The bushing failure occurred on 5/22/22 with no warning messages or symptoms. The bushing/cable was replaced by local garage. Mechanic said the part replaced was the same part as active recall. Note: emergency brake was applied during failure to prevent roll away.

While driving on the highway at 65mph the engine began to fail. The Engine light came on and began flashing. I lost power in the engine, the car began to jerk and lost acceleration. Luckily I was able to make it to the side of the road and call for assistance. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop, the mechanic ran a diagnostic test. It was determined that there is internal engine failure. The car is at 113,000 miles and hadn't had any issues or warnings prior to this happening. The mechanics can not find what has caused the engine failure. I was told that the engine needs to be replaced at an estimated cost of 7000 dollars! This vehicle has been maintained and taken care of, it's very dangerous having an engine spontaneously fail while driving on the highway. The engine should not be failing at 113,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while parking the vehicle in the garage, the vehicle unintended accelerated causing the vehicle to damage the garage wall, garage freezer, and into the next room which was a bedroom. The vehicle was taken to a collision center for repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that there were no recalls and the vehicle did not have an extended warranty. The failure mileage was 55,465. The consumer stated the vehicle is not repaired as of yet, presently waiting for the parts.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH with her granddaughter in the front passenger’s seat, the vehicle began to stall. The warning "Low Coolant Level; Service Vehicle Immediately" message was displayed. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove back to her residence. The contact's son refilled coolant in the vehicle. However, the failure reoccurred while driving the next day. The contact's son, an independent mechanic, diagnosed that the coolant sensors, the engine spark plugs, and unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired for a coolant leak failure in 2017 and 2018. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

At 60 mph without any warning my brakes failed, the brake pedal was really stiff and it took both my feet all of my strength and the emergency brake to get the car to stop, Had there been other cars in front of me I’m sure that I wouldn’t have been able to avoid a collision as the only other place to drive would have been a gully. After I removed the vacuum pump for replacement, I found that the coupler bolt was broken off in what I assume was the camshaft. I used an easy out kit to remove the coupler bold. Then replaced with a new one I ordered from the dealership and also replaced the vacuum pump also purchased through the dealership total cost was about $350-400

The fuel pump was a recall that I had fixed in 2018 however I am again having the same issue. They tell me since the part was previously replaced it would be my responsibility to pay the 800.00 for yet another fuel pump. Typically a fuel pump lasts roughly 100,000 miles but apparently ford products are the exception!! Poor customer service from the ford dealer who originally replaced and absolutely no help! When I put gas in my vehicle it won’t start if I turn it off. Now is is dying while driving down the highway which could be detrimental to everyone involved.

My vehicle suddenly displays a “Transmission Fault: Service Now” which rendered the vehicle unable to drive. The transmission has issues and it is a common issue among 2014 Ford Escapes. There should be a recall issued since it is a common problem. https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/ford-escape-transmission-problems/ https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/cu2gki/i_need_advice_about_what_to_do_with_this_car_14/ Driving on a hill and all of the sudden car wouldn't go forward as the gear stopped shifting. Then the transmission gives out. It suddenly displayed "Transmission Fault: Service Now". Consumer was driving on a hill and all of the sudden the car wouldn't go forward as the gear stopped shifting. Then the transmission gives out. It suddenly displayed "Transmission Fault: Service Now".

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the turbo boost made a loud high-pitched sound. The contact stated that the low engine coolant warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a DTC code for misfires in cylinder #1 through cylinder #4. The mechanic determined that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred and the vehicle was towed to a different independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was coolant in the cylinders. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated and the coolant needed to be refilled daily. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the cooling system was losing coolant. The low coolant warning light was illuminated. The driver added additional anti-freeze. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle misfired, overheated, and stalled. The contact detected white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about an unknown recall. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V495000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The check coolant light comes on but the reservoir is full.Then the dash lights up telling you to turn the vehicle off and the vehicle starts shaking and then shuts down while driving.I’m thankful I didn’t get in a accident on the highway

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the driver's side rear door had fractured from daily use, and the contact had to continuously refill the coolant reservoir due to the loss of coolant in the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,024.

I have to keep replacing the lug nuts due to swelling. I’ve replaced them 3 times so far and they are not saying they need to be replaced again

Complaint transmission failure at 108,000 miles. No dash board warning light came on. No issue with transmission noticed before the occurrence. Heard a low whining noise while driving on highway, then without any warning the vehicle lost power. Engine would rev, but not power transferred to the wheels. Able to coast to the highway shoulder. Had to have vehicle towed to repair shop. Repair cost: $5,300. I will share the cost estimate if needed. Done with Fords!

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the RPM fluctuated before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000

The vehicle has problems with the transmission, when stopped at a traffic light, crossroads or some other place, the vehicle vibrates and shuts off when in drive or reverse

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while checking the oil, the contact noticed that the coolant level was very low. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on her vehicle for the transmission failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a nearby parking lot and turned off the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes. The contact's husband met her in the parking lot and drove the vehicle to the residence. Additionally, the contact stated upon attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle started reversing independently. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the upon restarting the vehicle, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the transmission fluid and the engine oil. However, upon test driving the vehicle, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was not drivable. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Vehicle will start and run normally when first starting. After running for approximately 20 minutes and stopping (turning off engine), then re-starting within 30 minutes, the vehicle will start and run for a short period before stalling. It is unpredictable and dangerous (stalling in traffic or when pulling out into traffic). I see a re-call for a similar problem for recall number 108695 but for some reason this recall does not show up when I put in the VIN number. Has been doing this off and on ever since we owned the vehicle but it has almost caused an accident recently so need to take care of it.

I own a 2014 Ford Escape with 60,000 miles on it. Upon turning on the vehicle, the check engine light came on. Several days later, also also upon turning on the vehicle, the dash showed a "low coolant" warning. Ford's mechanics inspected the vehicle and found that coolant was leaking into the Escape's engine. Their determination is that it needs a new engine. Ford had previously installed a coolant level sensor in the vehicle as part of a 2018 recall. The recall states that, "[i]f the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire." The sensor is unhelpful; it notifies you once the coolant is low - after coolant has leaked into your engine and you're already in the unsafe situation described in the recall. There was not any other indication (coolant under the vehicle, for example) of an issue before the check engine light came on. Ford performed an oil change on the vehicle 3,400 miles ago and noted no issues with the cooling system or the engine.

Every time I put my car in park and I take my foot off the break it rolls back a little. I did have a overheating warning and my rear camera didn’t work and it is also upside down.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not start. The gear selector was in the park (P) however, the gear shift indicator showed the vehicle in reverse (R). The vehicle was towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Power steering assist went out without warning while driving.

Unknown. The backup camera has stopped working properly. It will come on and then will stop or it will not come on at all. Just seems a possible issue as you could be backing out of a parking space at the mall or grocery store and either hit a car or pedestrian. It seems this would be a safety issue but I'm not positive.

I was driving in Manhattan and stopped on East 5th Street in the East Village on my way home at around 7 pm. I stopped the car on a bit of a diagonal in the middle of the street in order to get out and quickly hand something off to someone there. I put the car in park and stepped out for maybe 30 seconds without even closing my door. Then when I got back in and tried to drive the car I had no ability to shift into any gear. The gear shifting didn’t click in in any way. The car didn’t register as in park. No lights highlighted the gear on the dashboard. The 4 tires were locked but the steering wheel moved freely and everything else in the car seemed to be perfectly fine. No warning lights came on. We turned the car off and back on many times hoping the computer system would resolve the issue - but that never changed the situation. I could not drive this car. I could not move the car. I was blocking other cars. I called AAA which took an hour and a half to get to me. I had AAA put the car on a flat bed truck and bring it to my Darien CT driveway ( at great expense) and then the next morning spoke with my Ford dealership and had AAA move the car to the dealership While now having to take a subway and a train to get back to Darien I looked up what could be wrong and discovered there had been a recall of many 2014 Escapes in 2018 to replace a faulty bushing which could detach from the transmission cable and make it impossible to control the gears. MY ESCAPE WAS NOT RECALLED - BUT IT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN because that is exactly what happened. This was very dangerous and expensive. I’m extremely disturbed that had my Escape been fixed in this recall this then would not have happened to me. And my life would not have been in jeopardy. What if this happened minutes later when I was again driving in NYCity or on the highway ? The Ford dealership in Stamford CT discovered that “the shifter cable bushing on transmission is broken and not connected to transmission…”

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Assist Default" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the failure reoccurred intermittently. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the failure occurred and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the steering gear assembly was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Owner was driving vehicle approximately 40-45 mph when a yellow light appeared on the dash and message 'powering down' came on. Owner pulled over opened the hood to find smoke and then flames which caused damage to their vehicle. Claim 31V4FM458

I was driving on I95 southbound with my 3.5 month old daughter when my cars engine failed, my brakes and acceleration failed, and my car started being engulfed in smoke. I had to veer off of I95 as far as I could with my breaks or gas working. Within 2 minutes my car was in complete flames. I was able to get my daughter and I out in time but everything in the car was demolished. Ford has refused to reimburse for any value of the car as well as any value of the items that were in the car. The value of the items in the car totaled more than $5,000. My husband and I were forced to sell our other car in order to afford to buy a new car. Both of our cars were paid off.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plug in cylinder number four was welded into the head of the engine, causing an engine failure. The independent mechanic informed the contact 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 NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

March 9, 2022 I was driving my Ford Escape (Titanium AWD 2.0 eco boost 83083 miles )on hwy 20 in Niceville Fl. Without warning the vehicle stop acceleration at 45mile per hour. As I stopped applying pressure to the throttle the vehicle rpms continued to over rev on their own but the vehicle was not moving and the transmission was not engaging or shifting. I pulled over into the nearest AUTO ZONE STORE, where a tech gave me a fix finder report with codes P0751 SSA PERFORMANCE STUCK ON OR OFF MOST Likely POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. I had my vehicle towed to the nearest Ford dealership in Crestview Florida. They kept the car for a week then told me to take it to the Gary Smith Ford in Ft Walton Beach Fl because they didn't have any mechanics to work on cars. Had it towed to Gary Smith FORD where it has sat in their pkg lot for the month because they say they don't have mechanics either who can work on transmissions or cars yet. The safety issue is that it literally shuts off and doesn't accelerate creating a dangerous situation while driving. I was almost hit from behind with no way to drive out of the situation.

Engine shutoff in the middle of a busy road after having vehicle for 3 days.

Car would not shift into Drive. Reverse did work. Car towed to mechanic replaced transmission!

Owner scheduled appointment with Lakeview Ford due to no heat in vehicle, stalling when fuel was full, an active indicator for airbags. They completed the repairs for total around $1500. Shop went to test drive and vehicle caught fire.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH the instrument panel dimmed and then became inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rearview camera was intermittently inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown software needed to be updated; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred and that the rearview camera was displaying the image upside down. The vehicle was then taken to Metro Ford, Inc. (2860 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055), who confirmed the prior dealer's diagnosis of replacing the software. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no recall on the VIN and was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that as her husband grabbed the front passenger's side assist grab handle to adjust himself in the front passenger's side seat, the grab handle fractured and separated from the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her husband was grabbing the rear passenger's side grab handle to exit the vehicle. The contact stated that her husband fell on the ground and sustained a sore right ankle and bruises on and above the knee of the left foot. Additionally, the contact's husband sustained back pain. The contact's husband had not sought medical assistance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle the gear shifter cable fractured making it difficult to safely park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle reversed without warning. In addition, the RPM was fluctuating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,875.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 MPH, the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle would not start after that failure; and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a linkage failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 116,048.

Could not replace tire, swollen lug nuts

Head gasket was damaged but little to no signs that it was malfunctioning. Only warning code was spark plugs. Replaced spark plugs but light kept turning on. If the mechanic had not looked deeper at the issue my safety would have been compromised due to lack of notifications when car was being diagnosed

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing and then attempting to shift into drive, the gear shifter would not function as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer, where it has not yet been diagnosed. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the shifter cable had detached and that there was a recall from the manufacturer regarding the shifter cable. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated and there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the turbo and wiring harness was burnt, and there was coolant leaking in cylinders # 2 and # 3. The mechanic replaced the turbo, wiring harness, and valve cover gasket; however, after the repairs, the mechanic discovered there was a cracked head gasket. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

The rear door panel gets stuck in the door frame, preventing the door from opening. This happens with all of the screws and clips firmly in place but the problem does eventually loosen and dislodge clips. It seems to be that the panel is a little too big for the door frame. Looking for solutions, the problem is very common and many people have attempted to fix it with little success. We have two small children who sit in the back in car seats and we have to put them both in and out from the one door that doesn’t get stuck. This has been an issue for about two years now and has damaged the panel so much that it nearly rips off when attempting to open the door. I have read that Ford has acknowledged the problem but has not issued a recall. Clearly a safety issue to not be able to open a door.

The power steering goes out intermittently when turning, which has almost caused me to be in several wrecks. There are no warnings lamps or messages displayed. This seems to be a problem noted by numerous other people on the Internet with this year.