Is the 2014 Ford Escape reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2014 Ford Escape is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Escape?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 35% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Escape have?

16 recalls on file for this model year.

2014 Ford Escape

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2014 Ford Escape
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 2,086
Recalls: 16
Investigations: 2
Top problem: Engine

Complaints per year

2014: 2,086 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2000	5
2001	996
2002	1,027
2003	558
2004	499
2005	1,394
2006	464
2007	254
2008	1,974
2009	1,692
2010	2,070
2011	1,316
2012	602
2013	2,748
2014	2,086
2015	1,083
2016	1,116
2017	2,688
2018	1,806
2019	590
2020	1,600
2021	346
2022	233
2023	99
2024	76
2025	25
2026	3

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine

35% · 726 reports

CRASHFIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

At first, I just bought it two weeks ago. It was smoke coming from the engine and there was no coolant. The coolant wasnât holding in the car now I was driving last night. I had coolant in it and there was just flames coming out by where the Oil…

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-10-01

Also filed under Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. While driving 60 MPH, smoke appeared under the hood. The contact pulled over and the engine compartment burst into flames without warning. The fire department extinguished the fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-03

My daughter was driving the car on a 2 lane highway, going straight, at highway speed ( My daughter gotten about 3 miles from home ) and engine fault light came on, car sputtered, service now light came on and immediately smoke started to come into...

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-01

Power train

24% · 493 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and shift linkage/cable/rod.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Electrical system

10% · 218 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel and speedometer/odometer.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

The car announced a low coolant in the system and then 10 seconds after the car turn on fire and burned down completely.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-11-10

Also filed under Structure

Rear camera intermittently does not work properly. Multiple incidents of the rear camera flickering off and on when in reverse, image is sometimes upside down, or the rear camera doesn't work at all.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-21

Engine and engine cooling

9% · 186 reports

Most commonly citing cooling system and exhaust system.

CRASHFIRE

Show complaint excerpts

Due to cold weather, walked out and started car, right foot on brake, right index finger on starter button, left foot on outside parking lot and left hand holding cell phone.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-01-11

Steering

7% · 151 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and column.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

16 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

▮
2014Complaint volume 2,086 complaints filed for this model year.
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2014-05-30Air bags14V237000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-05-30Structure14V239000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-05-30Seats14V164000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-07-16Visibility14V403000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, through October 22, 2013. The panorama roof glass may not be properly bonded to the attaching bracket.

Remedy: Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect each vehicle and replace the front roof glass if its production date and sequence number falls within the affected range, free of charge. The recall is began on July 14, 2014.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-09-15Fuel system, gasoline14V525000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured May 1, 2014, to May 24, 2014, 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured on June 6, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to July 7,...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S20.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-10-06Electrical system14V495000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2015-02-27Fuel system, gasoline15V005000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15,...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S30.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2015-05-26Air bags, seat belts14V597000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2015-08-04Electrical system15V406000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C03.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2016-01-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2016-10-29 Door Latch Failure
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2017-01-27Latches/locks/linkages16V643000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2017-10-25Seat belts, seats17V472000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2018-01-05Engine and engine cooling17V209000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2018-09-20Power train18V471000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-12-19Recall queryClosed 2022-02-07 Door Latch Failures
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2020-07-27Latches/locks/linkages20V331000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2022-10-27Power train22V413000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022.

Check if this car was fixed →
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Date not on fileEquipment26V011000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2014 Ford Escape — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Engine: 726 reports on file for this year.
Power train: 493 reports on file for this year.
Electrical system: 218 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 26V011000 · Equipment
Recall 14V237000 · Air bags
Recall 14V239000 · Structure
Recall 14V164000 · Seats
Recall 14V403000 · Visibility
Recall 14V525000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 14V495000 · Electrical system
Recall 15V005000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 14V597000 · Air bags, seat belts
Recall 15V406000 · Electrical system
Recall 16V643000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Recall 17V472000 · Seat belts, seats
Recall 17V209000 · Engine and engine cooling
Recall 18V471000 · Power train
Recall 20V331000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Recall 22V413000 · Power train

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2014 Ford Escape reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2014 Ford Escape is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Escape?: The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 35% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Escape have?: 16 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.

2014 Ford Escape

Complaints per year

Known problem areas

Engine

Power train

Electrical system

Engine and engine cooling

Steering

Safety timeline

Buy-smart checklist

Inspect

Verify these recalls were completed

Other years of this model

▲Best years3 years

■Worst years3 years

FAQ

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years