Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear windshield wiper motor failed to deactivate, causing the battery to drain. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear windshield wiper motor needed to be replaced; however, the dealer confirmed that the warranty had expired. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the rear windshield wiper motor; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof inadvertently exploded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Escape was parked in driveway when I opened hatchback/lift to retrieve items. Suddenly the windshield shattered. No one was inside the vehicle at the time. There has been no reproduction/confirmation by a dealer. As new owner of the vehicle purchased from dealer, it has been inspected in both VA and in MD on 01/13/2023. There was no warning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. While driving 75 MPH, the entire rear liftgate window shattered. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed one hinge was holding one side of the liftgate window before detaching completely. The contact stated that the hinges were disintegrated and had a white, powdery appearance. The contact called anderson's rock river Ford (24 n alpine red, rockford, il 61107, [phone]) and was informed the vehicle was not under warranty. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
The rear tailgate window exploded while car was parked in the garage with the garage door closed. Happened Sunday at 6:45 pm with an outdoor temperature of 45 degrees fahrenheit. Car had been in the garage all weekend, since Friday early afternoon. No outside influence caused the breakage to happen. Glass filled the back of the car and the entire back of the garage. Falls right in line with NHTSA action number : pe11016.
The rear glass shattered while sitting in the driveway. There was no evidence of something hitting the windshield. It appears to have spontaneously shattered. Glass was strewn toward the outside the vehicle to it's drivers side. This was probably due to the right rear hinge that was extended and protruding outside of the window area. This motion probably caused the glass to be hurled out and to the left of the vehicle.
A/C pump cycles on and off but no A/C in summer. In winter -the defroster cuts out which I believe is a overheating resister thus not cycling the A/C. Also switch is inop for fan on positions 1 and 2. I believe the system " malfunction" is a fire/ safety issue and needs a safety campaign because of all weather hazards such as fog, excessive summer temps, and freezing temps with condensation. Thanks
The back glass exploded spontaneously. Luckily no one was with in a few feet. We found glass fragments in the back seat, cargo area, all over the drive way, and in a semi-circle several feet around the rear of the vehicle. It was just parked in my driveway and had not been driven or entered since the night before.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact noticed streaks running down the vehicle's glass. Also, the hinges for the glass on the liftgate experienced premature corrosion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.
This will be the second time I am replacing wheel bearing in the front driver side wheel. This causes the wheel to shake. I cant afford to continue to put money into a vehicle with such low miles and every 6 months. Also rear wiper motor burnt out due to a leaky seal or poor seal from Ford.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2011 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2011 Ford Escape, 3% of the model year's 1,318 complaints. The component named most often is glass, side/rear (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Ford Escape window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2011 Ford Escape, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Escape window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.