2024 Ford Escape Problems & Complaints

Average24% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escape at the same age

Owners have filed 76 complaints about the 2024 Ford Escape with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Escape at the same age. The most reported problem area is the driver assistance (27 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles). 8 recalls cover this model year.

76complaints
8recalls
5crashes
0fires
6injuries
1deaths

Most common 2024 Ford Escape problems

  • Driver assistance~36,000 miles
    2736%
  • Electrical system~14,000 miles
    2634%
  • Other / not specified
    1621%
  • Engine & cooling~5,000 miles
    1418%
  • Air bags~118,000 miles
    68%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    57%
  • Speed control & acceleration~5,000 miles
    45%
  • Brakes
    34%
  • Seat belts~118,000 miles
    23%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    23%
  • Body & structure~9,000 miles
    23%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~16,000 miles
    11%
  • Wheels & tires
    11%
  • Lights
    11%
  • Equipment & accessories~28,000 miles
    11%
  • A/C & heater
    11%

Share of the 76 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Ford Escape complaints by model year

’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’2659961.0k5584991.4k4642542.0k1.7k2.1k1.3k6042.8k2.1k1.1k1.2k2.7k1.8k5961.6k35023710176263
Owner complaints per model year, Ford Escape. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Escape years: 2025, 2012, 2023. Years to avoid: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018, 2014. Compare all years →

2024 Ford Escape recalls (8)

Engine

NHTSA recall 25V-372 · Jun 3, 2025 · 404 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Equipment › Electrical › Engine block heater

NHTSA recall 25V-343 · May 23, 2025 · 6,781 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded…

Back over prevention › Software

NHTSA recall 25V-315 · May 9, 2025 · 1,076,138 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles.

Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge.

Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery › Management system/energy control module (BMS/becm)

NHTSA recall 24V-954 · Dec 20, 2024 · 20,484 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of…

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 24V-850 · Nov 8, 2024 · 15 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 24V-852 · Nov 8, 2024 · 27,678 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.

Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

Show 2 more recalls

Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors

NHTSA recall 24V-634 · Aug 23, 2024 · 24 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.

Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control

NHTSA recall 24V-440 · Jun 14, 2024 · 209 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Escape two-wheel drive vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.

Remedy: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S39.

What 2024 Ford Escape owners say

Driver assistance all 27 →

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the radio display turned off while driving and while the vehicle was idling. The failure was intermittent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer was unable to successfully perform the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software update while receiving assistance from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 35,690.

36,000 miles · Feb 2026

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.

0 miles · Mar 2024

Electrical system all 26 →

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that his wife had driven approximately 500 miles during a trip from Tennessee to Michigan, where she made stops as needed. The contact stated that after his wife arrived to the destination, she noticed that she had sustained third-degree burns on the right buttock and on the right upper leg from the front driver's side seat heater. The contact stated that his wife was a nurse and was self-treating at the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

14,000 miles · Nov 2024 · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact while attempting to start the vehicle, several safety features in the vehicle became inoperable. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer processing unit had failed, and the contact was informed to wait for the manufacturer to provide a remedy to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a solution was being created. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.

4,000 miles · May 2025

Engine & cooling

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. …

19,000 miles · May 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the wrench warning light illuminated and the message "Engine over-temperature. Service Now" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as needed upon releasing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the engine cylinder head. The dealer determined that the head needed to be replaced under Ford SSM Number: 52219; however, the part was not available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he was concerned that the repair offered by the manufacturer was only a temporary fix. …

5,000 miles · May 2024

2024 Ford Escape engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cyl hybridCVTFWD42 / 36 / 39
2.5L 4-cyl hybridCVT4WD42 / 36 / 39
1.5L 3-cyl turbo8-speed automaticFWD27 / 34 / 30
1.5L 3-cyl turbo8-speed automaticAWD26 / 32 / 28
2.0L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticAWD23 / 31 / 26

EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Ford Escape a good car?

Based on 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2024 Escape rates average: 24% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escape at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2024 Ford Escape?

The driver assistance — 27 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about blind spot detection. Next are the electrical system (26) and engine & cooling (14).

How many recalls does the 2024 Ford Escape have?

There are 8 recalls for the 2024 Ford Escape, the most recent from June 3, 2025 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escape?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2012 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2020, 2013, 2018 and 2014. See the full Ford Escape years comparison.

At what mileage do 2024 Ford Escape problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 14,000 miles; 92% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.