Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% | — |
| 2020 | 9 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% | 38,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2017 | 4 | 0% | 110,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% | 45,000 miles |
| 2015 | 6 | 1% | 54,000 miles |
| 2014 | 10 | 0% | 50,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 0% | 38,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% | 23,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 0% | 24,000 miles |
| 2010 | 8 | 0% | 88,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2008 | 4 | 0% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% | 6,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% | 0 miles |
| 2005 | 10 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 0% | 190,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 0% | 29,000 miles |
| 2001 | 5 | 1% | 69,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Driver's side seat: I use heated seat at times along with a/c to help my lower back pain. On [redacted] I was using it. I moved my right leg as I was driving with cruise control and I felt some skin tear off of the back of my thigh. Of course, it hurt and I immediately put my hand down and the seat was ridiculously hot! I had to keep my hand cupped underneath as I pulled off on the next exit. My daughter, [redacted] , was with me to witness this. She took pics in the gas station bathroom. I had 3 blisters total and 1 had ripped open with the skin hanging on the side. I have diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. Not a good combination with a defective heated seat that overheats to the point of blisters!
1. these are manufacturing problems right after I got the car within 1-3 months the seat belt is exceedingly difficult for a child /toddler the seat belts go into the seat and other problems 2. the middle shift ( park reverse drive) shift with the button area when you're at a red light made of plastic 1 month after I got the car it keeps losing pins falling out and dropping down this happened they said they fixed it but they really did not keeps losing with the pins falling out and pins keep coming out and the ford dealership in falls church Virginia making me pay 3 reverse and brake is bad squeaks they said they fixed with some kit but they did not 4wheels area are bad 3 months had problems I not sure how to describe it
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver's side door was emitting a clicking sound while the door was moved. The contact stated that the door weld had fractured. The window failed to roll up automatically due to the failure. The back of the driver's side seat had started tearing which exposed the frame of the seat. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the door however, the failure persisted due to parts from the old door being used to secure the new door. The seat had not been repaired. The dealer was informed of the failure however, the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for additional repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
The driver's seat has something protruding (seat heater?) into your tailbone which causes pain and discomfort. The constant adjusting to get comfortable (grabbing the steering wheel to pull myself forward) and slower reaction due to pain and numbness is a hazard waiting to happen. I have not addressed this with my local dealership as they had my car for 7 weeks and only fixed the recall issue (window switch) and none of the other 5 issues I took it in for.
Turned the heated seat on (driver side seat). After a little while the seat felt too hot so I thought maybe my jacket was positioned strange on my back. I readjusted my jacket and turned the seat down to the medium setting. It still felt too hot so I turned it off. After exiting the vehicle I noticed a burn mark through the back of the seat. I checked my jacket and there were burn marks on it as well. Had I not been wearing a winter jacket i likely would have been burned. This also poses a safety concern of the seat starting on fire. The vehicle has not been evaluated yet. There were no warning messages or alarms prior to the malfunction. It can be inspected upon request.
The seat stopped working. The ford almost gave out on me multiple times today. On the highway and twice on the road. Apparently this vehicle has been recalled plenty of times. It has something to do with bush wiring. The seat will not adjust or move forward and the windshield wipers don't work. It basically gave out and will not reverse.
My car caught on fire While it was parked. I contacted ford ford had no knowledge of fires in the car. Come to find out. It's all over the internet that there are fires in the ecoboost fuel system. They are refusing to fix the car. I am disabled and I feel like they are taking advantage of me because of that. I had an extended warranty even at the same time which obviously meant nothing. This is a great injustice and I really really really really really need help. I have tried everywhere. Please help me.
I was stopped at a redlight at an intersection, when I was rear ended by a car. My son and I were in the front seats. We were wearing our seatbelts. We were thrown frontward and then thrown backward. My sons seat was laying completely flat. My seat had flown back and hit my wife, who was sitting behind me,wearing her seatbelt. My injuries were a broken right fibula and left rib clinical fractures. My sons injuries were a concussion and whiplash. My wife had facial abrasions and left rib clinical fractures. We were all transported to the hospital by ambulance, had numerous testing done, spent the night and half the next day. Left the hospital still in pain.
Related recalls (4)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019.
Seats
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these 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.
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
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 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28,…
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.
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped without side air curtains or moonroofs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement above the permitted limit at the left hand a-pillar…
Remedy: Dealers will make modifications to the energy absorbing material located above the headliner in the affected area free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2006. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escape years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (10), 2014 (10), 2020 (9), 2010 (8) and 2013 (7) model years. Seat complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Ford Escape seat problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 19V-633 (mid/rear assembly, Aug 28, 2019); 17V-472 (seats, Jul 25, 2017); 14V-164 (recliner, Apr 2, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Escape seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles; 54% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (3 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (2).
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.