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CarComplaints.com Notes: The top problem trend for the 2014 Escape is transmission failure at around 70k miles.

This is relatively low mileage for an expensive transmission failure ($4,500 average to fix), but unless the trend becomes more established, we are only awarding the 2014 Escape our "Beware of the Clunker" badge for now.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 22
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 2
Average Mileage:
41,162 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Ford Escape miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2014 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 11)

problem #218

Feb 212024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission is slipping. When you try to get it up to forty forty-five it jerks and boggs down almost stops in it place. Have to slowly press the exceradtir to get it moving again almost causing be rear ended there is a noise and ive carried it to a couple ford dealers me they honestly weren't sure whats going. Also the washer motor went out for no reason. But mostly my concern. Is the transmission issues. There is a light that comes one it's like the two tires on the back lights

- Dadeville, AL, USA

problem #217

Nov 192023

Escape

  • miles
i was driving in the freeway and my car stop and start the fire from the motor right away, i got scared but i was able to get out safely to call 911 and police show up and tried to used the extinguisher but it was to much flames and fire department show up to help. My car was completely total loss from the fire. My car was in good condition and didn't have any mechanic problems, i bought the car a few months ago before the accident from a dealership but we didn't any warranty from the dealer i try to get contracts to the dealer but they told me to complain with the Ford dealer, i try to contact to the Ford dealer to make a complain but I haven't get any response.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #216

Mar 282024

Escape

  • miles
My daughter's 2014 Ford escape low coolant light came on today and the thermostat jumped straight to over heating and the check engine light came on. The coolant has been going down very quickly during normal use and she has to continually fill the coolant more and more recently. Today was the first time the light came on and it overheated.

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #215

Mar 112024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My coolant has been leaking starting early this month and I took it to my repair shop. My car has 94,347 miles on it. They told me it could be related to Safety Recall Notice 17S09/NHTSA Recall 17V-209. They put in Stop Leak to help. It did for a while but continues to leak. In searching the internet about this problem, I found that many other people are having this problem and are not getting satisfaction from Ford. In the end, they have to have the engine replaced. I'm worried that this problem will advance to more problems like other people are having. On March 11, 2024, I took the car to my repair shop.

- Parkville, MD, USA

problem #214

Mar 012023

Escape

  • miles
The rear back up camera is acting up. Sometimes comes on, sometimes it is showing upside down. I have come to rely on this safety feature and need it repaired.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

problem #213

Mar 022024

Escape

  • miles
My engine coolant kept disappearing with no signs of a leak and no overheating. Then one day it was driving fine when I stopped at a red light and it stalled so I tried to restart it but every time I put it in gear it stalled so I had to get it towed to a mechanic and the diagnosed it as transmission failure. It never showed signs of transmission issues and never had a check engine light on or anything. Worst buy ever

- Midland, TX, USA

problem #212

Mar 062024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have an oil and coolant leak in my 2014 Ford Escape. My mechanic said there is a recall for this issue, but It is not coming up under my Vin. My mechanic says the car is dangerous to drive because it can catch on fire. I see that there was a big recall with the Ford Escape for this issue and I am disappointed that my vin # is not included. Very frustrating because this is an extremely serious matter that could result in loss of life and Ford does not want to fix it!!!! The issue has been confirmed with my service garage and online.

- Trumbull, CT, USA

problem #211

Jan 262024

Escape

  • miles
Information/Instrument cluster has gone blank. I cannot see mileage, or any warning information. This problem was on a previous recall.

- Belton, MO, USA

problem #210

Jan 112024

Escape

  • miles
Backup camera on my Ford Escape works only intermittently, sometimes it shows a black screen and error message, at other times it shows an upside down images. Please include this model year (and perhaps others) along with the recent backup camera recall you recently issued. Thanks for considering my request.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #209

Dec 302023

Escape

  • miles
Lug-nuts corroded under the plating causing the service dealer (NTB) to not be able to get the proper size wrench on them to remove and then re-tighten. They said new lug-nuts would be required to service the tires (been driving and servicing vehicles for 50+ years, this is the first vehicle I had to replace the lug-nuts). Had to purchase a new set of 20 lug-nuts to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, it is a bad two piece design on the lug-nut and should be re-engineered. I could have forced the lug-nuts off myself, but if this happens to my wife or daughters when they need to replace a flat, it would be a big safety concern. Ford should address it.

- Lucas, TX, USA

problem #208

Dec 282023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Back up camera doesn't function 100% of the time. Get display message stating unable to connect (or similar) Other times, no message or screen change. Has been happening for over one (1) year. Not just one time.

- Depew, NY, USA

problem #207

Nov 242023

Escape

  • miles
Hello -- 1) My wife explained to me that the acceleration would rev very high on rpms but no power -- ( 1st & 2nd especially) then the check engine light came on -- I drove it to check and there was something very wrong -- unfortunately I could find no dealers w\o a full months wait or more -- Then on the Friday after Thanksgiving she came home & said she had no brakes -- I take it for a ride to investigate -- sure enough the vacuum booster failed -- like driving w manual brakes in the old days & u still need to use the emergency brake -- It failed as she drove (no idea) til she needed to stop -- fortunately we live in a rural area and she had space and time to try to figure out what happened -- otherwise there would have been at the least a deadly car crash from behind -- When the accelleration fails there will be death from being broadsided entering traffic -- what a choice !!!! -- Also it might not seem too big a deal but the A\C condensate drain line plugs up and there will be 2" of water on floor inside the cab on both sides -- I had to finally fix it because i couldnt take it anywhere because -- no parts -- too busy -- UNFORTUNATELY THE PERSON WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE HAS ASTHMA -- THE MOLD AND MILDEW WERE UNREAL -- How are there no recalls on these life altering situations ?? I work for this company and I'm thoroughly disgusted. The date for A\C & turbo was in August -- the failed brakes is the date below -- I just got the vehicle back today and the brakes work because of replacing vacuum booster -- then the dealer wouldnt read my notes and car still does what they charged me $1450 for -- westgate solenoid -- boost solenoid -- NOW -- BECAUSE OF THEIR DESIGN -- FORDS -- NOT ONLY DID I SPEND THAT MONEY FOR NOTHING -- THEY WANT TO REPLACE MOTOR & TURBO FOR ONLY $11500 -- ONLY 82000 MILES !!!! I do have bills from the dealer -- just no way to upload right now -- if u need them they can be uploaded in the next couple of days --

- South Rockwood, MI, USA

problem #206

Oct 222023

Escape

  • miles
As I was driving down the highway my dash started blinking my car shut off and I saw smoke coming from under the hood. I lift the hood and under the hood is completely covered in fire. Another vehicle behind me while driving stopped and told me he seen fire under the car as I was driving.

- Marshall , IL, USA

problem #205

Sep 292023

Escape

  • miles
1) Steering went out without having issues prior. It reads "steering assist fault service required" on the dash 2) Lost all steering capabilities without warning. The car did not lose all power, it was still running and driving just zero steering. I drive daily with my children in the vehicle most of the time. This time, thankfully, I was alone and not in traffic to harm other drivers. Steering does not work at all, it's not just hard to turn, there's no movement in the wheel no matter how hard you try. 3) It has been checked out by our mechanic and he states "the code reader brings up nothing, no loose wires, tried resetting the battery, it doesn't have power steering fluid that could even be low, but there are cars recalled 2011-2013 with the exact same issue but this is a 2014" 4) It has not been checked by the dealer or manufacturer yet. 5) There were zero warnings. After the incident, a light came on the dash reading "steering assist fault service required"

- Buckeye Lake, OH, USA

problem #204

Sep 262023

Escape

  • miles
My car the power steering/steering rack failed while driving the vehicle. At first it gave me a slight warning that the power assist had a fault then it warned steering failure, brake safely. At which time the steering was completely gone. My son and I were in the car driving while this happened and luckily were able to get to the side of the road. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealership to see what the problem was. They called to tell me the entire steering rack had to be replaced for a total of $3,396, when I only owe $4700 on the car as well.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #203

Aug 262023

Escape

  • miles
The steering wheels started to get hard. The car warned me to stop safely. It was to hard that I couldn't do much to turn the steering wheels.

- Toa Alta, PR, USA

problem #202

Aug 062023

Escape

  • miles
In the early morning of August 6, 2023, I was driving on the interstate and began to notice that my SUV was failing to accelerate when I attempted to go at the minimum speed of 70 MPH. The SUV started to decrease in speed and acted like the engine was beginning to stall. Knowing that this was beginning to be a dangerous situation I pulled off to the side of the road and called for roadside assistance. should be noted that I did hear a hissing sound on the driver side when I pulled out of my driveway but thought nothing of it as I had my tires rotated on July 31, 2023.* Thinking that it might be my transmission, I had my car towed to my home and had it towed to Carfix on Monday, August 7, 2023. Attached is what Carfix told me. While I would like to be reimbursed by Ford after purchasing a 2nd Ford (other a 1995 Mustang, I newly purchased) vehicle where I have had to replace the transmission, I would like to bring to the attention of NHTSA that this seems to be an ongoing issue with Ford vehicles. I contacted Ford and due to no unrepaired recalls for the SUV, they suggested I reach out to NHTSA. Also, I have a Ford Case No. I live in a rural area and this would have been devastating to me if I did not have the money to pay for a re-built transmission and I am hoping that it will last at least 2 years.

- Silver Point, TN, USA

problem #201

Aug 212023

Escape

  • miles
I bought this vehicle exactly 1 year ago back in June from The BMW dealership in Arlington, Texas Under the assumption that there was nothing wrong with it Mechanically. The dealership Lied to me because not even a week later. I had to take it to a Firestone to see what was wrong with it. And they said that there was coolant loss, They did do a pressure track and said at the time it was not the gasket period I have taken it to other mechanics since then trying to fix what they said the issue was but there has been a loss of coolant in that vehicle and we don't know where it's going period period I don't know what to do because there was a recall on it. From what I searched on the internet long ago? But it is no longer available. And that's unfortunate for me. Because I believe that the recall that they had back in 2017 I believe that's the issue that is currently wrong with the vehicle the recall code was 17s09. I don't know what else to do because I'm at a loss. I spent eight thousand dollars on a vehicle that I cannot even enjoy Because it has been in the shop more times than I have driven

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #200

Jul 012023

Escape

  • 124,547 miles
The shift cable bushing and other parts around is bad. Ford auto nation in blanding Ave Florida said my car needs work $1,100 I had diagnostic done by ford automation on July 22, 2023 on a Saturday from service center name Chris I needed that shift cable bushing fixed.

- Green Cove Springs , FL, USA

problem #199

Aug 072023

Escape

  • miles
Transmission was slipping while in drive, did not engage drive or reverse easily. Jerked in and out of drive. Mechanic days or could be the -??turbo-??.

- San Antonio , TX, USA

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