2010 Ford Escape Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: October 28, 2026

**NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint** Vehicle: 2010 Ford Escape AWD VIN: [XXX] I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle has experienced serious safety problems involving both the steering system and the fuel system. The steering wheel has become extremely difficult to turn, making it unsafe to drive. In addition, the fuel system is leaking fuel, creating a potential fire hazard. My understanding is that this vehicle previously received recall repairs related to these systems. Despite those repairs, the same dangerous conditions have returned. The vehicle has been undrivable for approximately two weeks because I believe it is unsafe to operate. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the recall remedy was effective and whether these failures indicate that additional action is necessary to protect owners of affected vehicles. Because these defects involve steering control and a potential vehicle fire, I believe they present an unreasonable safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: September 22, 2026 · Filed: September 26, 2026

Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist Power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds. Steering locks up while driving. This has happened 3 times within the last 6 months. Before this, the last few years it has been difficult starting the car with the key. It would take multiple tries before starting. But now that the steering has locked up more than twice while driving is concerning. I see there were previous problems with the steering and corrected in 2014. After reading the recall description, it sounds to be the same problem. And recently i parked the vehicle, put in park, pulled the key and when opening the door beeping occurred like the key was in the ignition. Once the key was put in the ignition, it stopped. Please Help, [XXX] [XXX]/[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: September 8, 2026 · Filed: September 11, 2026

The gas tank is leaking gas on the gas tank inlet plastic yellow retainer ring appears to be broken. This gas leak has put safety family members at risk. It appears to be a manufacturer defect built defective.

Incident: March 27, 2026 · Filed: July 16, 2026

1. I purchased a 2010 Ford Escape that had a preexisting rusted frame defect. That is shown by the Ford vehicle history report and related service documentation, which support that the problem existed before I took possession of the vehicle. The vehicle was determined as unsafe to drive and later broke down after the sale. Apple Ford Apple Valley documented that the vehicle was “not safe to drive due to rusted frame,” and after break down, Carlson Automotive also inspected the vehicle and confirmed serious issues. The vehicle and related records can be made available for inspection upon request. 2.My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the structural defect caused loss of control, steering problems, and ultimately a breakdown while driving. This created a danger to me, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. 3.The problem was confirmed by a dealer ( prior to the sale to me) and an independent service center ( after it broke down ). I am not aware of any police or insurance inspection of the vehicle. The seller is not cooperating. Ford bought the vehicle through a trade in and then held it for resale, top gear obtains the vehicle which then sells it on kbids to me. 4. There were warning signs before the failure THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED AND FORD ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE ITS LOT INSTEAD OF JUNKING IT. The Ford history report and service records showed the rusted frame condition before the vehicle failed, and Apple Ford Apple Valley documented that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The car fax report did not show detailed service notes. I was not able to find out more detail until I was listed as the owner at FORD. The vehicle was video recorded on top gear you tube page as drivable and operational WITHOUT restrictions.

Incident: July 1, 2025 · Filed: July 2, 2026

I own a 2010 Ford Escape, VIN [XXX]. Last year in 2025, my power steering went out. I found out it was from a safety recall. I took it to the Ford dealership in Sandusky, MI. They told me it wasn't a safety recall and they would not cover it. I have been searching online for a YEAR, and I finally found where that certain safety recall was only repaired by computer update, NOT by checking the actual steering column, via the previous owners. I want the steering column looked at and for free. We could have died if it had failed in a turn. The escape is sitting in my garage with NO POWERSTEERING AT ALL and no one can drive it. This is a safety risk because without power-steering I cannot turn or drive my vehicle at all. I want this repaired as soon as possible, for free. There were no messages or failures, it just stopped working. Ford is telling me that they won't fix it because it has already been repaired and it is not in their computer system. I know this is BS because if it was fixed, why is it failed now? I also learned that they did a "system update" to prevent failure of the steering column and I guess mine didn't get one. I am not a happy customer and I will NEVER buy a ford again if this is not repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: May 22, 2026 · Filed: June 4, 2026

Front subframe on the right side prematurely rusts, causing the vehicle to loose steering and pull to the right.

Incident: April 1, 2025 · Filed: June 3, 2026

My car is a limited version which equipped a Microsoft SYNC system which providing backup camera and vehicle system setting and information such as hybrid status, driven mode, battery charging status, GPS navigation, etc. Just because this 'Upgrade', the clock and date setting is different with regular escape hybrid cars which comes from the satellite only. Driver could adjust the hour and minute, but the day, month, and year would be reset to a certain day of 2006 if battery changing. After that, the date could be updated by GPS signal automatically. It was working well until one year ago. Now, my car is showing Oct, 2006 and running day after day. I did some research on internet and found a lot of drivers with same issue. A engineer revealed the root cause that Ford used a ten digits week counting method based on a starting date in 2006 to display the current date which could only working within 1023 weeks (17.5 years). Without changing the hardware, software might not correct this issue. I'm not sure and went to Ford dealer shop last week, they denied this issue and refused to recall even repair this car. I hope Ford could recall the fix this obvious defective product soon.

Incident: May 24, 2026 · Filed: May 31, 2026

I went out to start my car and the power steering assist fault came on and wouldn't let me turn the wheel easily. When I looked up the problem the code came back to one of the recalls Ford has on those escape. But now my car is not in the recall but it was made with in the years and the plant the they recalled for

Incident: March 31, 2026 · Filed: March 31, 2026

AFTERMARKET SEAT COVER AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. I can't electricly move my seats when I try and air bag warning comes in my dash board

Incident: December 5, 2025 · Filed: March 28, 2026

The complaint is regarding a 2010 Ford Escape, original owner and maintained mostly at dealer shop. Vehicle only has 79k miles on it, and has been garage stored. It has rust in the rear wheel wells and a crack in the rear right subframe due to rust.