2014 Ford Escape Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 30, 2026 · Filed: October 30, 2026

I am the original owner of a 2014 Ford Escape SE equipped with the 1.6 L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 122,000 miles. Within he first three years of ownership, while the vehicle was still under its initial warranty, it suffered from a cracked cylinder block that required repair at the dealership. The vehicle has a severe persistent history of cooling system failures. I am forced to constantly add engine coolant to the reservoir, and the vehicle previously broke down and left me stranded on the freeway due to sudden engine overheating. Most recently, the engine coolant turned into a thick, creamy, milky substance, confirming severe internal coolant intrusion and mixing with the engine oil. This is known, unrepairable structural manufacturing defect in the open-deck block and cylinder head design of the 1.6 engine, which leads to catastrophic internal block cracking localized overheating. This severe cooling system failure directly present a critical vehicle safety and engine compartment fire hazard, directly matching the safety risks detailed in Safety Recall 17S09. The original safety recall remediation failed to fix the core manufacturing defect. The vehicle now requires a total long-block engine replacement. Sincerely, Margaret Aguiar

Incident: October 8, 2026 · Filed: October 9, 2026

in my 2014 ford escape has a coolant intrusion in the first cylinder.

Incident: September 23, 2026 · Filed: October 2, 2026

While driving, a message was displayed [Hill Start Assist Not Available] and all mileage figures previously displayed disappered. Additional warning lights were displayed indicating Traction Control, and ABS failures. Electric Power steering assist also stopped. Subsequent testing indicated the EBCM had failed. The part is on National Backorder. While drivable, I'm afraid other issues will arise. This is my only vehicle and I'm within 20,000 miles of needing the timing belt and water pump replaced as well. I could not find a recall for the EBCM (a part not usually prone to failure) for the 2014 Ford Escape SE 1.6L 4-cyl Ecoboost. In 2017, I had the entire transmission replaced @ 70,000 miles, under warranty, but Ford did not honor the warranty terms: coverage for lodging and rental vehicle, so I lost $$$$ that shouldn't have happened.

Incident: September 30, 2026 · Filed: October 1, 2026

At first, I just bought it two weeks ago. It was smoke coming from the engine and there was no coolant. The coolant wasn’t holding in the car now I was driving last night. I had coolant in it and there was just flames coming out by where the Oil is

Incident: September 20, 2026 · Filed: September 28, 2026

My car warned me via service light that there was low coolant in my car, so I went to go get it topped off but the guys at valvoline said my coolant was almost completely full. I continued to drive it since the service light turned off, but when I drove it a day later, it suddenly warned me that my car was over heating and I needed to stop immediately. A local mechanic said that my head gasket failed and my coolant hose was leaking. My car only warned me once of the coolant being low, then the light turned off until my head gasket blew.

Incident: September 20, 2026 · Filed: September 28, 2026

My car warned me via service light that there was low coolant in my car, so I went to go get it topped off but the guys at valvoline said my coolant was almost completely full. I continued to drive it since the service light turned off, but when I drove it a day later, it suddenly warned me that my car was over heating and I needed to stop immediately. A local mechanic said that my head gasket failed and my coolant hose was leaking. My car only warned me once of the coolant being low, then the light turned off until my head gasket blew.

Incident: July 5, 2026 · Filed: September 21, 2026

In the ford escape, when the remote start is activated. The car will show as overheating. I was told it was a known issue with ford. This occurred twice resulting in over 1900 in towing and repairs. Those repairs did not fix issue as 4 weeks later it did it again.

Incident: September 15, 2026 · Filed: September 17, 2026

Car is eating antifreeze with no visible leaks. The vehicle overheats if not enough antifreeze. I had to use stop leak just to keep the antifreeze from leaking. The vehicle had a recall fix in 2018 for coolant intrusion by the previous owner but problem is occurring again. Have asked multiple ford dealerships to help but they said the warranty is expired but after doing research I saw that even after a recall occurs if the problem was not fixed even after a warranty expires the company is still liable for repairs. I would like to make a complaint because I feel as if Ford is not honoring their recall policy. Even after correct information was given.

Incident: September 13, 2026 · Filed: September 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine light and low coolant warning light were illuminated. Upon checking the coolant level, the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant to the vehicle; however, the coolant disappeared and gushed back into the reservoir. Additionally, upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start and chugged, with a white sweet-smelling smoke coming from the tailpipe while idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased, and the contact inquired about a free diagnostic test, but the dealer denied assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 104,353.

Incident: September 11, 2026 · Filed: September 14, 2026

am reporting a potential safety defect involving my 2014 Ford Escape Titanium 1.6L EcoBoost. While driving, I suddenly heard a pop/burst from under the hood. The vehicle then began producing white smoke/steam. There were no warning lights or temperature warnings before the smoke began. The high-temperature/overheating warning appeared only after the vehicle was already smoking/steaming. I immediately pulled over and stopped the vehicle. Green coolant had sprayed throughout the engine compartment. An independent repair shop confirmed that the plastic return-side heater-hose union/connector broke, causing a severe coolant leak. The shop recommended replacing the connector and coolant, performing a cooling-system pressure test, and a combustion leak test to check for possible engine damage. This failure created a safety risk because the vehicle suddenly lost coolant while being driven and gave almost no advance warning before overheating. The vehicle has not been inspected by Ford for this specific failure. I am concerned because these symptoms appear similar to the coolant-loss/overheating concerns addressed by Ford Safety Recall 17S09 involving certain 2014 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost vehicles. My VIN is not currently listed in that recall. I am reporting this so NHTSA can determine whether similar sudden cooling-system failures are occurring in vehicles outside the original recall population.