2024 Ford Escape: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, engine, and automatic emergency braking. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024- Owner complaints
- 76
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes reported
- 2
- 3 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2024 Ford Escape: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Escape is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 Ford Escape. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 3-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 28–30 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD | 26 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylHybrid | FWD, 4WD | 39 mpg |
- The 2024 Ford Escape was sold in three versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Escape that averages well under the EPA 26 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Driver-assist and park aid faults
3,900–4,500 miles
Engine misfire, check engine light
4,092–5,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 Ford Escape, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical29No crashes
Driver-assist systems shut down again and again. Blind spot, cross-traffic alert, Pre-Collision Assist, park aid and the front camera all post fault messages, sometimes along with cruise control and the miles-to-empty readout. Faults show up as early as 3,900 miles. Several reports describe weeks at the dealer, a replaced front camera module (IPMA) that did not fix the problem, and Ford engineering with no repair available. Other complaints describe a blank center display or a failed APIM, repeated dead 12-volt batteries, and front seat heaters that stay hot. One owner reports burns from a seat heater.
Engine9No crashes
Misfires and stalling lead the reports. The check engine light comes on with random misfire codes P0300 and P0316, often within the first 5,000 miles. Sometimes the car jerks and the light flashes. Other owners say the engine stalls when pulling away from a stop, including partway through intersections and while crossing an interstate. Dealers often find no codes. Less common reports include a cylinder head over-temperature warning (P1285), a burning smell in the cabin, and total engine failure with grinding and loss of power. Stalling in traffic is the main crash risk.
Automatic emergency braking7No crashes
Adaptive cruise control drops out with a resume-control warning and a loud chime. A rotating list of faults follows: Pre-Collision Assist not available, parking sensors, blind spot, cross-traffic and front camera. Warnings may clear after a restart and return 30 or 40 miles later, until they stay on permanently. Owners tie the start of the problem to a software update at the end of April 2025. They describe repeat dealer visits and fix dates that keep slipping. Separately, the speed-sign feature misreads bridge weight and route signs, braking hard to 20 mph or speeding up to 60 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Acceleration and cruise control4No crashes
The car hesitates or refuses to accelerate when pulling away from a stop sign or during a turn. That can leave it stuck in an intersection, in one case at 1400 miles. Another report describes a kickback through the gas pedal, then a full loss of acceleration on a highway with coolant over-temperature and engine warnings. Other owners see a "Normal Cruise Control Braking Off" message along with blind spot, camera and park aid faults around 4,500 miles. The faults continue after a dealer software update.
Airbags32 crashes
Two of the 3 complaints involve crashes where airbags did not deploy as expected. In a rear-end collision, the window and leg airbags deployed but the steering wheel airbag did not. In a deer strike to the driver's side, no airbag deployed and the restraint warning lamp was on. The third report describes an airbag warning light and a "Belt Monitor Service Required" message at 118,000 miles. The dealer did not diagnose it.
Backup camera2No crashes
"Park Aid Malfunction" alerts flash on the dash and come back within days of a dealer visit. In one case they started at about 3,900 miles. Another complaint describes the radio display shutting off on and off while driving and at idle. In that case the dealer could not complete an APIM software update even with help from Ford, and the car went unrepaired for a long time.
Lane keeping2No crashes
These complaints cover the same cluster of driver-assist faults seen elsewhere: Regain Control, blind spot, cross-traffic, front camera and Pre-Collision Assist warnings that stay lit. Dealer system wipes clear the warnings for about a day before they return. Promised fix dates moved from March 2025 to May 2025. Cars sit at dealers for long stretches. A replaced IPMA module failed to clear the codes and was followed by new faults, including tire pressure monitoring.
Brakes2No crashes
The car hops under braking as the transmission jumps. Another report describes a clicking noise from under the hood after shutoff. When the driver presses the brake to restart, the pedal sinks to the floor, then works normally on the next try. A dealer called it an ABS problem but would not repair it without a stored code. One complaint also notes no low-fuel warning light appeared when the tank ran low.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Escape owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Wireless Apple Carplay KEEPS disconnecting! All the time, phone calls drop all the time and sometimes the system refuses to connect to my phone. All updates are up to date and I always see Wireless Apple Carplay improvements... nothing AT all has happened. Please fix if possible!
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Blind spot fault, Pre-collision assist fault, Cross-traffic system fault warning icons appeared on dashboard in June 2024. Been to the Ford service dept. four times with no resolution.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Check engine light came on. Vehicle has around 5000 miles on it. My app told me it at misfire was detected. We took it to the dealer ship. All they said is ford is aware of this issue.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2025
My vehicle has been stalling for several months. I have taken to the dealership multiple times and it is still not fixed. Since the last visit at the service department it has done this 5 times. Twice today. It has done this multiple times crossing the interstate.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
The adaptive speed control is supposed to react to changes in speed limits. It also reacts to bridge capacity signs. This causes a sudden change in speed that the occupants and the following vehicle did not expect. In one location the speed limit is 50mph and there is a bridge with a 20 ton limit. The vehicle brakes to slow down to 20mph when passing the sign.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Ford put out an update at the end of April 2025 that inhibited ALL advanced driver assistance systems from working. I took my escape to the dealership twice in May and June and it’s not fixed. I called ford and they promised an update in July but it’s still not out to fix their mistake.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
I’m having trouble accelerating when the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or when making a left or right turn. This has been dangerous because I end up stuck in the middle of intersections without being able to move. The vehicle is new and has 1400 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
How the 2024 compares with other Escape years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks sixth for owner complaints among 8 Escape years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical2940
- Engine9219
- Automatic emergency braking72
- Acceleration and cruise control41
- Airbags34
- Backup camera20
Where the 2024 fits in the Escape's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2024 is the fifth model year of the Escape's fourth generation (2020 on).
It includes the 2023 update.
What changed for 2023
- Updated front grille and headlights
- New infotainment system features
Recalls to confirm (10)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
26V091000ElectricalFeb 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: The remedy is currently under development. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, and instructions to limit the maximum charge of the battery were mailed February 26, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
25V789000ElectricalNov 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: The remedy is currently under development. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, and instructions to limit the maximum charge of the battery were mailed December 8, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V954 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 18, 2025.
25V343000ElectricalJun 2025
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. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 11, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. The parts are anticipated to be available April 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.
25V372000EngineJun 2025
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.
Risk: An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.
25V315000Backup cameraMay 2025
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. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.
24V954000ElectricalDec 2024
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.
Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S79.
24V850000ElectricalNov 2024
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.
24V852000EquipmentNov 2024
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
24V634000Fuel systemAug 2024
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.
24V440000Automatic emergency brakingJun 2024
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.
Risk: Misalignment of the radar module can result in the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) misclassifying an overhead object as an object in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow and/or stop. Other safety systems that depend on the radar model (Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Auto Emergency Braking) could have diminished or lost function. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Also looking at these instead of a Escape?
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2024 owner complaints, side by side
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