RoadVitals

2015 Ford Escape Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Jul 13, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 1,056 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Jul 13, 2026

Backup camera recall has been since October 2025 and they have not stocked the parts since. I feel that that has been excessively long

NHTSA ID
11750127
Incident
Jun 1, 2026
Visibility
Filed Sep 5, 2025

I own a 2015 Ford Escape. The rearview backup camera intermittently fails when I first start the vehicle. Each time I put the car in reverse shortly after startup, the screen displays the message: “Camera is unavailable. Please contact your dealership.” After driving for several minutes, the camera usually begins working again. This is a safety concern because the camera is not available when I first back out of parking spaces, driveways, or other areas where pedestrians, children, or other vehicles may be present. The failure is unpredictable, and the camera is supposed to be a safety device to prevent accidents while reversing. The issue seems to worsen in hot weather, but it has happened on multiple occasions regardless of temperature. I have researched and found that other Ford owners report similar issues with backup cameras failing intermittently. Since rearview cameras are federally mandated safety equipment, I believe this problem should be investigated for a possible recall.

NHTSA ID
11685305
Incident
Sep 2, 2025
Visibility
Filed Apr 10, 2025

The contact's mother owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while approaching the vehicle, he observed what appeared to be thousands of bubbles forming on the front windshield. The contact stated that the windshield was delaminating. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 72,000.

NHTSA ID
11653900
Incident
Apr 9, 2025
Mileage
72,000 mi
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Apr 14, 2024

2023 my back up camera was only working 75% of the time. I took the car into the Ford dealer and they said it is a known problem and the waiting period for the replacement takes up to a year. They recommended I keep checking back to see if it's in stock. The fee to replace is about $350. I was told I could prepay, but they couldn't give me a date for arrival of the part. They openly admit, some have waited up to a year. Here we are 6 months later and now the camera works less than 50% of the time. Ford knows this is an issue but it's not a recall item. To me this is a safety issue. I still view my surroundings in total prior to backing up, but the back up camera was always an added safety feature. I feel that this is not a cost the consumer should bear. Ford should recall faulty backup cams. Thank you for your time and consideration.

NHTSA ID
11582866
Incident
Oct 30, 2023
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 23, 2022

First problem- over the course of the last few years, the car intermittently gets "jumpy" when changing to/from different gears like (from reverse to drive OR drive to reverse, all after completely braking-not in the middle of gear shift). It has not completely stalled but feels very close to it. i had brought it in in the past and they had never found anything wrong with it. It does not always happen. Second problem- the rear view back up assistance has not been working properly for over 3 years. I will be in reverse and either the beeping continues even though nothing is around or, the screen goes blank and shuts off. I was told this would be at my expense, not a recall. this does not happen all the time but is very often.

NHTSA ID
11448527
Incident
Jan 3, 2022
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 2020

WIPERS EXTEND BEYOUN WINDSHIELD UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE AND TWITCH WON'T RETURN TO HOME. REPLACE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLLER TO NO EFFECT T.. WHAT IS CAUSE THIS. DEALER LOONS FORD FALLS CHURCH VA NO HELP? ALSO JUST REPLACED $5000 TRANSMISSION @ 100,000 MILES..... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11365530
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 22, 2020

FOLLOW UP... PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED ON 7-17-20. VERIFIED BY INSURANCE APPRAISER ON 7-20-20. NOBODY WILL COVER! SUNBURY MOTORS REFUSING UNDER WARRANTY AND INSURANCE SAYS ' DEFECT' !!!! VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11340831
Incident
Jul 17, 2020
Mileage
56,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 17, 2020

DRIVING TO WORK. HEARD AN EXPLOSION, GLASS SHATTERED... PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED!

NHTSA ID
11339884
Incident
Jul 17, 2020
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 7, 2020

PROFUSELY LEAKING WATER INTO CABIN SOAKING REAR HEADLINER ABOVE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS. COMING FROM ROOF RACKS OR SUNROOF, NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONCERNED LEAKING WATER WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO VEHICLE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND A TSB ON ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11297679
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
51,250 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 12, 2019

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRACKS FLEW OFF THE ROOF OF MY CAR. WATER BEGAN LEAKING IN THROUGH THE ROOF, SO I THOUGHT THE SUNROOF MAY NOT BE CLOSED ALL THE WAY. I OPENED THE FABRIC COVER UNDERNEATH THE SUNROOF TO SEE WHERE AND IF IT WAS LEAKING AND WHEN I DID SHATTERED GLASS BEGAN FALLING IN ON ME. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO CLOSE THE FABRIC PORTION AGAIN, BUT I COULDN'T GET IT CLOSED. IT KEPT CRUMBLING UNTIL THE MAJORITY OF THE SUNROOF WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I NEARLY SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO MANAGE THE SITUATION. I WASN'T PASSING UNDER ANY OVERPASSES AND I WASN'T FOLLOWING ANYONE TOO CLOSELY.

NHTSA ID
11219632
Incident
Jun 12, 2019
Mileage
83,500 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 14, 2018

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN OPERATING MULTIPLE WINDOWS FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL, THE LOCKS ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. THUS FAR, THIS SYMPTOM ONLY HAPPENS IN PARK. ALSO, UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNING TO ACC, THE VISTA ROOF OCCASIONALLY BEGINS TO RETRACT WITHOUT THE OPERATOR TOUCHING ANY OF THE VISTA ROOF CONTROLS.

NHTSA ID
11119961
Incident
Aug 14, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 18, 2018

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO ERRATIC MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER BLADE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. FORD MOTOR CORP KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. AS IS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE HIGHWAY AND/OR CITY OR STATE HIGHWAYS WHEN IT RAINS. *JS *TT

NHTSA ID
11112199
Incident
May 4, 2018
Mileage
16,835 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 15, 2018

WIPERS CAME IN SUDDENLY WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. HAD TO TURN OFF ENGINE TO GET THEM TO STOP.

NHTSA ID
11111465
Incident
Jul 13, 2018
Mileage
48,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE SHADE OF THE SUN ROOF RETRACTED, THE GLASS EXPLODED UPWARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEWBERG FORD IN NEWBERG, OREGON FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT GLASS SPECIALIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
11080385
Incident
Jul 10, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 28, 2017

RIGHT DOOR REVIEW MIRROR GLASS SUDDENLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET. DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HIT OR OTHERWISE DAMAGE UNIT. LOOKED THIS UP ON INTERNET AND LEARNED THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHERS DRIVING THEIR FORD ESCAPE.

NHTSA ID
11020055
Incident
Aug 27, 2017
Mileage
41,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 20, 2017

WIPERS ARE NOT NORMAL - THEY ARE A DISTRACTION AND COULD POSSIBLY BE A ROAD HAZARD - HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE WE PURCHASED - NEEDS A RECALL

NHTSA ID
11016418
Incident
Aug 13, 2017
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 20, 2016

PURCHASED 2015 FORD ESCAPE ON MAY 1, 2015. IN FEBRUARY OF 2016 THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID AND PUMP STOPPED WORKING. TOOK TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINES AND PUMP AREA ELECTRICAL. MADE REPAIR. NOW, DECEMBER 2016 I TRIED TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TO FIND THAT IT HAD ONCE AGAIN BEEN CHEWED. I HAVE BEEN PARKING MULTIPLE VEHICLES (NEW AND USED) IN THE SAME DRIVEWAY SINCE 1989 WITH NO ISSUES. RODENTS HAVE CHEWED THE SOUND BARRIER MATERIAL IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS AS WELL AS THE WIPER FLUID LINES, ETC. AND MADE A NEST IN THE WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA ID
10936445
Incident
Dec 9, 2016
Mileage
5,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 6, 2016

VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXTREME GLARE ON FRONT WINDSHIELD-- THIS CAN OCCUR DAY OR NIGHT. DAY GLARE CAN BE SO BAD AS TO MAKE VEHICLE TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE-- NOT REFERRING TO GOING INTO A SETTING OR RISING SUN-- THIS IS NORMAL DAYLIGHT BETWEEN 9:00 AM AND 6:00 PM. METAL DASH PIECES REFLECT IN SIDE MIRRORS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE APPROACHING CARS

NHTSA ID
10872806
Incident
Jun 5, 2016
Mileage
2,100 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 21, 2016

I HAVE BEEN TO FORD 3 TIMES TRYING TO GET HELP WITH AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF ROAD NOISE COMING FROM MY 2015 ESCAPE. THIS HAS BECOME A RECENT ISSUE TO THE POINT WHERE THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER CANNOT MAKE OUT WHAT THE DRIVER OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER ARE SAYING. AFTER MY 3 VISITS, FORD HAS DISMISSED THIS PROBLEM WITH LITTLE INTEREST. WHEN DRIVING YOU CAN FEEL AIR FROM THE ROAD AS YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I AM WORRIED IF DEBRIS WERE TO HIT MY CAR OR IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT THERE COULD BE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH MY TRUNKS LIFT GATE. IT FAILS TO LATCH REQUIRING ME TO EITHER DRIVE WITH IT UNLATCHED OR FIDDLE WITH IT UNTIL IT CLOSES. I HAVE ALSO STRUGGLED WITH THE DOORS LATCHING CLOSED WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN MY PASSENGERS OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOORS SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE SENSOR SAYS THEY ARE CLOSED. FOR A 2015 THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND I AM ASHAMED IN MYSELF FOR LEASING A CAR FROM SUCH A CARELESS COMPANY WHO LACKS CONCERN FOR ITS CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ID
10821553
Incident
Jul 23, 2015
Mileage
12,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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