RoadVitals

2026 Ford Escape

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
3
Latest Jun 14, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 12, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2026 Ford Escape, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 23 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical228.6%
  • Engine228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Fuel system114.3%
  • Visibility114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
26V301000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL

May 12, 2026
208 units potentially affected
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: The Secondary On Board Diagnostic Module C (SOBDMC) software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 15, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V863.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 25C69View on NHTSA.gov
25V862000

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

Dec 12, 2025
780 units potentially affected
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
The risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 25C68View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 14, 2026

Description On your vehicle, the integrated park module ipm may not properly engage the park pawl, preventing the vehicle from locking into park when park p is selected. If this condition occurs, a wrench light and shift system fault message will be displayed in the instrument panel cluster. Additionally, the vehicles electronic parking brake epb will automatically apply. Safety Risk If the park pawl is not properly engaged and the electronic parking brake - epb - is not applied, your vehicle may experience a roll-in-park, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy A remedy is not yet available. Ford Motor Company is working to provide software for this repair. When the remedy becomes available, Ford Motor Company will notify you via mail to schedule a service appointment with your dealer for repairs to be completed free of charge. The remedy is anticipated to be available July 10, 2026. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.

NHTSA ID
11744045
Incident
May 15, 2026
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 25, 2026

PHEV sometimes fails to "start". That is, vehicle will not enter "Ready" mode when brake is depressed and Start button is pressed. Instead, 'Refuel Error', 'Stop Safely Now', 'Service AdvancTrac', 'PreCollision Assist Not Available', and several other warnings appear. This only occurs on the first 'start' of the day, when the EV battery has been recharged overnight, indoors. Outdoor use/charging does not have this effect. Concerned that something is overheating during indoor charging. Dealer has not been able to fix.

NHTSA ID
11720491
Incident
Feb 13, 2026
Visibility
Filed Feb 24, 2026

My 2026MY Ford Escape is having intermittent rear view camera issues. On two separate occasions in the last week, when I put the vehicle into reverse, there is no image displayed on the center stack screen. The screen was completely blank and did not show what is behind my vehicle. I tried putting the vehicle back into park and then back into reverse and it still did not work. Yesterday, I took the vehicle to my local Ford dealership and was told that there is no recall for this. I worked at Ford for 32 years and I am familiar with the laws governing safety features on passenger vehicles. I am concerned that this is similar issue that was announced recently by Ford on the Bronco Sport. The technician at the Ford dealership said for me to keep driving it until Ford becomes aware of the issue specific to other 2026MY Escapes and then issues a recall and a potential fix. Based on my experience working for the company, this may take several months. I am concerned that this will lead to accidents that could endanger kids, pets, or personal property. Please compel the company to address this quickly. Thanks.

NHTSA ID
11720074
Incident
Feb 19, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SSM 55031

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) while the charging system is operating properly with no charging related diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) stored. This may be due to someone using an aftermarket programmer to change the body control module (BCM) configuration to disable the auto start/stop system or perform other unsupported programming modifications. To correct this condition on F-150 and Bronco vehicles, download and run the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) application titled "BCM-Charging System Configuration Correction". Running this application will determine if the BCM configuration was modified by the customer and if so, provide the option to return the configuration back to factory settings. For other vehicle models exhibiting concerns related to unsupported aftermarket BCM programming, submit a Technical Support Request (TSR) requesting support to revert the BCM configuration

TSB 26-2297

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display after welcome animation. The rear-view camera will still function when shifting the vehicle to reverse under these conditions.

SYNC-25.2.3.11.1 Escape

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Quality improvements include: -Resolves SiriusXM disk memory usage

SSM 54943

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some 2025-2026 Escape vehicles equipped with an 8-inch IPC display (minor feature code HCAAN), may exhibit a fuel gauge showing the tank is filled to the 8th mark below full when the fuel tank is full. To confirm a vehicle is built with a certain minor feature code, review the build information by clicking "Additional Information" under Vehicle ID Tab > Vehicle Information, or double-clicking the vehicle identification number (VIN) in the upper left corner on Professional Technician System (PTS). To correct this condition, download and run the "IPC - Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Software Update" using the latest software version of the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). For claiming, use causal part 10849 and labor operations 12651D and 12651D4.

SSM 54939

POWER TRAIN

Some 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles equipped with an 8F35 transmission may exhibit a shudder condition, most noticeable at speeds below 60 mph (100 km/h), with no relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). Sometimes, this may be perceived/felt as an engine misfire. This may be due to the torque converter. If Pinpoint Test K: Torque Converter Clutch Operation in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing > Diagnosis by Symptom directs to replace the torque converter, remove and replace the torque converter and torque converter seal. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 > Removal and Installation > Torque Converter Seal. Remove the main control valve body. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 > Removal and Installation > Main Control Valve Body. Overhaul and thoroughly clean the main control valve body. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 > Overhaul > Main Control Valve Body. Reverse the removal procedure to reassemble the transmission. Install the transmission. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 > Installation. For claim

SSM 54918

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STEERING

Some of the following vehicles: 2025-2026 Mustang Mach-E vehicles built on or before 27-Jan-2026 2025-2026 Maverick/Bronco Sport vehicles built on or before 20-Jan-2026 2024-2026 Nautilus vehicles built on or before 02-Dec-2025 2023-2026 Escape/Corsair may exhibit reduced steering assist and a "Power Steering Assist Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) with the diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U2016:47 only, and no other steering DTCs stored in the power steering control module (PSCM). To correct this condition, reprogram the PSCM using the latest software level of the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). For claiming, use causal part 3C529 and labor operations 3504E and PSCM. If a software update is not available for the PSCM, the PSCM is already at the latest software level. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 211-02 for normal diagnostics. If the vehicle does not exhibit any observable symptoms described above and the DTC is only present in continuous memory, this DTC should be ignored. No further service action

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Escape by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026Viewing320—
2025219053.9
2024768063.3
20239411060.3
202222619268.5
202133219267.9
20201,57823263.6
20195713060.0
20181,7654060.3
20172,6544058.8
20161,0794061.2
20151,0569268.0
20142,07416265.2
20132,74318361.4
20125982254.7
20111,3133456.2
20102,0685456.1
20091,6913355.2
20081,9735358.3
20072544254.8
20064645153.9
20051,3945255.3
20044998661.8
20035589865.2
20021,027101067.3
2001996151166.3
2000500—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.