2015 Ford Escape Problems And Complaints

2015 Ford Escape Problems

Mechanical issues:

• Coolant leakage: The Escape’s coolant leaks into the engine and emits smoke from the tailpipe. This issue, surprisingly, is very common in Ford engines and hasn’t been recalled by the Blue Oval yet. People lose all motive power in their engines and have to face close calls if the failure happens on the highway. The remedy, you ask? Engine replacement. The coolant damages the internals of the engine to such an extent that the whole unit needs to be replaced. 
• Transmission issues: The Escape shifter cable issues make up the majority of the transmission complaints of the 2015 MY. The issue also happens across model years but the 2015 MY gets the most brunt of it. The shifter cable snaps and doesn’t hold any gear, causing the vehicle to move unintentionally. People report shifting to drive, only to find themselves moving backward. The issue, though, has been remedied under NHTSA Campaign Number 22V254000. 
• Brake failure: The Escape brake failure issue happens mostly due to the vacuum pump leaking and losing all the pressure. As a result, the brake pedal goes to the floor but the braking is minimal, leading to crashes. 

Electrical issues:

• Malfunctioning fuel pressure sensor: The Escape fuel pressure sensor malfunctions and doesn’t report the correct fuel levels in the tank. Such a mismatch of information leads to the vehicle shaking and stalling, despite there being ample fuel in the tank. People report their Escapes not starting properly. The dealership diagnosis always held the fuel sensor at fault, making for a quick remedy. 
• Backup camera issues: The Escape backup camera is another electrical issue that has plagued many Ford vehicles across the range. The backup camera in these vehicles blanks out or gives a blue screen when put in reverse. Such an issue compromises the rearward visibility and makes it difficult to reverse the vehicles. Sometimes, the backup camera screen doesn’t move and stays put, disabling the infotainment system. 
• Instrument panel issues: Complementing the backup camera issues is the instrument panel in the Ford Escape. People have complained that the instrument panel shows lines and distorts the information, making it very difficult to decipher basic info like odometer reading. Some people have raised the issue as a safety concern since the distortions also hide any warning signs and might lead to consequences. 

Exterior issues: 

• Door latch issues: The door latches of the 2015 Escape have been very troublesome and are reported to fail on multiple occasions. The faulty latches wouldn’t close a door, or the hatch, when needed and made the vehicle un-drivable. The latches also didn’t hold the doors/liftgate properly and caused them to open while the vehicle is moving. This is raised as a safety concern to the manufacturer and has been remedied under NHTSA Campaign Number 16V643000 and 20V331000. 
• Swollen lug nuts: The swollen lug nuts are another issue found across Ford vehicles nowadays. The lug nuts swell and start expanding in their housings. Such swelling makes them difficult to undo while removing the wheel. In some cases, people report that the swollen lug nuts broke and caused detachment of the wheel from the axle, causing massive damage and creating a road hazard for other motorists. 

2015 Ford Escape Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1.	June 24, 2015	15V406000	Electrical System	A software incompatibility issue makes the instrument cluster inactive. Such an inactive cluster disables all the warning chimes and any messages necessary for the safety of the vehicle. The affected vehicles also fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS Number 101, "Control and Displays”.	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on August 4, 2015. The dealerships will update the instrument panel software without any charge. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 15C03.
2.	July 8, 2015	15V436000	Electrical System	A running engine after key removal may cause unintended movement, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS Number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention".	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on July 27, 2015. The dealerships will update the body control module software without any charge. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 15C06.
3.	September 6, 2016	16V643000	Latches/Locks/Linkages	Breakage of a component within the door latches prevents doors from latching, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant.	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on January 27, 2017. The dealerships will upgrade the door latches without any charge. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 16S30.
4.	July 25, 2017	17V472000	Seatbelts, Seats	Improperly manufactured bolts used in the installation of various parts may fracture and increase the risk of injury.	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on September 8, 2017. The dealerships will replace the affected bolts without any charge. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 17S17.
5.	June 8, 2020	20V331000	Latches/Locks/Linkages	Breakage of a component within the door latches prevents doors from latching, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant.	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on July 27, 2020. The dealerships will inspect if the door latches were installed correctly and replace them, if needed, without any charge. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 20S30.
6.	April 14, 2022	22V254000	Powertrain	Degradation or detachment of the bushing attaching the shifter cable to the transmission may cause unintended acceleration increasing the risk of a crash.	Ford will notify the owners and initiate a recall on May 23, 2022. The dealerships will under-hood shifter bushing without any charge. The dealers will also add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing. Ford’s internal number to refer to this recall is 22S25.

Should you buy the 2015 Ford Escape?

The 2015 Ford Escape is an amazing vehicle that stands out from its peers but from the looks of it, the Blue Oval has one corner untouched. The engine-coolant mixing issue affects a lot of units and is a very expensive repair. Apart from this, the transmission issues and the braking issues have readily-available solutions working in their favor. The door latches do no favor to the vehicle and have been recalled twice already for fixing any expected issues. That said, most of the issues have been solved via recalls and we expect the carmaker to give an in-depth look at the engine-coolant mixture.