2015 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,321 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2015 Ford Escape, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 36/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 96,000 miles.

1,321Complaints
36/100Trouble index
9Recalls
76,851Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2015 sits among all Escape years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Transmission & drivetrain 286 complaints (22%) · typically ~96,000 miles
“The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shifter was not able to shift out of park(P). The vehicle was towed to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape
Engine 280 complaints (21%) · typically ~86,600 miles
“Coolant intrusion My car has the 2014 engine in it and has coolant leaking into the cylinder combustion chamber”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape
Other 150 complaints (11%) · typically ~58,600 miles
“Safety recall: 25v659 Rear view camera could display a blank or distorted image on the center display screen when the vehicle is in reverse. Unavailable camera on center display screen.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape
Electrical 147 complaints (11%) · typically ~63,000 miles
“The instrument panel cluster has failed. Ford recalled certain 2014-2015 escapes but not mine. I would like my vehicle to be included in the recall so this failed unit can be repaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape
Driver assistance 118 complaints (9%) · typically ~93,500 miles
“The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape
Steering 79 complaints (6%) · typically ~46,554 miles
“Twice in two weeks, the power steering assist has failed suddenly while driving. I was driving in a residential area at low speed and the steering went out as i was turning left. After stopping the car, i turned it off and then on. The power steering resumed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Escape

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 729 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 76,851 miles. Half of those reports fall between 47,500 and 106,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (9)

EQUIPMENT 26V011000 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is…

Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine…

BACK OVER PREVENTION 25V695000 2025

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a…

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model…

POWER TRAIN 22V413000 2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were…

POWER TRAIN 22V254000 2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shifter bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 20V331000 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also…

SEAT BELTS 17V472000 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 16V643000 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15V436000 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15V406000 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. Due to a software incompatibility issue, the…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

Federal defect investigations

Door Latch Failures RQ19005 opened 2019, closed 2022

Led to recall campaign 20V177000.

Door Latch Failure PE16001 opened 2016, closed 2016

Led to recall campaign 16V643000.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2014peak 191 in 20252026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2015 Ford Escape reliable?

The 2015 Ford Escape drew 1,321 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 36/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 2015 Ford Escape problems?

The top reported problems for the 2015 Ford Escape are transmission & drivetrain (286 complaints), engine (280), and other (150).

At what mileage do 2015 Ford Escape problems show up?

Owners most often report 2015 Ford Escape problems around 76,851 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 47,500 and 106,000 miles.

Does the 2015 Ford Escape have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 2015 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.