2025 FORD ESCAPE Complaints and Recall Information
The 2025 FORD ESCAPE has 9 complaints and 10 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues with the Forward Collision Avoidance system engaging incorrectly and the Lane Departure Assist activating unexpectedly, which interferes with lane changes. Some complaints also mention unintended brake engagement while using cruise control and intermittent check-engine lights accompanied by poor acceleration.
- Forward collision system malfunction. The Forward Collision Avoidance activates erroneously at various speeds, causing unexpected braking responses.
- Lane departure assist failure. The Lane Departure Assist system unexpectedly engages when attempting lane changes, pulling the vehicle back into the original lane and sometimes preventing lane changes.
- Unintended brake activation. Brakes engage independently while cruise control is active, creating potential safety hazards at highway speeds.
- Instrument cluster issues. The instrument panel cluster may fail to illuminate properly, and the radio displays a blank screen at startup in some vehicles.
- Warning lights illuminated. Warning lights appear but owners often cannot identify which ones, and diagnoses are unclear or unavailable after dealer visits.
- Ignition coil defects. All four ignition coils have been found defective in some vehicles, causing engine lugging and acceleration problems, especially on inclines.
There are 10 recalls affecting the 2025 Escape, involving electrical components, engine parts, and safety systems. The recalls cover issues such as instrument panel cluster failures, rearview camera image inversion, engine block heater overheating, and defective cylinder heads. Some recalls address air bag deployment risks as well.
- Instrument panel cluster defect (25C02). About 298 vehicles affected. The panel may not illuminate at startup or during driving, preventing crucial information like speedometer and warning lights from displaying. This increases crash risk. Dealers replace the cluster free of charge. Owner notifications began February 2025.
- Engine block heater overheating (25S52). Approximately 6,781 vehicles involved. A faulty block heater can overheat when plugged in, raising fire risk. Dealers will replace the heater element and inspect or replace the electrical cord. Interim notices were sent June 2025.
- Rearview camera inversion (25C08). 4,721 vehicles affected. The rearview camera may display an inverted image in reverse, compromising rear visibility and increasing crash risk. Dealers will inspect and replace cameras as needed at no cost.
- Cylinder head defect (25S61). 404 vehicles involved. Improper manufacture may cause oil leaks from ball plug failure, risking loss of drive power and potential fire if oil contacts hot engine parts. Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly free of charge.
- Passenger air bag cover fault (24C38). 15 vehicles affected. The instrument panel cover might cause the air bag to deploy improperly or break apart, risking occupant injury. Dealers replace the panel cover free of charge since February 2025.
Owners of the 2025 FORD ESCAPE who deal with repeated repairs, ongoing safety defects, or unresolved recall issues may have rights under their state’s lemon law. Consulting a legal professional specialized in consumer protection and vehicle defects could provide guidance on next steps.
2025 FORD ESCAPE Summary
2025
Model Year
9
Total Complaints
5
Total Recalls
12219
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2025 FORD ESCAPE
6781 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
298 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305.
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
404 vehicles affected
ENGINE
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.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
4721 vehicles affected
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Escape vehicles. The rearview camera may incorrectly display an inverted image when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An inverted rearview camera image will not accurately display what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
15 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
Complaints
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2126177ENGINE
Car experienced intermittent check-engine light accompanied by "lugging" and inability to accelerate quickly, especially when driving uphill. I felt this was safety related because highway driving in heavy traffic often calls for the ability to accelerate suddenly to merge or to avoid other cars. Dealer finally diagnosed the problem as caused by all four ignition coils being defective.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2124803VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH with the cruise control activated, the brakes engaged independently. The contact stated that while attempting to start to vehicle, the radio displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. A warning light was illuminated; however, the contact was unable to state which warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and remained for nine days, and was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2124802ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH with the cruise control activated, the brakes engaged independently. The contact stated that while attempting to start to vehicle, the radio displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. A warning light was illuminated; however, the contact was unable to state which warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and remained for nine days, and was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2118247UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2025 Escape Safety Recalls* Instrument panel replacement Recall incomplete Replace instrument panel cluster Recall incomplete 2025 escape - inverted camera image Recall incomplete Block heater element replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head inspectionreplacement Recall incomplete INVESTOR REPORTING cylinder head replacement recall. As this is a power train and engine part. RECOMMENDED that this recall broadcast for ALL OWNERS AND drivers of this type to STOP DRIVING immediately. While it can cause engine failure in high MPH instances and is a safety hazard for national highways and road ways. Please BROADCAST.....
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2118246POWER TRAIN
2025 Escape Safety Recalls* Instrument panel replacement Recall incomplete Replace instrument panel cluster Recall incomplete 2025 escape - inverted camera image Recall incomplete Block heater element replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head inspectionreplacement Recall incomplete INVESTOR REPORTING cylinder head replacement recall. As this is a power train and engine part. RECOMMENDED that this recall broadcast for ALL OWNERS AND drivers of this type to STOP DRIVING immediately. While it can cause engine failure in high MPH instances and is a safety hazard for national highways and road ways. Please BROADCAST.....
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2118245ENGINE
2025 Escape Safety Recalls* Instrument panel replacement Recall incomplete Replace instrument panel cluster Recall incomplete 2025 escape - inverted camera image Recall incomplete Block heater element replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head replacement Recall incomplete Cylinder head inspectionreplacement Recall incomplete INVESTOR REPORTING cylinder head replacement recall. As this is a power train and engine part. RECOMMENDED that this recall broadcast for ALL OWNERS AND drivers of this type to STOP DRIVING immediately. While it can cause engine failure in high MPH instances and is a safety hazard for national highways and road ways. Please BROADCAST.....
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2104056FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged erroneously. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to switch lanes at highway speeds, the Lane Departure Assist erroneously engaged and pulled the vehicle back into the initial lane, preventing the contact from switching lanes. The contact was uncertain whether a warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the computer system was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred soon after. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2104055ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged erroneously. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to switch lanes at highway speeds, the Lane Departure Assist erroneously engaged and pulled the vehicle back into the initial lane, preventing the contact from switching lanes. The contact was uncertain whether a warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the computer system was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred soon after. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500.
2025 FORD ESCAPE
ID: 2104054LANE DEPARTURE
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged erroneously. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to switch lanes at highway speeds, the Lane Departure Assist erroneously engaged and pulled the vehicle back into the initial lane, preventing the contact from switching lanes. The contact was uncertain whether a warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the computer system was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred soon after. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500.