UsedScore

2024 Ford Escape: Too new to judge

The 2024 Ford Escape has been on the road for 35 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.1× the rate other Escape years drew in their first 35 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (40% of complaints, median 4,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.1×
partial: first 35 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
86
in 35 months so far
Recalls
10
campaigns
4th generation, 2020–today · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2023 Ford Escape base model (facelift)

Photo: 2023 Ford Escape base model (facelift) · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Electrical40% · 34 complaints · median 4,000 miles
  2. Air bags7% · 6 complaints
  3. Driver assistance33% · 28 complaints
  4. Engine17% · 15 complaints
  5. Seats and belts2% · 2 complaints
  6. Fuel and propulsion7% · 6 complaints
  7. Brakes3% · 3 complaints
  8. Speed control5% · 4 complaints
  9. Visibility1% · 1 complaints
  10. Powertrain2% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Driver assistance

Many owners of the 2024 Ford Escape describe their driver-assistance features (blind spot, cross-traffic, pre-collision, park aid, adaptive cruise) faulting repeatedly with dashboard warnings, sometimes shutting off entirely while driving. Despite multiple dealer visits, software updates, and module replacements, several say the problem kept recurring or was never fully fixed.

Warning signs:
Many report dashboard warnings like 'Regain Control,' 'Blind Spot System Fault,' 'Cross-Traffic System Fault,' 'Front Camera Fault Service Required,' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' appearing suddenly while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers performed software updates, system resets, and in some cases replaced the IPMA/front camera module, but many owners report the faults returned or remained unresolved.

“pre-collision assist not available, check parking sensors, blind spot system fault, cross-traffic system fault and front camera fault service required”

“Blind spot fault, Pre-collision assist fault, Cross-traffic system fault warning icons appeared on dashboard in June 2024. Been to the Ford service dept. four times with no resolution.”

Electrical

Owners of the 2024 Ford Escape describe a range of electrical problems, from ADAS sensor faults and infotainment screen failures to seat heaters that overheat and batteries that repeatedly die. Many say dealers struggled to permanently fix these issues, sometimes over multiple visits or extended shop stays.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings like blind spot, cross-traffic, pre-collision, and battery saver messages, along with frozen or blacked-out screens and window malfunctions.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced modules, batteries, or performed software updates, though many owners say the problems returned or were never resolved.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 10,000 miles, among 5 complaints that give it

“Instrument screen went black. Was unable to power screen back on. Noted screen was hot to touch.”

“the "Battery Saver Mode" message was displayed”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (10)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V091000February 202625,237 vehicles

    Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.

    Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V789000November 202520,558 vehicles

    Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.

    Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V372000June 2025404 vehicles

    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.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V343000May 20256,781 vehicles

    Electrical system · Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

    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.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 25V315000May 20251,076,138 vehicles

    Back over prevention: software

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V954000December 202420,484 vehicles

    Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery: management system/energy control module (BMS/BECM)

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.

    Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed.

  • NHTSA 24V850000November 202415 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel · 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.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V852000November 202427,678 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V634000August 202424 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 24V440000June 2024209 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Escape two-wheel drive vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.

    Risk: Misalignment of the radar module can result in the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) misclassifying an overhead object as an object in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow and/or stop. Other safety systems that depend on the radar model (Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Auto Emergency Braking) could have diminished or lost function. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 156 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2024 Escape. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSM 55142 · September 2026Some 2023-2025 Escape vehicles built on or before 16-Sep-2024 equipped with 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an "Engine Coolant Over-Temperature" warning message displayed in the IPC and an…
  • 26N15 · August 2026Customer Satisfaction Program 26N15 Certain 2020-2026 Model Year Escape and 2021-2026 Model Year Corsair Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) – High Voltage Battery Replacement
  • SSM 55031 · July 2026Some 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…
  • GSM-26.P0929 Escape · July 2026Quality improvements include: -Updates the gear shift lock diagnostic logic to prevent false wrench lights
  • TSB 26-2297 · June 2026Some 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.
  • SSM 54918 · June 2026Some 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…
  • ACM-26.S Escape · May 2026Quality improvements include: -Addresses a potential communication condition that may result in a loss of radio audio.
  • SSM 54808 · May 2026The instrument panel cluster (IPC) in 2023-2026 Escape and 2025-2026 Maverick hybrid vehicles has a power gauge section on the left side of the display.

All 2024 Escape bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2024 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2024 Ford Escape has been on the road for 35 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 1.1× the rate other Escape years drew in their first 35 months, per vehicle sold. Ratings compare Escape years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2024 Escape problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (40%), the air bags (7%) and driver-assistance features and cameras (33%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2024 Ford Escape been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2024 Ford Escape, the most recent in February 2026 (electrical system). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2024 Ford Escape on NHTSA.gov · How we rate