2014 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
87/100
#3 most-complained of 16 Escape years
The 2014 Ford Escape ranks 3rd worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 87, 2,084 complaints, 16 recalls, and 103 reported fires. Engine problems dominate at 43% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 79,464 miles.
- Complaints
- 2,084
- Recalls
- 16
- Crashes / fires
- 47 / 103
- Injuries / deaths
- 41 / 4
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 22 city / 29 hwy
Top 2014 Ford Escape problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine902 (43%)
- Transmission & Powertrain481 (23%)
- Other279 (13%)
- Electrical System224 (11%)
- Structure & Body152 (7%)
- Steering151 (7%)
- Fuel System137 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires70 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras51 (2%)
- Brakes47 (2%)
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple rear-end and frontal crashes, even at moderate speeds around 40 mph.
- Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with no stopping power while descending a hill at low speed.
- Some drivers report a front wheel separating from the vehicle during a slow, low-speed turn.
- A tire reportedly blew out at a stop, causing the vehicle to veer and hit a curb and guardrail.
- Owners report a burning rubber smell coming through the vents that lingered in the cabin fabric.
- Seat belts reportedly failed to restrain occupants during a rear-end collision at 35-40 mph.
2014 Ford Escape recalls
16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V011000Jan 15, 2026Other116,672 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
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 plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
- NHTSA 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles
Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: 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 mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
- NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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 repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: 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 have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
2014 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2014 compared with other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Ford Escape reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 Escape ranks 3rd worst among 16 model years of the Escape, with a Complaint Index of 87 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other Escape years.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2014 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA data shows Engine complaints make up 43% of all reports (902 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 23% (481 complaints). The engine category also accounts for 82 reported fires.
- Does the 2014 Ford Escape have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 16 recalls for the 2014 Escape, covering issues like the block heater coolant leak, transmission shifter cable bushing, door latches, seat bolts, and an instrument panel software update.
- What mileage do 2014 Escape engine problems show up at?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 79,464.5 miles at failure for Engine-related complaints, the largest problem area for this model year.
- How does the 2014 Escape compare to other Escape years?
- The 2014 model's Complaint Index of 87 is higher than most other years, with only the 2013 Escape (index 100) and 2017 Escape (index 93) ranking worse among the 16 years of data.