YearToAvoid

2014 Ford Escape Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 152 Structure & Body complaints for the 2014 Ford Escape, 7% of all 2,084 complaints that year, with 8 crashes, 5 fires, and 8 injuries. Median mileage at failure was 54,000 miles, and several related Ford recalls cover door latches, seat bolts, and seatbacks.

Structure & Body complaints
152
7% of 2,084
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
54,000 mi
Related recalls
5

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Door handles reported as misaligned with the exterior door panel, tied to an assembly recall covering 2013-2014 Escapes.
  • Driver's seat and seatback reported to collapse backward during rear-end collisions, sometimes throwing off steering control.
  • Airbags reported to fail to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end and head-on collisions, including one deer strike.
  • Owners report engine bay fires starting near the hood seam or dash area, in some cases while the vehicle was parked or idling.
  • Rear panoramic glass reported to shatter suddenly and loudly while driving at highway speed with no apparent cause.
  • Door latches cited in a separate recall for a component that could fail, prompting free replacement with an improved part.

When 2014 Ford Escape body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 3, 2014, latest Jul 23, 2026.

2014 Ford Escape structure & body complaints: complaints filed per quarter142014 Q12015 Q42017 Q22018 Q42020 Q22022 Q12023 Q32025 Q2
152 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q4 (14).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2014 Ford Escape

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 17V472000Jul 25, 2017Structure & Body94,605 vehicles

    Seats

    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 these vehicles.

    Risk: The improperly manufactured bolts may fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 notice when remedy parts become available in the fourth quarter of 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S17.

  3. NHTSA 16V643000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body2,046,297 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    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 the doors from latching 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 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

  4. NHTSA 14V239000May 7, 2014Structure & Body581,986 vehicles

    Structure:body:door

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014. Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel, the affected vehicles have doors that may be difficult to close or may possibly open while driving.

    Risk: A door that opens unexpectedly may result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S03.

  5. NHTSA 14V164000Apr 2, 2014Structure & Body43,135 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:recliner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

    Risk: The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.

Structure & Body complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201094 (5%)
  2. 201152 (4%)
  3. 201276 (13%)
  4. 2013152 (6%)
  5. 2014152 (7%)
  6. 201568 (6%)
  7. 201623 (2%)
  8. 201773 (3%)
  9. 201826 (1%)
  10. 201913 (2%)
  11. 2020719 (45%)
  12. 202192 (27%)
  13. 202225 (11%)
  14. 20237 (7%)
  15. 20242 (3%)
  16. 20252 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA have for the 2014 Ford Escape?
NHTSA lists 152 Structure & Body complaints for the 2014 Ford Escape, making up 7% of the 2,084 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall related to Structure & Body issues on the 2014 Ford Escape?
Yes. NHTSA lists several related recalls, including campaigns for door latches (16V643000), door handle misalignment (14V239000), seat bolts (17V472000), and seatback replacement (14V164000).
At what mileage do Structure & Body problems tend to show up on the 2014 Escape?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 54,000 miles.
Have Structure & Body complaints led to crashes or fires on the 2014 Escape?
NHTSA records 8 crashes, 5 fires, and 8 injuries connected to Structure & Body complaints for the 2014 Escape.
How does the 2014 Escape compare to other model years for this problem area?
The 2014 Escape's 152 complaints and 7% share are similar to 2013's 152 complaints, but far below 2020, which had 719 complaints and a 45% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.