2015 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Escape years
The 2015 Ford Escape has a Complaint Index of 53 with 1,100 NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls, ranking 8th worst of 16 model years. That puts it in the Caution category, better than the 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2020 Escapes but worse than most other years.
- Complaints
- 1,100
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 29 / 19
- Injuries / deaths
- 32 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 21 city / 29 hwy
Top 2015 Ford Escape problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain286 (26%)
- Engine278 (25%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras149 (14%)
- Electrical System144 (13%)
- Other144 (13%)
- Steering81 (7%)
- Structure & Body68 (6%)
- Fuel System57 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires42 (4%)
- Brakes35 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners describe the engine racing or losing power at highway speed, sometimes with a rattling noise and blue smoke, pointing to blown head gaskets on the 1.6L EcoBoost engine.
- Some report sudden loss of steering control at low speed, leading to collisions with curbs or other objects.
- Others describe ABS and traction control warning lights flashing along with brake failure, including one case where brakes went to the floor going down a hill.
- Several owners report airbags failing to deploy during crashes, including a rollover into an embankment and a T-bone collision.
- One owner reported the check engine light coming on with exhaust smoke, and a dealer found a blown head gasket requiring engine replacement.
2015 Ford Escape recalls
9 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 25V695000Oct 13, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,448,655 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
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 distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
- 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.
2015 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 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.
2015 compared with other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Ford Escape reliable?
- NHTSA lists 1,100 complaints and a Complaint Index of 53 for the 2015 Escape, giving it a Caution rating. It ranks 8th worst among the 16 model years covered.
- How does the 2015 Escape compare to other Escape years?
- The 2015 Escape's Complaint Index of 53 is lower than the 2013 (100), 2014 (87), 2017 (93), and 2020 (80) model years, all rated Avoid, but higher than the 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Escapes, which rate Good or Best.
- What are the top problem areas for the 2015 Ford Escape?
- Transmission & Powertrain accounts for 26% of complaints (286) with a median failure mileage of 94,500, and Engine problems account for 25% (278) with a median failure mileage of 83,831.
- Does the 2015 Ford Escape have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2015 Escape, including issues with the shifter cable bushing, rearview camera, door latches, seat bolts, block heater cracking, and a body control module software update. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What mileage do 2015 Escape problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints for the 2015 Escape is 76,000 miles, though Transmission & Powertrain issues showed up at a median of 94,500 miles.