YearToAvoid

2015 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 278 engine complaints for the 2015 Ford Escape, 25% of its 1,100 total complaints, including 9 fires and 4 crashes. No related recall is listed for this engine issue. Median mileage at failure was 83,831.

Engine complaints
278
25% of 1,100
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
83,831 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine surges or stalls unexpectedly at low speed, sometimes leading to a crash or near-miss.
  • Blue or white smoke from the exhaust accompanied by a check engine light, often tied to a blown head gasket needing engine replacement.
  • Loud rattling noise from the engine described as pebbles tumbling in a can, paired with a drop in power and an oil warning light.
  • Engine catches fire while parked or shortly after driving, in some cases spreading to a garage or carport structure.
  • Sudden loss of coolant with the engine stalling mid-drive and visible metal debris inside the engine bay.
  • Stalling combined with loss of brakes and power steering while driving, resulting in accidents.

When 2015 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 29, 2015, latest Aug 21, 2026.

2015 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter182015 Q12016 Q32018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32026 Q1
278 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (18).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Escape model year

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

  1. 2010891 (43%)
  2. 2011428 (33%)
  3. 2012128 (21%)
  4. 20131,468 (53%)
  5. 2014902 (43%)
  6. 2015278 (25%)
  7. 2016263 (23%)
  8. 20171,991 (74%)
  9. 20181,438 (80%)
  10. 2019386 (66%)
  11. 2020144 (9%)
  12. 202149 (14%)
  13. 202246 (20%)
  14. 202338 (39%)
  15. 202417 (22%)
  16. 202511 (46%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2015 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has logged 278 engine complaints for the 2015 Escape, which is 25% of the 1,100 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Ford Escape engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford Escape engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 83,831 miles.
Have engine fires been reported on the 2015 Ford Escape?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 9 fires and 5 injuries among the 278 engine complaints for this model year, along with 4 crashes.

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.