2015 Ford Escape Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 68 Structure & Body complaints for the 2015 Ford Escape, about 6% of its 1,100 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 52,125. Three related recalls cover door latches, seat bolts, and a hood latch issue.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 68
- 6% of 1,100
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 52,125 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Door latches fail to hold, letting doors pop open while driving, tied to recall 16V643000 for faulty latch springs.
- Owners report long waits for recall parts, with dealers unable to complete the door latch repair for months.
- Automatic tailgates close unexpectedly on their own while people are loading cargo, in some cases striking the person.
- Liftgate handles and hitch mechanisms loosen or fracture, sometimes requiring longer screws or new hardware that dealers did not install.
- Owners report unusual road noise and airflow entering the cabin, which dealers dismissed after multiple visits.
- Rear wheel wells show rust at very low mileage, described by a dealer technician as a known issue.
When 2015 Ford Escape body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 22, 2014, latest May 24, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2015 Ford Escape
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Structure & Body complaints by Escape model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are structure and body complaints on the 2015 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA lists 68 Structure & Body complaints for the 2015 Escape, which is about 6% of the 1,100 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for door latches on the 2015 Ford Escape?
- Yes. Recall 16V643000, reported in September 2016, covers a door latch component and led Ford to replace latches with an improved part.
- What other recalls affect structure and body on the 2015 Escape?
- NHTSA lists recall 20V331000 for a latch inspection and 17V472000 for improperly manufactured seat bolts affecting the 2015 Escape.
- At what mileage do structure and body problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2015 Escape is 52,125 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Are these structure and body issues dangerous?
- NHTSA data tied to this area on the 2015 Escape includes 1 crash, 2 fires, and 5 injuries among the reported complaints.