2024 Ford Escape Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2024 Ford Escape has 76 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 15, and ranks 18th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Best verdict. It carries 8 recalls but no do-not-drive orders, with Electrical System issues topping owner complaints at 37% share.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 Escape years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 76
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 34 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 1
Top 2024 Ford Escape problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System28 (37%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras27 (36%)
- Lane Departure18 (24%)
- Engine17 (22%)
- Other17 (22%)
- Airbags6 (8%)
- Fuel System5 (7%)
- Brakes3 (4%)
- Seat Belts2 (3%)
- Structure & Body2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the engine failing to start or stalling, sometimes with a turbine-related warning from the Ford app.
- Some drivers saw an engine over-temperature warning with a wrench light appear repeatedly at highway speed.
- Owners describe hesitation or lack of acceleration from a stop, leaving the vehicle stuck in intersections.
- One driver reported a check engine light with misfire codes P0300 and P0316 detected but not diagnosed by the dealer.
- A driver reported the Forward Collision Avoidance warning triggering with no object nearby, along with a burning odor in the cabin.
- Multiple owners in crashes reported that side or curtain airbags deployed but the steering wheel airbag did not.
2024 Ford Escape recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V372000Jun 3, 2025Engine404 vehicles
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.
- NHTSA 25V343000May 23, 2025Electrical System6,781 vehicles
Electrical system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.
- NHTSA 25V315000May 9, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,076,138 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, 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 June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.
2024 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 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.
2024 compared with other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2024 Ford Escape reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2024 Escape ranks 18th worst out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 15, earning a Best verdict relative to other Escape years.
- What problems does the 2024 Ford Escape have?
- NHTSA complaints center on the Electrical System (37% share), Collision Avoidance & Cameras (36%), Lane Departure (24%), and Engine issues (22%), with a median mileage at engine failure of 4,500 miles.
- Does the 2024 Ford Escape have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2024 Escape, covering the engine cylinder head, high voltage battery cells, block heater wiring, an instrument panel air bag defect, fuel injector O-rings, and a cruise control radar module, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2024 Escape compare to other bad Escape years like 2013 or 2017?
- The 2013 Escape has a complaint index of 90 and the 2017 Escape has the worst index at 100, both rated Avoid, while the 2024 Escape's index of 15 is far lower, supporting its Best verdict.
- What is the top complaint area for the 2024 Ford Escape?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 28 complaints and a 37% share, with a median mileage at failure of 9,000 miles.