YearToAvoid

2024 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 17 engine complaints for the 2024 Ford Escape, 22% of its 76 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 4,500 miles. A related recall (25V372000) covers a cylinder head defect that can cause oil leaks.

Engine complaints
17
22% of 76
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
4,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles fail to start or stall unexpectedly, sometimes leaving the driver stranded with the engine unable to maintain proper power.
  • Owners report an 'Engine over-temperature. Service Now' warning appearing on the dash while driving at highway speed, sometimes recurring multiple times.
  • Engine misfires trigger check engine lights, with dealers identifying diagnostic codes P0300 and P0316 for multiple-cylinder misfires.
  • Drivers describe a lack of acceleration or a delayed response when leaving a stop, causing them to get stuck in intersections or turns.
  • Some owners report a hard kickback through the gas pedal followed by loss of acceleration, engine overheating, and a coolant over-temperature warning.
  • A dash warning tied to diagnostic code P1285 appeared along with an over-temperature message, forcing one driver to pull over on a highway.

When 2024 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 19, 2024, latest May 19, 2026.

2024 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2024Dec 2024Feb 2025Apr 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2024 to May 2026; peak Mar 2025 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2024 Ford Escape

  1. 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.

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 many engine complaints does the 2024 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 17 engine complaints for the 2024 Escape, which is 22% of the 76 total complaints filed for the model year.
Is there a recall for the 2024 Ford Escape engine?
Yes. Recall 25V372000, reported June 3, 2025, covers 2023-2025 Escape and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles with a cylinder head that may have been improperly manufactured, causing ball plugs to fail and oil to leak. Dealers replace the cylinder head assembly for free.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for 2024 Escape engine complaints is 4,500 miles.
Were there any crashes, fires, or injuries linked to these engine complaints?
No. NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries among the 17 engine complaints for the 2024 Escape.
How does the 2024 Escape compare to other model years for engine complaints?
The 2024 Escape's engine share of 22% is lower than years like 2017 (74%) and 2018 (80%), but higher than 2020 (9%) and 2021 (14%).

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.