Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2024 Ford EscapeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 77 owner complaints for the 2024 Ford Escape. Most complaints involve electrical system (28) and forward collision avoidance (20). The EPA rates it 26–39 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
26–39mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
8campaigns
Latest Jun 2025
Owner complaints
77
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$1,650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

8 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine

Free remedy

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.

EngineReported Jun 4, 2025NHTSA 25V372000

Electrical system

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported May 23, 2025NHTSA 25V343000

Back over prevention: software

Remedy pending

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.

Back over preventionReported May 9, 2025NHTSA 25V315000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

77 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2024 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system28
  2. Forward collision avoidance20
  3. Lane departure19
  4. Engine13
  5. Back over prevention10
  6. Air bags6
  7. Fuel/propulsion system5
  8. Vehicle speed control4
  9. Seat belts2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Escape model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20011,027
20021,070
2003598
2004499
20051,584
2006720
2007393
20082,417
20091,693
20102,130
20111,319
2012604
20132,757
20142,089
20151,135
20161,178
20172,701
20181,823
2019599
20201,548
2021353
2022238
2023102
202477
202526
20263
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

28 reports
“My vehicle was traveling okay back in the beginning of June 2026. While driving down the road with my children in the car the vehicle started throwing several codes out of no where. The codes were pre-collision assist not available, Service Advance Trac, Park Break fault service now. I took it to O'reileys after calling the Ford Dealership that (at the time) was local and that was their recommendation. I had the car scanned and it recorded a first cylinder misfire. We had to disconnect the battery and jump the car to get it to start. I brought the car to the Ford Dealership I baught the car from on June 12th where they kept the car for a week returning it on the 18th and stated they reprogrammed the gateway module. A week and a day later I had the same issue arise but with MORE codes, not starting without jumping, stalling while driving. the dealership had my car from 07/06/2026 - 07/27/2026 and replaced and reporgrammed the new gateway module. I made it 45 minutes from the dealership when the car started throwing even more codes including powertrain codes, parking brake codes. Endangering the lives of me and my children. The dealership came and got the car…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2026Electrical system, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11774328

Forward collision avoidance

20 reports
“The adaptive speed control is supposed to react to changes in speed limits. It also reacts to bridge capacity signs. This causes a sudden change in speed that the occupants and the following vehicle did not expect. In one location the speed limit is 50mph and there is a bridge with a 20 ton limit. The vehicle brakes to slow down to 20mph when passing the sign.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2026Forward collision avoidanceODI 11727828

Lane departure

19 reports
“The safety-critical driver-assistance systems on my 2024 Ford Escape have remained in a failed state since March 2025. The Blind Spot Detection (BLIS), Cross-Traffic Alert, Park Aid, Pre-Collision Assist, and Front Camera systems all display warnings and do not function reliably. The vehicle has now been in the dealership for over 62 cumulative days for this safety defect, including 38+ continuous days on the current repair order. Ford engineering has taken control of the case and has stated there is no fix available and no estimated timeline for repair. A major electronic module was replaced under engineering direction in November, but the same safety-system faults continue. The vehicle’s alert history and FordPass data have remained frozen and non-updating for months, indicating a continued system-level electronic failure. The vehicle is still at the Ford dealership under engineering control with no repair available, which confirms the defect is ongoing, unresolved, and unrepairable at this time. These persistent failures impact multiple crash-avoidance systems and create a significant safety risk during lane changes, cross-traffic backing, parking maneuvers,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2025Electrical system, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11704465
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · 1.5L 3-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic 8-spd
Drive
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Escape AWD HEV
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
423639$1,650225
Escape FWD HEV
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
423639$1,650225
Escape FWD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
273430$2,150299
Escape AWD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
263228$2,300317
Escape AWD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
233126$2,450341
  • Escape AWD HEV
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    42 city · 36 hwy · $1,650/yr
    39
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD HEV
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    42 city · 36 hwy · $1,650/yr
    39
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD
    Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    27 city · 34 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Escape AWD
    Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    26 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Escape AWD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    23 city · 31 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Ford Escape SUV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford Escape SUV FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 19112Vehicle 19111
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2024 Escape questions

How many recalls does the 2024 Ford Escape have?

8 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2024 Ford Escape problems?

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (28), forward collision avoidance (20), lane departure (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2024 Ford Escape get?

The EPA rates the 2024 Ford Escape at 26–39 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

How safe is the 2024 Ford Escape?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2024 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026