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CarComplaints.com Notes: The top problem trend for the 2014 Escape is transmission failure at around 70k miles. Read more »

This is relatively low mileage for an expensive transmission failure ($4,500 average to fix), but unless the trend becomes more established, we are only awarding the 2014 Escape our "Beware of the Clunker" badge for now.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 68
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,495 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 33)

problem #651

Feb 102025

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Initially diagnosed as a coolant leak due to requirement to constantly add coolant. There was no evidence of a leak. Shortly thereafter the car began experiencing hard starts and illumination of the check engine light (CEL). Code showed number 3 cylinder misfire. Subsequent starts had white smoke in conjunction with rough idle and CEL. Took to my mechanic and he said this is a known issue with this Engine and quoted me 9K for repairs. I did some searching online and found that this issue is VERY well known and Ford is currently in litigation over it.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #650

Jan 012025

Escape

  • miles
Coollant leak

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #649

Feb 112025

Escape

  • 121,656 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was coolant leaking into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); to the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,656.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #648

Jan 272025

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

while driving on a busy road, the vehicle went into LIMP mode and would not move forward, the coolant was below the sensor and the vehicle said it would over heat, the block leaks coolant into the engine cylinder and there is no fix for this but to replace entire engine as per dealer. I was almost hit from the rear from traffic. the car had to be pushed into our driveway via a police car bump guard. the dealer could not find where the coolant was going too.

- East Greenbush, NY, USA

problem #647

Jan 222025

Escape

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cylinder head was cracked, the spark plugs were seized, and there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #646

Jan 252025

Escape

  • miles
The engine failed on due to coolant intrusion causing misfires on cylinder 3.

- Sarasota , FL, USA

problem #645

Jan 092025

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I saw that there is a current recall dealing with the cooling system on the Escape. My car has been over heating saying engine fault for the past two months. There now appears to be coolant in the engine.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #644

Dec 312024

Escape

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure persisted with the message that the engine was overheating before the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic on two separate occasions where the spark plugs and other engine repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Jim Thorpe, PA, USA

problem #643

Jan 052025

Escape

  • miles
Rapidly losing coolant without being able to find any leaks with the assumption it-??s going into my engine. This also explains why my engine has been acting a bit funny.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #642

Aug 162024

Escape

  • miles
Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke

- Bellevue, KY, USA

problem #641

Jun 102024

Escape

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and running, there was a cloud of gray smoke coming from the vehicle and the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics and was diagnosed a cracked cylinder. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the thermostat and water pump were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Ben Lomond, CA, USA

problem #640

Dec 022024

Escape

  • miles
The smokes very excessively at startup. If the vehicle sits it will do it again,

- Cleveland, TN, USA

problem #639

May 012018

Escape

  • miles
Constant Coolant Leaks affecting the engine The vehicle is available for inspection Vehicle breaks down very easily now so safety is a concern This problem has been repaired several times. Yes the vehicle has been inspected Yes there were warnings. The vehicle now has a constant engine light that will not go away

- Cocoa, FL, USA

problem #638

Nov 112024

Escape

  • miles
Slow coolant leak that can-??t be located

- Flint, TX, USA

problem #637

Nov 052024

Escape

  • miles
There is a engine coolant leak into the cylinder 2 due to a faulty casing from the manufacturer (Ford). It is a known issue across several models (Escape, Edge) and model years. A mechanic has confirmed the engine block needs to be replaced as the issue will continue to get worse and eventually the engine will die due to the faulty casing which allows coolant to seep into the cylinder. Ford is at fault for this and countless claims have been filed online and there should be a recall to cover the repairs.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #636

Nov 042024

Escape

  • miles
My engine is leaking coolant and requiring me to have to constantly add it! Now coolant is leaking while I am driving it causing my car to overheat.

- Richmond , VA, USA

problem #635

Sep 062024

Escape

  • miles
The Ecoboost engine in this year/model has a known defect with coolant intrusion into the #3 cylinder. At 83,000 miles the car reported cylinder 3 misfires and the mechanic said coolant was leaking from the head gasket....a known issue with these engines. He warned of catastrophic failure and the potential of an engine fire. He said Ford knows of this issue and recalled several models. My car has the engine issue that Ford knows about and needs to correct before an accident happens. In addition, the coolant does not seem to circulate correctly and when it does, it burns in the cylinder. The has overheated 3 times in the past month.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #634

Oct 122024

Escape

  • miles
Coolant leak occurred out of no where. Roughly 90,000 miles on my car, it's been well taken care of. With no warning, the engine overheated in a drive through. Checked the coolant, it was low and bubbling. Check engine light went on. Difficult to find where the leak is coming from, not sure if it is the water pump, hoses, coolant reservoir or radiator. I refilled the coolant and lost it all in a matter of 2 days. Looked it up and this is very common in Ford Escapes, they need to offer assistance on the matter.

- Kingston, PA, USA

problem #633

Oct 222024

Escape

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked on the driveway during nighttime, the contact's wife noticed a light underneath the front end of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the vehicle had caught on fire. The contact extinguished the fire using a water hose avoiding opening the hood to not expose the fire to oxygen. The contact's wife then also assisted in extinguishing the fire by using a fire extinguisher as the husband opened the hood and then used the water hose as well. The contact stated that the vehicle had been driven and then parked before the fire was experienced. The origin of the fire was unknown however the contact discovered that the valve cover was charred and melted. No fire report or police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed of an unknown recall however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

- Patterson, MS, USA

problem #632

Jul 082024

Escape

  • 163,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cylinder head was cracked, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.

- Hohenwald, TN, USA

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