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.
Black mold on my cabin air filter. There appears to be a design defect with my 2018 escape (4 cyl) that does not allow the ac condenser to properly drain. This causes the cabin air filter to become water logged, which leads to the growth of black mold, which leads to the black mold being released into the cabin. Black mold in the cabin is definitely a safety issue. Each time I bring the problem to the local dealer they say all they can do is charge me another $50 to replace the cabin air filter.
Coming down the freeway in Nevada, it began to feel like we ran over something in the road over and over. There was a shaking in the steering/wheels so felt like it keep hitting bumps in the road. It progressively got worse. We finally realized that it may be the traction control system. When it was turned off, it began to correct. But it turned itself back on by itself.
At 26,000 miles had a full engine repair due coolant issue. Ford had my car for 3 months. Less than a few days after getting it back had a front crank seal leak due a defective part. 3 months later car is now throwing high temp/engine fault codes and going into limp mode. Dealer states its a defective radiator. Had that replaced then 4 days later car went into high temp/limp mode again. Waiting to hear what's wrong now with this car. All these issues have happened while driving on highways.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife parked the vehicle into a uphill driveway, when exiting the vehicle it began to roll down the driveway hill. The contact stated the wife did not have the emergency brakes activated and the gear was in park. The contact stated the vehicle crashed into a tree across the street while his grandchild was still seated on a car seat at the rear passenger side. Air bags did not deploy. The contact stated his wife had sustained injuries on both knees and was taken to the hospital and sought medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to body shop to have the cosmetic repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired as of yet. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 57,000. The VIN was not available.
One day after work, the ac suddenly stopped working. Upon returning home, we noticed a burning rubber smell. We took the vehicle to the dealership, from which we had purchased the vehicle from 4 months prior. They looked at the vehicle, and diagnosed that the ac compressor had locked up, and the burning rubber smell was from the belt. They then quoted us roughly $3500-$3600 to fix the issue, in that it would include the entire ac compressor kit, condensor, and an ac flush. It is a 2018, but we were past the Ford 36K warranty period, so we decided to call around to other shops/mechanics. We finally decided to take it to a mechanic whom had previously done work for us, and we trusted. Prior to even taking the vehicle to him, the other individuals we called were shocked to hear we had an ac compressor issue, on such a recent model. He was surprised, and comes to find out that the system is essentially proprietary, so that it's difficult to even acquire the parts/fluid required to work on it outside of a Ford dealership. Which more so, we believe, points to the fact that this should have not happened on a 2018 vehicle. The mechanic concluded that the issue is that the ac compressor locked up, and said it should not have happened on a vehicle with only 48K miles and a recent model.
- New Orleans, LA, USA
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Most of the time that I start the vehicle it makes a squealing sound, it only lasts as long as I am in park or if I am in reverse. Once I put the vehicle into drive the sound stops. I have taken the vehicle into the dealership on more than one occasion and I have even recorded the sound but I have been told that there is no noise. Another issue that I have had is a foul odor coming from the vents. It originally started during the winter months, then continued through the summer. This happens every time that I turn on the heater and sometimes when I turn on the ac. I have taken it to the dealership and one mechanic did smell it but they couldn't find anything wrong with it so they put a cherry scent in it and gave it back to me. If I need the heater on I have to drive around with a window open to keep from smelling the bad odor of burnt hair/harsh chemical. Both of these happen while the vehicle is stationary and in motion. I dropped my car off on 2/20/20
2018 Ford Escape SE acquired on 09/2018. At 17000 miles, in 08/2019, and driving on the highway, vehicle started to display the following messages: "hill start assist warning" "powertrain malfunction/reduced power" "malfunction indicator lamp - regulatory" "antilock brake fault" "restraints indicator lamp warning" "engine fault - service now". pulled over, shut down vehicle, restarted vehicle and continued driving. About 10 miles later, all dashboard indicator lights turned on and complete loss of all instruments (tachometer, speedometer, temperature, mileage, etc.) and A/C. brought it into dealership two days later (earliest available time) and they claimed it was the result of a bad body control module (BCM) and replaced it under warranty. Two and half weeks later, vehicle did the same thing while on the highway. Brought it into same dealership and it was determined that it was a bad ABS module and that was replaced under warranty. In 06/2020, while driving on the highway the vehicle exhibit the same behavior as the previous two times. Shut down vehicle on the side of the highway and it would not restart. After 45 minutes vehicle restarted and took it to nearest dealership. They acknowledged there were error/fault codes, cleared them and test drove from it for 20 miles and could not find anything. Currently waiting on Ford corporate to get vehicle to a dealership that can resolve the problem.
The back window on the hatch is shattering. The window first had done size crack in it. It then was crackling and after hours the whole window is small pieces. It was just sitting in my driveway. It blew the side panel off.
On December 26, 2019, another other vehicle hit this 2018 Ford Escape, spinning it into another vehicle. This Escape caught on fire and was totally destroyed. All involved vehicles (all Ford) were in motion traveling about 50 mph. This Escape was traveling North on route 122 near burnt chimney, va. The other two Ford were traveling South on this two lane road.
I leased my first new car on January 29, 2018. Starting in April of 2019 my vehicle has failed to start on numerous occasions. I took it to the dealership where I bought iat and they cannot replicate the issue. It won't start when the vehicle is stationary. Yesterday it happened when I put the transmission in reverse (something new). After putting the car in reverse, it stopped and the display said "transmission not in park". this happened again today. It has stalled and refused to start in my garage, on a city street and in a parking lot. It is very scary - especially when I had my two grandchildren with me.
On late evening of may13, 2019 I was driving my Ford Escape (odometer is at 1368 miles) on excellent road conditions along side one vehicle with no other traffic. We just passed under traffic signal with estimated speed at 10-15mph. Without warning the left front wheel buckled under the frame. The sound was frightening and so loud that the driver next to me heard the incident and turned around at the next light to come back and check on me. I skidded in my travel lane for approximately 15feet.there was no collision, nor impact with road median nor did I come in contact with any debris / potholes on road. Immediately the engine shut off which is one of the wonderful safety features which helped base my decision on purchasing of my Escape. The damage caused difficulty to open drivers side door, the tire separated from rim in addition to the under carriage damage. I found similar incidents on the Ford recall site. There was no police report filed, yet I have a claim in with my insurance company.$500 deductible unplanned expense.
Brake and accelerator did not work after a sudden stop on the signal light (on a slop, entrance of a highway). After the stop, my car started rollling backward, neither brake or accelerator could stop the backward rolling. I have to use the emergency brake to stop the car to avoid crash with the car behind me. This is the second time. Last time I was on the entrance of a highway, about to accelerate, but suddenly the car lost its power, the accelerator didn't work. But that time brake was working.
2018 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to a rumble noise while traveling at 45-50 mph. The consumer stated the dealer advised the rumble was a characteristic of the vehicle.
The warning lights intermittently come on in April 2018. Mostly check engine for several months. Took to auto zone got a read out for sensor. But aaa repair shop wouldn't use their report and when I took it to them, light wasn't on. So they didn't look at it. Was gone out of town 6 months. Light off and on. Randomly. Oct 2018, heading cross country back home to AZ. Lights started coming on more often. More lights, ABS, skid, seat belt, within the week, very random off and on. Then more lights would come on. Auto zone again gave me a sensor report, O2 and fuel. While waiting in bank line, , whole panel of lights came on. Acted staled, but was running, could push gas and run, but couldn't steer, babied to a parking spot, even the mileage odometer went to slash marks and no numbers. I took a photo. Turned car off and waited to try to call for assistance. But after few minutes, worked fine. That next week, I was driving on freeway and it did the exact same thing, whole panel came on, dashes for numbers and no steering> scared to death. Still could push gas and braked, few seconds felt like minutes. Lights went out and car drove fine. Left at a mechanic and he changed oxygen sensor, diagnosed the stalling, check engine light back on and other codes. R/R oxygen sensor, air/fuel system service flush, and computer / programming update. Ran me $568.70. Lights still randomly come on, brake ABS, skid, and the parking brake light comes on. I parked the car and bought a new one. Where can I take it. I need to sell it to help pay for other car, but don't want someone to get hurt while driving this one. I looked up kbb and saw 3 recalls on one was pcsm sensor and when I called Ford dealer, he said no recalls for it. Please help. I'm desperate.
I believe my wife and I experienced what is know as park to reverse. Our car was in our driveway and my wife put it into park, left the car running and got out as I was gong to put it in the garage; (I was in the passanger seat at the time) a delay of several seconds occurred and then the car started to move in reverse hitting my wife and knocking her down dragging her on the driveway; next the car was in the middle of our street with me in the passenger seat still moving sideway and backwards slamming into our neighbors fence across the street. Ford Motor Co has inspected the vehicle at the dealer stating there is nothing wrong with the transmission. They have denied my claim for the injuries and medical bills my wife has as a result of the accident. The office of general counsel at Ford Motor Co. Refuses to provide me with a copy of the engineers report who inspected the car. They state; "there is no written report"! how is that possible? because we have no attorney they are treating us with the middle didget. Please help and the public should be aware of this potential safey issue with the 2018 Ford Escape with the 6speed automatic transimission
Getting terrible gas mileage only about 17 miles to the gallon, had 60 miles on car when leased and they told me to wait till I had a 1000 miles now have 2000 miles and still getting lousy mileage. Also, stop/start does not seem to be working. Also kick plate on back doesn't work well. Well, now try to take it in.
After having intermittent problems with the remote start not working, I attempted to start the vehicle from the Ford pass app while my car was parked in an uncovered lot, which did not start. I started remotely from the key fob and loaded my infants car seat into the car, put my bag in the car, and shut the door. After closing the door, I heard the locks click, and the engine shut off. I was locked out of my car with my keys and baby locked in and the engine off. I was able to unlock the car from the app because my phone was in my pocket when I shut the door, but otherwise, would have trapped my newborn in a hot car with no way to unlock.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Port Charlotte, FL, USA