2014 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe coolant loss with white exhaust smoke and overheating, frequently leading to a diagnosis that the engine needs replacement or major repair. Transmission complaints are the second major theme, ranging from harsh or delayed shifting to loss of motive power and shifter cable problems, and many owners mention difficulty getting recall repairs scheduled because parts were unavailable.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss, white smoke and engine overheating

   • 611 complaints (29%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (388 state mileage)
   • 37 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,750 (median of 64 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the low coolant message appearing and coolant disappearing with no visible puddle, followed by white smoke from the exhaust, rough running and overheating. Several were told by dealers or independent shops that coolant had entered the cylinders or that the cylinder head or engine needed replacement. Some note the problem returned after earlier recall work on the cooling system. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 165,000 miles, often after coolant had been topped up repeatedly over weeks or months.

   Recall 17V209000Recall 26V0110003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level and look for white residue or sweet-smelling smoke at the tailpipe, and ask whether the 17V209000 recall repair was completed. A pressure test for coolant loss is worth having done before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2014 Ford Escape had a recall on 02-15-18 for the coolant sensor system. Repair was done but did not fix the problem. Engine has coolant leak causing smoke in the exhaust system and leak under the hood. We are afraid of fire in the engine compartment and in the car.anytime we start this vehicle or drive it this happens.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354862, filed 2020-09, 92,000 miles

   “Car was taken to shop and advised there where engine issues. Took it to an authorized dealer and was advised it was a heating hose issue. Took it back in and after 2 weeks we were told it needed an engine. The car is constantly leaking coolant which has spilled onto the engine and could cause a fire while driving. Ford will not help with any repairs. Vehicle has been in the shop for 5 months”

   NHTSA complaint #11514742, filed 2023-03, 113,099 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting, slips and loss of power

   • 687 complaints (33%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (504 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,300 (median of 72 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe jerking, hesitation, independent downshifting and a 'Transmission Fault Service Now' message, sometimes with the vehicle stalling or refusing to accelerate. Several owners were told the transmission had failed and needed replacement or internal repair. Others report the vehicle not moving after being shifted into reverse or drive. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 150,000 miles, both at highway speed and at low speed in parking or turning situations.

   Recall 22V413000Recall 18V4710006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at both low and highway speeds, watching for delayed or harsh shifts and any transmission warning messages. Ask whether fluid changes were done and whether the shifter cable bushing recall and related bulletin work were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2014 Ford Escape it has 101,000 miles on it. The car has been well maintained with all the normal maintenance done at mileage recommended. I was on the interstate in traffic when all the sudden the vehicle just shut off, which left me in the middle of the interstate due to the bumper to bumper traffic. I had the vehicle towed to shop and come to find out the transmission went completely out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378526, filed 2020-12, 101,000 miles

   “I was driving on the hwy with my 1 year old in the back when I my car started to slow on its own. I pressed harder on the gas to keep up with traffic and the car surged forward almost rear ending the one in front of me. It did this once more before I got off the highway. When I got off the highway I had to make a left hand turn and halfway through the intersection my car could barely accelerate. There were no notifications or warnings that popped up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11311783, filed 2020-02, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter cable bushing detaching (won't shift or hold park)

   • 475 complaints (23%)
   • median 83,767 mi at 6.0 yrs old (344 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,900 (median of 51 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the gear selector moving but the vehicle not engaging a gear, or the vehicle rolling while the lever shows park. In several cases a shop or tow operator identified the bushing at the transmission end of the shift cable as detached or deteriorated. Some owners mention the recall covering this part and that repair parts were unavailable for a period. Reported from about 75,000 to 150,000 miles, often noticed after parking or when shifting from reverse to drive.

   Recall 22V413000Recall 18V4710004 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, shift through each position and confirm the vehicle engages drive and reverse, and check that it holds in park on a slope. Ask whether the 22V413000 recall and bushing service cap bulletin were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The bushing cable that connects to the transmission to shifter had to be replaced. There is a recall on 2013/2014 models but mine was not included. I feel that mine should be covered under that recall and was fixed and diagnosed by a authorized Ford dealership . The vehicle was stationary and would not shift into gear although the gear shift was movable. Vehicle had to be towed on skids”

   NHTSA complaint #11349881, filed 2020-08, 98,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The stated that after shifting into reverse or drive, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11472969, filed 2022-07, 137,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Misfires with spark plugs seized or stuck in cylinder 3

   • 215 complaints (10%)
   • median 92,713 mi at 7.0 yrs old (158 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,110 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the check engine light, rough running and a misfire code for cylinder 3, with spark plugs that could not be removed during a tune-up. Owners were told in some cases that a cylinder head or the engine needed replacement. Several owners link these misfire episodes to coolant loss rather than to the plugs alone. Often reported from about 60,000 to 130,000 miles, sometimes after a routine plug change.

   Recall 17V209000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing when the spark plugs were last changed and whether any were found seized. During a test drive, watch for a rough idle, shaking under load or a flashing check engine light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was sputtering and hesitating. The contact stated that the failure also occurred during start-up. The message low coolant level was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11610979, filed 2024-08, 130,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle then started losing motive power with the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle and noticed that smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11474995, filed 2022-07, 108,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection include a coolant pressure test and a check for white exhaust smoke, since coolant-related engine repair is the most common and most costly theme in these complaints. Confirm which of the listed recalls have actually been completed on the specific vehicle rather than relying on the model year alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.