2015 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a rearview camera that shows a blank, distorted or upside-down image in reverse, and a separate group of complaints about coolant getting into the engine and leading to engine replacement. Transmission complaints are also common, covering both internal transmission failure and the shifter cable bushing that can separate and leave the shifter unable to select a gear. Most complaints in the sample arrive between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, and many owners report that the dealer had no remedy available at the time.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, distorted or inverted

   • 160 complaints (14%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 11.0 yrs old (108 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the reverse camera showing a blank, blue, white, distorted or upside-down image, sometimes with a 'Camera Not Available' or 'See Dealer' message on the screen. Several owners say the problem is intermittent at first and then becomes constant, and that reversing became difficult as a result. Many say they received notice of a camera safety recall but were told the remedy parts were not yet available, so the vehicle was not repaired. Reported from roughly 16,000 to 150,000 miles, with many complaints between about 50,000 and 135,000 miles.

   Recall 25V695000

   What to check: Shift into reverse and watch the screen for a blank, distorted or inverted picture, and let it run a minute since the fault is often intermittent. Ask whether the camera recall has actually been completed with parts on the car, not just a notice received.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the center digital screen failed to show a clear rear-view image as intended, with a blank white screen displayed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed at the owner's expense that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700292, filed 2025-11, 130,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Â The contact stated that the rearview camera had progressively become inoperable. The message Notify Your Dealer was displayed . The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the parts were unavailable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11742061, filed 2026-06, 85,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Coolant intrusion into cylinders and engine failure

   • 261 complaints (23%)
   • median 87,300 mi at 7.5 yrs old (152 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,294 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe white smoke from the exhaust, a sweet exhaust smell in the cabin, low coolant with no visible leak, a misfire and an illuminated check engine light. In several complaints the dealer or an independent shop found coolant in a cylinder and told the owner the engine needed to be replaced; others report a failed head gasket, failed piston rings or a failed turbocharger found at the same time. Complaints also describe sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, and overheating after coolant was lost. Mostly reported between about 64,000 and 142,000 miles, with a few cases below 70,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level cold and look for white residue or a sweet smell at the exhaust, and ask whether coolant intrusion, a head gasket or turbo work has ever been diagnosed. A service bulletin describes coolant loss, white smoke and rough running on the 2.0L EcoBoost, so ask whether that bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 127,000 miles the check engine light came on and we were told the transmission needed to be replaced. Ford was not willing to work with us even though we had an extended warranty. Now we are told that the engine needs to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352668, filed 2020-09, 127,000 miles

   “My engine failed in 2019. Coolant entered cylinder no. 2 and was blown out the tailpipe. All coolant was lost. I could not drive the car afterwards without causing severe engine damage. Engine was replaced by Ford. I have since learned that hundreds, if not thousands, of Ford ecoboost engines, e.g., 1.6, 2.0 and 2.5l, have similarly failed. Ford has replaced many engines under warranty, but in many cases the vehicles were just out of warranty and owners had to pay $8,000 to $12,000 out of their own pockets to have engines replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406634, filed 2021-04, 36,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure and loss of drive

   • 177 complaints (16%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (105 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe harsh jerking or hesitation, a grinding noise, elevated engine revs with no forward movement, and a 'Service Transmission Now' or 'Emergency Transmission Service' warning. Some owners report the vehicle dropping into neutral or losing power at highway speed, and several say a shop diagnosed internal transmission failure and replaced the unit. Others describe the transmission and engine both being condemned on the same vehicle. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 150,000 miles, with some complaints near 68,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at steady and light throttle and feel for shudder, delayed engagement or flaring between shifts, and check that no transmission warning appears on the cluster. Ask for service records showing whether the fluid was ever changed and whether the transmission has been repaired or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dealership came and changed the recalled transmission part on my car while I was at work. When I got off I left work to go home and had only drove about 5 miles when my car rpms went above 4000 and the car downshifted really hard and dropped from 65mph to barely moving. I pulled over and called the dealership who changed the part since my car had not had any transmission problems before this. They come to where I was and began driving my car at 4000rpm or above for several miles and shifting through gears manually. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11581991, filed 2024-04, 181,652 miles

   “Sitting at stop light (highway) light turned green pressed accelerator .car's rpms went up car did not move. I was the at the stop light, cars approaching fast. Fortunate light traffic all cars were able to switch lanes with out any mishaps. Indicator service transmission now went on car lunged a few times then moved forward. Each time I stopped same event occurred. I drove backroads as not to interfere with major traffic and fearful of not moving and creating a major incident. No prior symptoms it just happened. 2015 Ford Escape.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341194, filed 2020-07, 96,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults, no-start and engine run-on

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the instrument panel going blank or dropping out while driving, the speedometer falling to zero with the ABS light on, and a no-crank condition where the vehicle would not start and a camshaft repair was diagnosed. Others report the opposite problem: the engine kept running after the key or start-stop button was turned off, with the battery disconnected to shut it down. Complaints note that dealers checked the VIN against the relevant campaigns and said the vehicle was not included. Reported between about 63,000 and 127,000 miles.

   Recall 15V436000Recall 15V4060002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car and confirm the engine shuts off cleanly with the button or key, and watch the instrument cluster for dropouts or warning chimes that do not work. Ask whether the ignition and instrument cluster campaigns were ever applied to this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At speed on freeway, speedometer went to zero and ABS light on. In recent days had wheel bearing replaced. (wheel bearing includes wheel bolts, hub, bearing, ABS sensor as single part? Bad ABS part or connection ?) normal until on freeway then: digital speedometer displayed 0. Analog speedometer needle fell slowly to zero and stayed. 'I' ('information indicator') appeared on center panel. Forgot how display of 'I' message. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11319770, filed 2020-03, 120,000 miles

   “When I parked the car I turned the key to stop the engine and kept going, I put the key back to simulate turning it on and again turning it off and it was the same. I tried to run the car to see if it will stopp for a while but the car kept running. I searched the internet and I found that it will could have a recall, when I took it to the dealer they indicated that there was no recall for this problem ..they will check the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11320359, filed 2020-04, 125,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter cable bushing separates, wrong gear indicated

   • 67 complaints (6%)
   • median 83,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the shifter moving freely without selecting a gear, the lever stuck so the vehicle could not be shifted out of or into park, and the cluster showing neutral or the wrong position. In some complaints the cable bushing was found detached at the transmission end, and in one case the vehicle rolled while parked. Dealers identified the shifter cable and bushing as the cause, and some owners were told the vehicle was not covered by the related campaign. Mostly reported between about 76,000 and 150,000 miles.

   Recall 22V413000Recall 22V2540003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine off, run the shifter through every position and confirm the cluster matches and the lever feels connected rather than loose. Ask whether the shifter cable bushing recall has been performed and whether the cable or bushing has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and running, she attempted to shift to drive however, the gear shifter would not go into drive. The contact stated that the gear shifter would move but would not go into any other gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission shifter cable bushing had failed and needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11449717, filed 2022-02, 86,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to move and the gear shifter seized in drive(D). There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V254000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11470190, filed 2022-06, 150,780 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall and service history by VIN before buying, since several of the common complaints here are tied to campaigns for the camera, the shifter cable and the ignition. A prepurchase inspection that includes a cold start, a coolant level check and a scan for stored powertrain codes is worth the cost on this model year.

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.