2024 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this 2024 Escape center on the driver-assistance electronics: owners repeatedly describe blind-spot, cross-traffic, park-aid, front-camera and pre-collision warnings appearing together and the systems dropping out, often on nearly new vehicles. A second cluster involves engine warnings, misfires and brief stalls or hesitation, and a third covers the infotainment screen going blank or audio dropping out.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Driver-assist systems drop out with multiple warning

   • 32 complaints (42%)
   • median 4,250 mi at 1.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe a cascade of messages such as "pre-collision assist not available," "blind spot system fault," "cross-traffic system fault," "front camera fault" and "park aid malfunction" appearing together, sometimes while driving and sometimes at startup. Several report the alerts clear and return, or that the systems stop working until the vehicle is restarted. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits, module replacements and software updates that did not resolve the condition, with some owners told a fix was still in development. Reported across a wide mileage range, including vehicles with only a few thousand miles and ones in their first year of ownership; many describe the warnings starting within months of purchase.

   Recall 25V315000Recall 24V4400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm that blind-spot, cross-traffic, park-aid and pre-collision warnings all show as active in the menus, and ask the dealer for the service history on the front camera module and any related software updates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Component: Forward Collision Avoidance / Lane Departure / Visibility / Electrical / I am filing this complaint regarding a loaner vehicle (2026 Ford Escape Hybrid) provided to me while my 2024 Escape remains in the dealership for unresolved ADAS safety failures. The loaner has now shown two separate ADAS malfunction warnings: the first on Nov 13, 2025 (“Front Camera Fault / Pre-Collision Assist Not Available”), and the second on Nov 23, 2025 showing another safety system failure during startup. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11701046, filed 2025-11

   “While driving warnings for adaptive cruise, blind spot, forward collision, front camera, park aid etc start and then all the system quit. I have pictures. I took my car to dealership to be checked. At first I was told they could find nothing wrong. I showed them pictures of my alerts and messages on my ford pass app. I was told a software patch would be sent. I contacted them again to ask if there was more news. I was told not at this time. I saw there was a problem with this module on the 2025 escape.”

   NHTSA complaint #11657135, filed 2025-04
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine misfire, check-engine light and hesitation

   • 33 complaints (43%)
   • median 4,296 mi at 1.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the check-engine light coming on, sometimes with a message about a detected misfire, and diagnostic codes for multiple-cylinder or startup misfires. Some describe shuddering or jerking while driving, and one notes an egg-like or sulfur smell on the highway. Complaints describe dealers acknowledging the condition but often not repairing it, with owners told a remedy was pending. Mostly reported on low-mileage vehicles, from a few hundred to around 19,000 miles.

   Recall 25V372000Recall 24V6340002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether misfire or coolant over-temperature codes have been stored, and have a scan tool read pending codes before purchase; on a drive, pay attention to hesitation from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle has been stalling for several months. I have taken to the dealership multiple times and it is still not fixed. Since the last visit at the service department it has done this 5 times. Twice today. It has done this multiple times crossing the interstate.”

   NHTSA complaint #11718952, filed 2026-02

   “I have had my car in the service department twice and continue to have the same issue. I am scheduled to have the car in the shop again on 2-19-26. For several months! After stopping and starting, my car stalls for a few seconds and then takes off. Yesterday, the car stalled while crossing the interstate and there was another vehicle behind me. I am terrified that the car is not going to restart and I will be trying to cross a road or I will be rear ended l.”

   NHTSA complaint #11717131, filed 2026-02
3. 3
   Engine

   Stall or loss of power when pulling away

   • 14 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 1.7 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle stalling or refusing to respond to the accelerator just as they pull away from a stop sign, light or parking lot, leaving them in an intersection until it restarts or picks up again. Some report the engine shutting off entirely and needing a restart, and others describe a pause on the first acceleration after refueling. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits without a lasting fix. Reported from a few hundred miles up through the first couple of years of ownership, often during low-speed pulls into traffic.

   Recall 25V3720001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the dealer has looked into any stored powertrain codes and whether the turbocharger wastegate actuator or related software updates were applied; drive the car through several stop-and-go starts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I’m having trouble accelerating when the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or when making a left or right turn. This has been dangerous because I end up stuck in the middle of intersections without being able to move. The vehicle is new and has 1400 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11628509, filed 2024-12

   “When I am stopped at a light or stop sign and go to pull into an intersection, halfway into the intersection the vehicle stalls and does not want to move. It has caused me to almost get into several car accidents and thankfully other vehicles have been able to brake before hitting me. It has been scary as I have had my daughter each time in the back seat and a few times it would have been on her side she sits that would have been hit. Myself or a passenger is going to seriously get injured with the vehicle doing this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11726985, filed 2026-03
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen blank, black or without audio

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • median 28,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the center display going blank or black, sometimes hot to the touch, at startup or while driving, with radio, navigation and other functions unavailable. Some report audio dropping out or no volume, and others describe the screen recovering on its own after a restart or several minutes. Complaints describe dealers replacing modules or resetting the system, with the problem returning in some cases. Reported across a broad mileage range, from a few thousand to roughly 48,000 miles, often within the first year.

   Recall 25V3150005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the vehicle several times and watch the center screen come up fully, and test audio, Bluetooth and backup camera before buying; ask whether the recall software update for the rearview camera/display has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In May/June 2024 at approximately 8350 miles the Accessory Protocol Interface Module ( APIM failed. On the Center Display, I lost display and audio. This failure also impacted hands-off features, radio, use of traction /snow/slippery features, map, vehicle manuel, bluetooth, etc. The dealer service department (Autonation Westlake, Ohio) replaced the APIM at that time In September 2025 at approximately 48,300 miles there was complete failure of of the Center Display impacting the same features noted above. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700776, filed 2025-11

   “The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the radio display turned off while driving and while the vehicle was idling. The failure was intermittent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer was unable to successfully perform the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software update while receiving assistance from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11728631, filed 2026-04, 35,690 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Heated seats stay hot / seat and belt warnings

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 14,000 mi at 1.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the heated seat continuing to heat on its highest setting without stepping down, and in one account a passenger sustained burns after a long trip. Others report the airbag or belt-monitor warning light staying on and a message asking for belt monitor service, and some report seat belts not staying latched. Complaints describe limited dealer diagnosis in some cases, and one owner was told the VIN was not covered by a recall. Reported from delivery through higher mileage, including a vehicle taken on a long highway trip in its first months.

   Recall 24V850000Recall 24V852000

   What to check: Test the seat heaters through their full range and confirm they step down; check that the airbag and belt-monitor lights go out after startup, and ask whether the instrument panel airbag recall work has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We are concerned that the seatbelt and possibly airbag malfunctioned and contributed to my mother in laws death on 11/17/2025. The drivers seatbelt had not been latching properly and would come unlatched at random times prior to the accident. The car was taken to dealership, based on the seatbelt not staying latched and it was repaired on 10/20/2025. She continued to have issues with it after the repair. Less than a month later, she was killed in a low speed collision. The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the chest. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11754539, filed 2026-08

   “Air bag on the drivers side of the car A deer hit the drivers side and there was no airbag deployment, the restraints indicator Lamp warning light was on No No”

   NHTSA complaint #11710762, filed 2026-01

Buying note. This model year's complaints are dominated by electronics: driver-assist warnings and blank screens are common and often repeat after repairs, so ask for service records and confirm the latest software and recall work are done before buying. Mechanically, have a scan tool check for misfire and stall-related codes and test the heated seats, since those are the other frequently reported items.

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.