FaultScore

2021 Ford Escape driver assist problems

20 of the 455 complaints about the 2021 Ford Escape are about the driver-assist systems — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,485 miles.

A

20

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Back Over Prevention 10 50.0%
Warnings 5 25.0%
Adaptive Cruise Control 1 5.0%
Assist 1 5.0%
Automatic Emergency Braking 1 5.0%
Camera 1 5.0%
Camera 1 5.0%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Ford Escape year

2013 14 2.1%
2014 53 8.0%
2015 126 19.1%
2016 195 29.5%
2018 21 3.2%
2020 136 20.6%
2021 20 3.0%
2022 19 2.9%
2023 23 3.5%
2024 54 8.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Cincinnati, OH

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

This vehicle has had transmission slipping issues since I bought it. I had the PCM flashed and reset but it still jerks and slips out of gear ALL the time. The car actually stalled on me while turning through an intersection. This almost cause me to be t boned via a car crash. The transmission has already been replaced and still malfunctions. When it stalled there were no lights and the car would not go into neutral unless you pulled the emergency latch for it. This is a HUGE safety issue and from what I read a lot of people are having the exact same problem. Ford is just giving me the run around and my local dealer literally acted like he didn't know what I was talking about when I mention the new service bullentin. This transmission has clearly been an issue since the vehicle was new according to service records. The fact that ford isn't reaching out to people is nuts to me. They are also saying it may be over miles for the work to be covered. I really don't understand that as the transmission was replaced with only about 75000 miles on it. That's not normal. They are not honoring any work on an item they built poorly.

NHTSA complaint #11747792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

El Dorado, AR

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11744419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Fayetteville, NC

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000(VISIBILITY); 25V467000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); 26V123000(BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure 39,000.

NHTSA complaint #11739999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (Electrical System) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11736386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles San Antonio, TX

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11733340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Ludlow, WA

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V789000 (Electrical System), 25V829000 (Structure), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11733357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wakefield, MI

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11730840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), 26V117000 (Visibility), and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11729646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Cleveland, OH

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was blurry while in reverse(R). Additionally, the contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to operate while driving 35 MPH in the rain. The driver’s view was obstructed due to the failure, which almost caused a crash with another vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, and the contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The contact paid for a diagnostic test and the repair of the windshield wipers. The vehicle was repaired; however, the windshield wipers operated at a slower speed while on the highest setting. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

NHTSA complaint #11729764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues, and it was confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11726928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phila, PA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

THERE ARE SWVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL, THE WORST BEING THE CONSTANT JERKING/ BUCKING WHILE DRIVING. THE SECOND BEING THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALERTING WHEN NO VEHICLES ARE NEAR YOU, IT JUST RANDOMLY ALERTS.THE THIRD MOST ANNOYING ISSUE IS THE DASHBOARD FROM TIME TO TIME GOES OUT AS IF NO ELECTRICTY IS FLOWING THROUGHT IT, IVE ALSO EXPERINCED THE VOLUME NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11717958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Wilton, ME

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the back over prevention camera image remained on the screen before the screen went black. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #11678796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kannapolis, NC

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Vehicle will completely cut off when stopped at lights sometimes. And I have to turn off vehicle and restart it to get vehicle going again.

NHTSA complaint #11657127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Paragon, IN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

I was in the middle of driving and going around a curve and all of a sudden advance Trac warning light is on hill assist warning comes on and pre collision assist comes on and none of the stability sensors are working in my car and I noticed my steering is very off sometimes it’s stiffer than usual and sometimes it’s not as stiff and that is dangerous I think it definitely needs to be recalled that’s very serious can cause loss of control of the vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11543584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Paragon, IN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

I was in the middle of driving and going around a curve and all of a sudden advance Trac warning light is on hill assist warning comes on and pre collision assist comes on and none of the stability sensors are working in my car and I noticed my steering is very off sometimes it’s stiffer than usual and sometimes it’s not as stiff and that is dangerous I think it definitely needs to be recalled that’s very serious can cause loss of control of the vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11543584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,971 miles Royse City, TX

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

The contact leased a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes emitted an abnormal squealing sound. The contact stated that the failure mainly occurred while reversing. Additionally, a message indicating that the Forward Collision Avoidance camera had failed and needed to be repaired was displayed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 48,971.

NHTSA complaint #11499495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pengilly, MN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

I just had it in the shop. The car acts like there is going to be a collision when nothing is in front of it. Also try’s to pull me off the road. Been computer and electrical issues since I bought the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11472992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pengilly, MN

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

I just had it in the shop. The car acts like there is going to be a collision when nothing is in front of it. Also try’s to pull me off the road. Been computer and electrical issues since I bought the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11472992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,618 miles Ridgewood, NJ

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, he became aware that the Back Over Protection camera was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to replicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,618. The contact has stated that when a pedestrian or a vehicle is in view of the back up camera, there is no warning signal to alert them.

NHTSA complaint #11458183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, MI Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

My daughter was coasting and the person in front of her slammed on their brakes causing her to slam on hers. Her collision warning did not go off until after she hit the car in front of her so she had didn't have enough time to stop. We pulled off into a parking lot and called the police to inspect the cars. Two weeks later there was a recall on the back brake pads. She ended up getting a ticket for impeding traffic which ended up costing $150.00 plus $5.50 for fees. I also have damage to the grille and bumper on my car that needs to get fixed.

NHTSA complaint #11447432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2021 Ford Escape problems

← Full 2021 Ford Escape report