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Vehicle Stats/FORD/Escape Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Jul 2026Methodology

FORD Escape Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 2,794 complaints and 102 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used FORD Escape options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

2,794
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
102
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
65
Crash-Related
crash complaints
23
Fire-Related
fire complaints
73
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a FORD Escape? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

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Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FORD Escape has 2,794 owner complaints and 102 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is STRUCTURE. 2020 drew the most complaints; 2018 drew the fewest.

FORD Escape — key reliability facts
Make
FORD
Model
Escape
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
2,794
Safety recall campaigns
102
Crash-related complaints
65
Fire-related complaints
23
Worst model year (by complaints)
2020 (1,487 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2018 (0 complaints)
Top reported issue area
STRUCTURE
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Jul 27, 2026
This Escape has 102 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

FORD Escape: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
20201,487 complaints2019564 complaints2021326 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20180 complaints20170 complaints202522 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2020 FORD Escape? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20242024 Ford Escape SUV AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The FORD ESCAPE has 2,794 NHTSA complaints and 102 recalls on record. 65 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 2,794 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 102 federal recall campaigns
  • 65 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
0
2018
0
2019
564
2020
1487
2021
326
2022
223
2023
94
2024
75
2025
22

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

102 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V315000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARESeptember 5, 2025
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V315000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARESeptember 5, 2025
Safety recall

ENGINE

#25V372000ENGINEMarch 6, 2025
Safety recall

ENGINE

#25V372000ENGINEMarch 6, 2025
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

#24V852000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSAugust 11, 2024
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

#24V850000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELAugust 11, 2024
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

#24V852000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSAugust 11, 2024
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#21V869000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYOctober 11, 2021
Safety recall

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

#24V440000FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

#24V634000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)

#24V954000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#25V343000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#22V859000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Safety recall

ENGINE

#23V380000ENGINE
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

#23V506000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Safety recall

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

#24V440000FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

#24V634000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)

#24V954000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#25V343000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Safety recall

ENGINE

#25V345000ENGINE

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 2,794 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
STRUCTURE731 complaints
02
ENGINE521 complaints
03
UNKNOWN OR OTHER445 complaints
04
POWER TRAIN439 complaints
05
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM312 complaints
06
FUEL SYSTEM226 complaints
07
GASOLINE224 complaints
08
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM144 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

2,794 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

I was driving my 2024 Ford Escape approximately at 20-25 mph on the street when the hood flew open, hit, and shattered my windshield. The hood remained against the windshield and I immediately stopped the car and removed the hood from the windshield. I was not injured as a result of this incident. There was no warning or alert that the hood might have been open. Most cars have a hood ajar alert but it appears that in this case the system failed. I subsequently drove the car home and alerted my insurance company and the Bill Brown Ford Dealership. I took the car to the dealership and they inspected the car and stated the safety hood latch was intact. However, prior to the incident, I did not open the hood nor did I release the hood safety latch. There was never a warning light to indicate the hood was ajar. I did filed a police report with the Farmington Hills Police Department. There were no

Crash 1 InjuryAIR BAGSJun 2026

The car was in an accident. The curtain bags and the ones in the floor went off. The steering wheel did not.

POWER TRAINMay 2026

I had problems with the brakes at first (system pressure). Than it was a powertrain failure. Followed by Turbocharger wastegate failure. It affected the vacuum system, brakes, and acceleration ability. Brakes became firm, but not stopping as well when applied. Had extreme loss of power trying to get up to speeds to enter highway & interstate at 60 then 70 mph. Dealership ended up replacing turbo wastegate. Exactly one week after getting it back. All the same happened again. Seeing others complaining of turbo wastegate failure (which is tied into vacuum/ pressure system & does in turn affect vehicle breaking system)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEMay 2026

On January [Insert Date], 2026, my 2024 Ford Escape suffered a sudden turbocharger failure that saturated the vehicle’s internal HVAC system with toxic ethylene glycol coolant. The vehicle’s ventilation system subsequently pumped these toxic chemical vapors directly into the enclosed passenger cabin. The inhalation of these toxic chemical vapors posed an immediate, life-threatening risk to my pregnant wife and myself (a patient with moderate persistent asthma), backed by formal medical warning letters from our OB/GYN and Pulmonologist. When I refused to take delivery of the un-remedied vehicle, a Ford corporate representative mandated that I drive it anyway, stating that if I suffered a respiratory crisis while operating the vehicle, I should simply "call the ambulance". This ultimatum caused an immediate severe hypertensive crisis (160/112 BP), requiring emergency medical transport to CHI Health Immanuel and cardiac evaluation. This represents a critical component failure causing toxic cabin air contamination, compounded by a complete failure of the manufacturer’s remedy. Ford Engineering and Woodhouse Ford Service admitted in writing that they have NO scientific test to verify cabin air safety and NO official technical procedure to decontaminate the internal HVAC housing following this chemical saturation. Ford’s only attempt at a remedy was an external spot clean and a simple filter replacement, leaving toxic residual chemicals inside the blower housing. Ford's directive to operate a chemically contaminated vehicle without any scientific validation of air safety constitutes an extreme, ongoing non-operational safety defect that risks public safety. To protect my family from severe injury, I was forced to abandon the vehicle at a massive financial loss.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2026

Power lift get kept closing which caused injury to my son. Lift gate if there is obstruction anywhere it should stop and go back up. Well this kept closing hit my son in the head caused severely bruised nose, laceration on his head and a mild concussion.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApr 2026

Instrument screen went black. Was unable to power screen back on. Noted screen was hot to touch. After about 5 min screen powered back on by itself.

Read 14 more owner reports
BACK OVER PREVENTIONApr 2026

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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 35,690.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMar 2026

The adaptive speed control is supposed to react to changes in speed limits. It also reacts to bridge capacity signs. This causes a sudden change in speed that the occupants and the following vehicle did not expect. In one location the speed limit is 50mph and there is a bridge with a 20 ton limit. The vehicle brakes to slow down to 20mph when passing the sign.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMMar 2026

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. I took it to the garage and they can find nothing wrong with it as there are no lights on or codes but as soon as I pulled off the lot it happened again and it does it daily.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMar 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V091000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

ENGINEFeb 2026

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEFeb 2026

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.

ENGINEJan 2026

The vehicle has a documented defect involving [System, e.g., the HVAC system] which has resulted in [Defect, e.g., chemical residue entering the cabin]. This issue has caused [Safety/Health Impact, e.g., respiratory distress for the occupants] while the vehicle is in operation. I have taken the vehicle to an authorized dealership, and the service department has confirmed the presence of the [Defect], but they have stated they have no established protocol to decontaminate or repair the issue. Despite the documented health risks and the dealership's inability to clean the residue, the manufacturer has instructed that the vehicle is safe to drive. I am filing this complaint because the vehicle remains an unresolved safety hazard to all occupants.

CrashAIR BAGSJan 2026

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver’s and front passenger’s side seat heaters failed to adjust the temperature once the heater maintained a high level. The contact had owned prior Ford vehicles that automatically lowered the seat temperature once a certain temperature was maintained for a while. The contact had to manually adjust the seat temperature to avoid a potential burn due to the prolonged seat temperature. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

ENGINEDec 2025

Got a dash warning that car was over temperature or something to that effect and had to pull over on a two-lane highway(uphill). This was unsafe because I had to get over to the shoulder as soon as possible and avoid traffic. Vehicle is scheduled to be serviced at my ford dealer but have no outcome yet. I did later on check car with my OBD2 reader and saw a P1285 code which meant the cylinder head was over temperature. Upon further research it appears issue is known by ford and needs to be addressed by SSM 52219 which says head may have metal shavings in it and may need to be replaced.

EQUIPMENTDec 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the infotainment system screen display was blank. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the computer processing unit needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two different occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was walked through the process of resetting the system. No further information was available. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEDec 2025

Following ongoing unresolved ADAS and Pre-Collision Assist failures that have required repeated service visits and manufacturer engineering involvement, my vehicle underwent a master modem/system reset while in dealership custody. After this reset, vehicle access, safety alert history, and diagnostic data were erased, preventing verification, monitoring, or reconstruction of safety-critical events. Safety Issue Description On or about December 11, 2025, while the vehicle remained in service for unresolved safety system failures, the dealership performed a master reset of the vehicle’s modem/telemetry system. Immediately afterward: •My FordPass access was removed •All historical vehicle alerts and safety warnings were erased •No active alerts are displayed, despite documented prior ADAS failures •The vehicle now shows no alert history, no mileage data, and no retrievable safety logs •The vehicle appears as a new/uninitialized vehicle in the FordPass system This reset occurred without resolving the underlying safety defect and while engineering had previously indicated no fix was available. Systems Affected The loss of telemetry, alert history, and diagnostic logging impacts multiple Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including but not limited to: •Forward Collision Warning •Automatic Emergency Braking •Lane Departure Warning •Lane Keeping Assistance •Blind Spot Warning •Rear Cross-Traffic Warning These systems rely on integrated camera, sensor, and software data that can no longer be verified, reviewed, or audited. Why This Is a Safety Concern The master reset eliminated evidence of prior safety warnings and failures, impairing: •Driver awareness of active or recurring safety conditions •Manufacturer and regulator ability to diagnose or confirm defect behavior •Event reconstruction in the event of a collision or near-miss •Oversight of whether safety systems are functioning as designed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEDec 2025

The safety-critical driver-assistance systems on my 2024 Ford Escape have remained in a failed state since March 2025. The Blind Spot Detection (BLIS), Cross-Traffic Alert, Park Aid, Pre-Collision Assist, and Front Camera systems all display warnings and do not function reliably. The vehicle has now been in the dealership for over 62 cumulative days for this safety defect, including 38+ continuous days on the current repair order. Ford engineering has taken control of the case and has stated there is no fix available and no estimated timeline for repair. A major electronic module was replaced under engineering direction in November, but the same safety-system faults continue. The vehicle’s alert history and FordPass data have remained frozen and non-updating for months, indicating a continued system-level electronic failure. The vehicle is still at the Ford dealership under engineering control with no repair available, which confirms the defect is ongoing, unresolved, and unrepairable at this time. These persistent failures impact multiple crash-avoidance systems and create a significant safety risk during lane changes, cross-traffic backing, parking maneuvers, and forward-collision situations. I request NHTSA review this as a potential defect trend involving the 2024 Ford Escape driver-assistance systems.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGDec 2025

My issue is with the volume of the turn signal. when you are driving you cannot hear it.On the highway you have no idea that it is on. I almost was in an accident when I was unaware it was on and someone pulled out in front of me Talked with the dealer that stated all 2024 Escapes are they way. It is very unsafe

Showing 20 of 2,794 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact FORD Escape

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FORD Escape, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FORD Escape has 2,794 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FORD Escape has 102 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 65 of the FORD Escape's 2,794 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FORD Escape vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FORD Escape vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FORD Escape has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a FORD Escape by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used FORD Escape.

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FORD Escape reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the FORD Escape reliable?

Poor. The FORD Escape has 2,794 NHTSA owner complaints and 102 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STRUCTURE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which FORD Escape years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2020 (1,487 complaints), 2019 (564 complaints), 2021 (326 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common FORD Escape problems?

Top reported issues: STRUCTURE (731 complaints); ENGINE (521 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (445 complaints).

Does the FORD Escape have recalls?

Yes — 102 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FORD Escape. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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