Model year record

2026 Ford Escape recalls & problems

The 2026 Ford Escape has 2 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (2 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints3filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

2026 Ford Escape in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Power trainMay 12, 2026

Automatic transmission › Internal › Park pawl

Recall 26V301000208 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The Secondary On Board Diagnostic Module C (SOBDMC) software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 15, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V863.

Seat beltsDec 12, 2025

Rear/other › Retractor

Recall 25V862000780 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2026 FORD ESCAPE GAS SUV N/A AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	17.4%

2026 FORD ESCAPE GAS SUV N/A FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

2026 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV HEV AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	17.4%

2026 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV HEV FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

2026 Ford Escape NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

2026 Ford Escape NHTSA side pole crash test — NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Escape AWD HEV Hybrid

39mpg combined

City / highway	42 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · about $1,700/year to fuel

Escape FWD

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

Escape AWD

28mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Escape AWD

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine	2	—
Electrical system	2	—
Visibility/wiper	1	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	—
Service brakes	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
Description On your vehicle, the integrated park module ipm may not properly engage the park pawl, preventing the vehicle from locking into park when park p is selected. If this condition occurs, a wrench light and shift system fault message will be displayed in the instrument panel cluster. Additionally, the vehicles electronic parking brake epb will automatically apply. Safety Risk If the park pawl is not properly engaged and the electronic parking brake - epb - is not applied, your vehicle may experience a roll-in-park, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy A remedy is not yet available. Ford Motor Company is working to provide software for this repair. When the remedy becomes…
May 15, 2026
Engine
PHEV sometimes fails to "start". That is, vehicle will not enter "Ready" mode when brake is depressed and Start button is pressed. Instead, 'Refuel Error', 'Stop Safely Now', 'Service AdvancTrac', 'PreCollision Assist Not Available', and several other warnings appear. This only occurs on the first 'start' of the day, when the EV battery has been recharged overnight, indoors. Outdoor use/charging does not have this effect. Concerned that something is overheating during indoor charging. Dealer has not been able to fix.
Feb 13, 2026
Visibility/wiper
My 2026MY Ford Escape is having intermittent rear view camera issues. On two separate occasions in the last week, when I put the vehicle into reverse, there is no image displayed on the center stack screen. The screen was completely blank and did not show what is behind my vehicle. I tried putting the vehicle back into park and then back into reverse and it still did not work. Yesterday, I took the vehicle to my local Ford dealership and was told that there is no recall for this. I worked at Ford for 32 years and I am familiar with the laws governing safety features on passenger vehicles. I am concerned that this is similar issue that was announced recently by Ford on the Bronco Sport. The…
Feb 19, 2026

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.