2015 Ford Escape: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2015 Ford Escape: 9 recalls, 1111 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
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Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V406000 · 2015 · 184,519 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster be inoperative including a blank multiple functional display (mfd), and non-functional warning chimes, messages and warning lights. Specific warning chimes, messages and warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 101, "control and displays."
Why it matters: If the instrument cluster is inoperative, the driver of May not be warned of safety related issues such as low tire pressures or disabled air bags, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V436000 · 2015 · 374,781 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the engine May continue to run after the key or the start/stop engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention."
Why it matters: If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle May move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #16V643000 · 2016 · 2,046,297 vehicles
What's wrong: A component within the door latches May break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017.
Seats, Seat belts Vehicle recall #17V472000 · 2017 · 94,605 vehicles
What's wrong: Improperly manufactured bolts May have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.
Why it matters: The improperly manufactured bolts May fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component May not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V331000 · 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15v-246, 16v-643 or 17v-210, however the repair May not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches May break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to…
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #22V254000 · 2022 · 96,015 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission May degrade or detach.
Why it matters: A damaged or missing bushing May prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle May roll after the driver selects the 'park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shifter bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #22V413000 · 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles
What's wrong: The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission May degrade or detach.
Why it matters: A damaged or missing bushing May prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle May roll after the driver selects the 'park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th quarter 2022. Owner…
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V695000 · 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles
What's wrong: The rearview camera May display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional…
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V011000 · 2026 · 116,672 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l engine. The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 20 mention a fire, 35 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (286): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (159), warning light on (91), stalls / loses power (46).
- Engine (239): the most common themes are warning light on (71), stalls / loses power (65), leaks (57).
- Backup camera (156): the most common themes are warning light on (23), electrical failure (6).
- Other / unknown (142): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (13).
The 2015 Ford Escape has 1111 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 27 Escape model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 1016). Complaints peaked in 2026 (189 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 76,665 miles. Neighboring years: 2014 (2088 complaints, 16 recalls), 2016 (1148 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 25 | Regular |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2015 Ford Escape.
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FAQ
Does the 2015 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2015 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2015 Ford Escape problems?
Owners have filed 1111 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (286), engine (239), backup camera (156).
What gas mileage does the 2015 Ford Escape get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic (S6)), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2015 Ford Escape repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.