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2015 Ford Escape: common problems and reliability
· 3rd generationAn average Escape year.
1,110 owner complaints, most about power train. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2015 Escape?The 2015 Ford Escape has 1110 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag coolant intrusion into engine cylinders on 1.5l and 1.6l engines, causing engine destruction.
Safety record for the 2015 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2015 Ford Escape vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Escape years only. How we score it
Is 2015 a good year for the Escape?
Across the 27 Escape model years we track, complaint volume runs from 5 (2000) to 4,834 (2008). With 1,110 complaints, the 2015 Escape sits about the same as the model's median of 1,110.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2015 Escape
seat belts
Campaign 17V472000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 16V643000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. 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.
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Campaign 15V406000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. 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."
electrical system:ignition
Campaign 15V436000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. 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."
Show 5 more recalls
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 20V331000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. 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.
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 22V254000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 22V413000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Campaign 25V695000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Campaign 26V011000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
What owners report on the 3rd generation Escape
Owner sentiment is mixed but leans positive for owners who have had trouble-free experiences, with several reporting high mileage and strong satisfaction.
- Very frequentCoolant intrusion into engine cylinders on 1.5L and 1.6L engines, causing engine destruction
- Very frequentMyFord Touch infotainment system bugs, glitches, and poor navigation
- RecurrentTransmission failures, particularly on 2013 models, including bushing issues addressed by recall
- RecurrentSYNC system Bluetooth connectivity problems and audio dropouts
- RecurrentBattery dying prematurely, often around 50,000-60,000 miles
Owner insights for the 3rd generation Escape. Read the full 3rd generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Escape listings typically run $9,995–$20,378.
Other Escape model years
Compare every Escape year side by side to see how 2015 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Escape against its rivals
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