2014 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2014 Ford Escape has 2,090 owner complaints and 16 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2012–2016), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
2,090
NHTSA owner complaints
16
Recall campaigns
47
Complaints citing a crash
104
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 728 | 35% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 481 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 272 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 216 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 187 | 9% |
| Steering | 151 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 121 | 6% |
| Body structure | 84 | 4% |
2014 Ford Escape recalls
16 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V164000 | Apr 2, 2014 | Seats — front assembly / recliner | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014… |
| 14V239000 | May 7, 2014 | Body structure — body / door | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014. Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel, the affected vehicles have… |
| 14V237000 | May 7, 2014 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result in a delayed deployment of the… |
| 14V403000 | Jul 2, 2014 | Visibility / wipers — sun/moon roof assembly | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, through October 22, 2013. The panorama roof glass may not be properly bonded to the attaching bracket. |
| 14V495000 | Aug 11, 2014 | Electrical system — wiring | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped… |
| 14V525000 | Sep 2, 2014 | Fuel system — delivery | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured May 1, 2014, to May 24, 2014, 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured on June 6, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to July 7, 2014. In… |
| 14V597000 | Sep 26, 2014 | Air bags | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5,… |
| 15V005000 | Jan 9, 2015 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On… |
| 15V406000 | Jun 24, 2015 | Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel | Ford 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… |
| 16V643000 | Sep 6, 2016 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Ford 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… |
| 17V209000 | Mar 27, 2017 | Engine & cooling — engine | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the… |
| 17V472000 | Jul 25, 2017 | Seat belts | Ford 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… |
| 18V471000 | Jul 16, 2018 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and… |
| 20V331000 | Jun 8, 2020 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Ford 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… |
| 22V413000 | Jun 10, 2022 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | Ford 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. |
| 26V011000 | Jan 16, 2026 | Equipment — electrical / engine block heater | Ford 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… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 619 | 2 | Steering | Solid |
| 2013 | 2,757 | 18 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 2,090 | 16 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,135 | 9 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2016 | 1,180 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2014 Ford Escape on the used market
- 62 of 1,757 2014 Ford Escape listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2014 Ford Escape
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 16 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Ford Escape can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2014 Ford Escape has 2,090 owner complaints and 16 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2012–2016), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2014 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Ford Escape are engine (728), powertrain / transmission (481), unknown or other (272), electrical system (216). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the 2014 Ford Escape, including 14V164000 (seats — front assembly / recliner) and 14V239000 (body structure — body / door). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Ford Escape compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 2,757 complaints and 18 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 1,135 complaints and 9 recalls (caution). The 2014 has 2,090 complaints and 16 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Ford Escape?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Escape research
Other Ford Escape model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.