2026 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Complaints
NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints for the 2026 Ford Escape, and what to keep if your vehicle keeps going back to the shop.
Recall campaigns
3
NHTSA owner complaints as of November 6, 2026, from NHTSA's complaint data files.
4
Data last refreshed (Eastern time)
November 6, 2026
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Escape and 4 owner complaints; the most-reported component in owner complaints is engine, with 2 reports.
Counts come from NHTSA records for this model year and refresh daily. Complaints are unverified owner reports; one complaint can name more than one component.
Top Reported Problems
Owner complaints grouped by NHTSA component (top 6). Linked components open a page comparing models for that problem.
- VISIBILITY/WIPER1
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- SERVICE BRAKES1
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
2026 Escape Recall Records
Campaigns can apply only to specific configurations and production dates. Confirm whether your VIN is affected with NHTSA or the manufacturer.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL · 26V301000
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."
Remedy: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY · 26V091000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR · 25V862000
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.
Remedy: 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.
2026 Escape Service Bulletins
A service bulletin is a manufacturer's repair instruction to dealers. It is not a recall and does not by itself establish a defect or a claim.
Manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA for this model year, newest first. A bulletin may apply only to certain configurations. Source data refreshes daily.
| Number | Date | Component | Summary | NHTSA record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 26-2442 | Oct 14, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience… | 11038617 |
| SSM 55221 | Oct 6, 2026 | POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | For 20222026 vehicles equipped with a 8F35 transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This… | 11038438 |
| SSM 55211 | Oct 2, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE | 2023-2026 Escape and 2025-2026 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may require removal of the turbocharger wastegate control actuator linkage for various… | 11038163 |
| TSB 26-2092 V2 | Sep 22, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY | This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sp… | 11037678 |
| TCU-26.2.12.2.2 Mach E, F | Sep 16, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail | 11037419 |
| ECG-26.2.12.3 Bronco,Esca | Sep 9, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements | 11037290 |
| 26N15 | Aug 28, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Customer Satisfaction Program 26N15 Certain 2020-2026 Model Year Escape and 2021-2026 Model Year Corsair Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) – High Voltage Battery Replace… | 11036550 |
| SSM 55100 | Aug 22, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEATS | For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service p… | 11036530 |
| SSM 55031 | Jul 23, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System… | 11035269 |
| TSB 26-2297 | Jun 24, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display after welcome animation. The re… | 11034134 |
| SYNC-25.2.3.11.1 Escape | Jun 23, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Quality improvements include: -Resolves SiriusXM disk memory usage | 11034233 |
| SSM 54943 | Jun 16, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2025-2026 Escape vehicles equipped with an 8-inch IPC display (minor feature code HCAAN), may exhibit a fuel gauge showing the tank is filled to the 8th mark below full whe… | 11034034 |
| SSM 54939 | Jun 16, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Some 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles equipped with an 8F35 transmission may exhibit a shudder condition, most noticeable at spe… | 11034017 |
| SSM 54918 | Jun 11, 2026 | STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Some of the following vehicles: 2025-2026 Mustang Mach-E vehicles built on or before 27-Jan-2026 2025-2026 Maverick/Bronco Sport vehicles built on or before 20-Jan-2026 2024-202… | 11033854 |
| SSM 54857 | May 21, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2020-2026 Explorer/Escape/Corsair, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport/Bronco, 2022-2026 Maverick, 2024-2026 Mustang/Ranger/Nautilus vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L EcoBoost engine may… | 11032924 |
| SSM 54825 | May 15, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Some 2023-2026 Escape vehicles equipped with an 8F35 transmission may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0767, P0766 an… | 11032758 |
| SSM 54808 | May 6, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The instrument panel cluster (IPC) in 2023-2026 Escape and 2025-2026 Maverick hybrid vehicles has a power gauge section on the left side of the display. This power gauge section… | 11032689 |
| SSM 54797 | May 4, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Some 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles equipped with an 8F35 transmission may exhibit a shudder condition, most noticeable at spe… | 11032566 |
| SYNC-25.2.4.10 Escape | Apr 27, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Quality improvements include: -Minor infotainment system software update | 11031930 |
| SSM 54741 | Apr 13, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Some 2025-2026 Escape/Maverick/Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with an 8-inch instrument panel cluster (IPC) display may exhibit a condition where the fuel gauge displays up to t… | 11031304 |
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