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ProblemsByVin File / 2014-FORD-ESCAPE NHTSA data synced 3 days ago
2014 · Ford

Ford Escape problems

2,062 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 3 active recall campaigns on file.

0 5 10
Reliability score
5.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

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Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2014 Escape?
Avoid — the electrical system

The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Stories from the shop

The 2014 Escape carries forward both engine problems that defined 2013 — and adds a new one. Knowing which engine sits under the hood matters more than the model year on the title.

The 1.6L EcoBoost is still the headline

Carried over from 2013 unchanged. Coolant routes through a head passage that cracks, dumps coolant into the cylinder, and at the worst end of the failure mode the engine catches fire. Ford issued recall 14V-053 (the original cylinder head replacement campaign) plus follow-on campaigns through 2020. If you are looking at a 1.6L 2014 Escape today, the only safe answer is “campaign complete, with paperwork.” No campaign record → walk. A used 1.6L Escape that has not had the coolant-intrusion work is not worth your money at any price.

The new problem: 2.0L EcoBoost wet belt

Ford ran a timing belt in oil on the 2.0L EcoBoost in this generation. The belt degrades, sheds material into the oil pan, plugs the pickup screen, starves the bearings. Failure window is typically 80,000–120,000 miles. There is no user-serviceable interval; the belt requires dealer-level disassembly because it lives inside the engine. Replacement bill at an indy shop is roughly $1,800–2,800 if caught before the bottom end is damaged. After bearings go, it’s a long block.

This is not a recall. Ford did not issue a campaign. It’s just bad engineering you inherit.

6F35 transmission, same story as 2013

Shudder, harsh shifts, delayed engagement — the 6F35 problems carry into 2014. Ford issued reflash TSBs but never redesigned the valve body. See the 6F35 PowerShift research piece for the full picture and the transmission pillar for context on where this fits across the Ford lineup.

What to inspect

  • VIN check for 14V-053 and follow-on coolant-intrusion campaigns before anything else.
  • If 2.0L: belt-in-oil age and mileage. Past 80k with no belt work = the clock is running.
  • Transmission fluid color (should be red/translucent, not brown).
  • Pull the dipstick on the 1.6L — look for coolant slick on top.

Verdict

Closer-to-buyable than the 2013 if the 1.6L coolant work is documented complete and you are comfortable with the 2.0L wet-belt expense as a known future repair. On an out-of-warranty Escape with either engine, run the warranty math before deciding. This is exactly the math the calculator was built for.

— Mark Driver

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
659 reports · fails ~85,613 mi · avg $3,100
severe
powertrain
467 reports · fails ~89,797 mi · avg $2,500
severe
electrical
171 reports · fails ~67,369 mi · avg $850
critical
steering
148 reports · fails ~67,451 mi · avg $700
severe
body
63 reports · fails ~49,548 mi · avg $1,500
critical
wheels
38 reports · fails ~64,811 mi · avg $400
severe
airbags
25 reports · fails ~49,691 mi · avg $1,100
severe
brakes
25 reports · fails ~49,634 mi · avg $450
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2014 Escape's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2014 Escape?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2014 Escape · body
Our Ford Escape 2014 has two safety recalls. My complaint is that they didn't fix it timely. One of the door latches failed and the door was opened by itself on the road in August 2022. I have taken the car to a local FORD dealership and got it inspected. They said they would…
12/31/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11562860.0 · see body pattern →
2014 Escape · seatbelts
The middle rear seat belt latch dropped below the fold down seat when it was folded down. This made fastening the seat belt impossible. The latch is inaccessible. Cannot bring it back up without completely removing the seat.
12/31/2019 · at 48,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11292214.0 · see seatbelts pattern →
2014 Escape · powertrain
I was driving on a city street. I was stopped at a red light and could not accelerate past 33 MPH with the speed limit being 45 MPH. I immediately became concerned for my saftey and pulled off on a side street still going 33 MPH and not able to accelerate any faster. Once…
12/31/2019 · at 90,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11292283.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2014 Escape · engine
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a DTC code for an engine misfire in cylinder #3. The contact cleared the code; however, the check…
12/30/2024 · at 113,081 mi · NHTSA ODI #11633229.0 · see engine pattern →
View all 2,062 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2014 Ford Escape? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 14V239000 May 7, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014

A door that opens unexpectedly may result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S03.
severe NHTSA 14V237000 May 7, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles

If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.
severe NHTSA 14V403000 July 2, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, through October 22, 2013

If the glass panel is improperly bonded, the glass may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect each vehicle and replace the front roof glass if its production date and sequence number falls within the affected range, free of charge. The recall is began on July 14, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S13.

Common questions

Is the 2014 Ford Escape reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 2,062 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Ford Escape has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2014 Ford Escape?

On the NHTSA data, the 2014 Ford Escape is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 62 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the engine; Electrical system: 171 complaints, classified critical, failures cluster 43,695–97,000 mi; Body: 63 complaints, classified critical, failures cluster 22,430–70,000 mi; Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2014 Ford Escape?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 659 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,613 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 67,369 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford Escape has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2014 Ford Escape?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 2,062 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Featured in our research
When Things Break, in Actual Miles →The Ford Transmission Nobody Recalled →7% of Vehicles, 39% of Complaints →
Other model years
2018 Escape2017 Escape2016 Escape2015 Escape2013 Escape2012 Escape2011 Escape2010 Escape
Compare against
vs. 2014 jeep Cherokee vs. 2014 honda CR-V vs. 2014 jeep Patriot vs. 2014 chevrolet Equinox
Problem categories across the fleet
engine across all vehicles powertrain across all vehicles electrical across all vehicles steering across all vehicles body across all vehicles wheels across all vehicles airbags across all vehicles brakes across all vehicles
Component family deep-dives
Ford 1.6L EcoBoost problems Ford 6F35 problems
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Ford/Escape. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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