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ProblemsByVinFile / 2014-FORD-ESCAPENHTSA data synced 6 days ago
Ford
2014 Ford Escape problems
The 2014 Ford Escape has 2,067 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 3 active recall campaigns.
The 2014 Ford Escape has 2,067 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 660 complaints, typically surfacing around 85,613 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
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.
62 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the engine
Electrical system: 172 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
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.
Buying a used 2014 Ford Escape? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
engine — 660 owner reports
· tends to show around 85,613 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
powertrain — 468 owner reports
· tends to show around 89,797 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
electrical — 172 owner reports
· tends to show around 67,369 mi · ~$850 to fix
steering — 149 owner reports
· tends to show around 67,451 mi · ~$700 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 85,613 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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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.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
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…
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.
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2,067 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: 172 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 should I check before buying a used 2014 Ford Escape?
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 660 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,613 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2014 Ford Escape a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 2,067 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 85,613 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2014 Ford Escape?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 660 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 2,067 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.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 6 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.
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