Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Ford Escape electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Ford Escape have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 8,623 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Escape | 109 |
| 2016 Escape | 76 |
| 2017 Escape | 123 |
| 2018 Escape | 41 |
| 2019 Escape (this page) | 28 |
| 2020 Escape | 108 |
| 2021 Escape | 26 |
| 2022 Escape | 15 |
| 2023 Escape | 34 |
3crashes
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present or showing incorrect traffic Slow system response NOTE: Ford has found some of the APIMs replaced and returned for inspection contained an outdated software level and the APIM did not require replacement. The customer concern may have been resolved by updating the APIM with latest level of softwar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable. Since this is a fleet vehicle, it cannot access the (SYNC Connect) FordPass or LincolnWay app through the TCU Embedded Modem. If this message appears, the vehicle may be equipped with a fleet telematics module. Replacement of the TCU or TCU related repairs will not prevent this message from appearing. Refer the customer to in app FordPass Guides or LincolnWay Concierge Teams to aid with fleet telematics removal. Open app, select Account > Help > CHAT or CALL option.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPassÃÂÃÂÃÂî/LincolnWayÃÂÃÂÃÂî app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode. This occurs when the vehicle has not been started for 14 consecutive days, battery voltage is at/below 9.5 volts or the body control module (BCM) 12 volt battery state of charge (SOC) drops below 50%. A warning may also set if the telematic control unit (TCU) has received an over the air update. The TCU powers down all communication when in this mode and app features are disabled. Manually start the vehicle to wake if from mode. More information is located in the app under: Account > Help > search 'Deep Sleep' in th
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a wide range of electrical system failures in 2019 Ford Escapes, many occurring at surprisingly low mileage. Complete power loss while driving is a recurring theme—some vehicles lose all electrical power at highway speed with doors locking and hazard lights inoperative, trapping occupants. One owner's wiring harness was routed too close to the serpentine belt and got caught and shredded, causing instantaneous shutdown. Another had a loose battery terminal and fasteners despite the car being brand new with 11 miles when purchased.
Control system malfunctions are equally serious. Hill Assist activated on flat roads causing steering seizure and brake engagement; one crash resulted in hospitalization. Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control falsely trigger emergency braking on empty highways at very low mileage (500 miles reported). Engine stalls occur when accelerating from traffic lights with no stored diagnostic code.
Owners report cascade electrical failures where multiple systems fail simultaneously—speedometer goes to zero, ABS and stability control lights illuminate, power steering becomes difficult or inoperative, and in one case steam comes from the front grille. Battery drainage from unexplained parasitic draws and alternator failures at low mileage are common. Coolant leaks into cylinders necessitating full engine replacement; some owners cite an NHTSA bulletin but say their manufacturing date fell outside the affected range, then experienced the same failures anyway. Dashboard lights, headlights, and rearview cameras fail intermittently. Vehicle electronics lock and unlock doors during driving or refuse to shut off via keyless button.
Same Ford Escape electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
No-start condition / repeated starting failures
Vehicle fails to start or start with difficulty; some owners report repeated towing for no-start issues despite battery replacement attempts.
When: As early as 11/19/2019 (within first months of ownership); recurring through 1/20/2021
Symptoms owners cite: engine would not turn over; requires repeated jump starts; no-start after sitting
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement attempted; dealer test-drive showed no issues, but owner noted mileage unchanged after service
Complete electrical system failure / power loss while driving
Vehicle loses all electrical power and instrument cluster goes dark while driving at highway speed. Doors lock and cannot be opened. Engine cannot be shut off via keyless button. Hazard lights inoperative.
When: Varying mileages; one incident at 3,000 miles on newly purchased vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: all instrument panel lights and gauges go out; gauge needles return to home position; network communication failure message on touchscreen; engine will not shut off via smart keyless button; door locks engage and cannot be disengaged; no power to hazard lights; loss of motive power at highway speed
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: One case: loose negative battery terminal and surrounding fasteners; one case: wiring harness loosened or improperly secured from factory, caught by serpentine belt and pulled from socket, shredding belt
Battery drainage and electrical parasitic draw
Battery drains despite normal usage; persistent mechanical sound after engine off suspected of draining battery; key fobs not recognized even though lights initially come on.
When: Varying; one owner reported dead battery after mechanical noise persisted 10 minutes post-shutdown
Symptoms owners cite: battery dead without obvious cause; key not recognized by vehicle; persistent mechanical sound like ATM trying to dispense cash for 10 minutes after engine off; lights come on but vehicle will not start
Codes mentioned:
Wiring harness damage / improper factory routing
Wiring harness either loosened after factory assembly or routed too close to serpentine belt; belt contacts and shreds harness, pulling it from socket and causing instantaneous complete power loss.
When: Early in vehicle life (3,000 miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: complete vehicle shutdown without warning at highway speed; gradual shredding of serpentine belt visible; instantaneous loss of all power
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness re-secured or replaced; serpentine belt replacement needed
Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning malfunction
Forward Collision Warning falsely triggers and applies brakes suddenly with no vehicle ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control shuts off and reapplies brakes with no traffic present. Very early failure in vehicle life.
When: At 500 miles (brand new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: forward collision warning indicator illuminates without cause; sudden unintended braking on highway; adaptive cruise control malfunction; adaptive cruise and brake activation with no vehicle nearby
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer provided ultimatum: repair vehicle or take new vehicle
Hill Assist Mode spurious activation and steering seizure
Hill Assist activates without being on an incline, causing independent brake application and steering wheel to seize. Owner lost control and crashed into guard rail at 35 mph. Airbags did not deploy, seat belt pretensioner failed. Owner hospitalized with concussion and sensory loss.
When: Early in ownership (8,623 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: hill assist mode independently activates on flat road; vehicle applies brakes independently; steering wheel seizes; loss of vehicle control; airbags fail to deploy; seat belt pretensioner fails
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled by insurance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner left voicemail with dealer; manufacturer not informed per complaint text
Instrument cluster and gauge failures
Speedometer and fuel gauge display inaccurate readings or go to zero while driving. Odometer ceases functioning. Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously without clear cause.
When: Varying mileages (one at 78,000 miles; others at lower mileage during power loss events)
Symptoms owners cite: speedometer reads zero while driving; fuel gauge inaccurate; odometer non-functional; multiple warning lights illuminate at once; speedometer and odometer reset to zero during electrical events
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown repairs performed by dealer but failures persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no assistance provided
Rearview camera blackout
Rearview camera display goes black while reversing, obscuring view behind vehicle. Recurring failure that nearly resulted in striking a pedestrian.
When: At 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: rearview camera image black during reverse; intermittent failure
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown repairs performed at dealer; failures persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no assistance provided
Engine stall with electrical sensor burnout
Vehicle loses motive power and stalls with multiple warning lights. Investigation revealed electrical spike burned out several electrical sensors. Alternator replacement did not resolve. Second failure traced to short in electrical wiring harness.
When: At 59,512 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loss of motive power; vehicle stall; multiple warning lights illuminate; second failure recurred within one week of repair
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced; short in wiring harness found on second failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; vehicle remained at dealer unrepaired
Headlight bulb simultaneous failure / corroded connection
Both low-beam headlight bulbs fail at the same time. Dash indicators show no faults. Dealer discovered corroded connection causing both bulbs to fail. Numerous complaints on Ford forums.
When: At 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: both low-beam bulbs fail simultaneously; no in-dash fault indicators despite failure; dashboard shows normal operation
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Connection cleaned and bulbs replaced; $250 labor and parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repair not covered under warranty despite early mileage
Rough idle with coil pack failure
Vehicle idles rough on startup but drives smoothly once accelerated. Diagnosed as coil pack failure. Failure recurred after initial repair with check engine light.
When: At 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: rough idle on startup; smooth operation when accelerating; check engine light illuminated on recurrence
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Coil pack replaced; failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; cause not determined on second failure
EVAP purge valve sticking open
Purge valve sticks open causing poor fuel economy and cold start hesitation. Remote start function stops working and triggers horn instead. Poses emissions safety issue.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: poor cold start / hesitation when starting; check engine light; remote start function inoperative or triggers horn instead
Codes mentioned: P0496
Repairs/costs cited: Purge valve repair scheduled at dealer
Cascade electrical failure: ACC, lane keep, collision avoidance, ABS, ESC, power steering
At highway speed, Adaptive Cruise Control fails, Lane Keep Assist errors out, Collision Avoidance errors out, speedometer and odometer drop to zero, multiple electronic systems fail. Power steering becomes very difficult. Steam or smoke from front grille.
When: Timing and mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: ACC alert and shutdown; lane keep assist error and failure; collision avoidance error and failure; speedometer and odometer to zero; ABS errors; ESC errors; power steering loss or severe difficulty; steam/smoke from front grille
Codes mentioned:
Multiple simultaneous system failures during operation: camera, ABS, skid control, speedometer
While driving, front camera failure alert sends collision notification, ABS and skid control lights illuminate, speedometer goes to zero, collision warning becomes unavailable. Vehicle will not shut off. Failures recur over two days.
When: Two consecutive days
Symptoms owners cite: front camera failure alert; ABS light illuminates; skid control light illuminates; speedometer reads zero while driving; collision warning unavailable; engine will not shut off; recurrent failure
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle at dealership; issue resets after shutdown
Vehicle spontaneous shutdown and restart failures
Vehicle suddenly shuts off while driving. Restarts after delay, then shuts off again. Later will not restart. Unknown pins or connectors tightened by dealer; cause not determined. Vehicle will not restart after parking.
When: At 800 miles (nearly new)
Symptoms owners cite: spontaneous shutdown while driving; restart after two-hour delay; repeated shutdown after restart; subsequent no-start condition
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown pins tightened; cause of failure not determined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; failure cause undetermined
Sudden power loss in traffic / dashboard light flickering
Vehicle loses power while in traffic, cannot shift into neutral or park. Engine sputters and dashboard lights flash on and off. Restarts after 20 minutes. Dealer unable to diagnose after two weeks.
When: Timing and mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: sudden power loss while driving; inability to shift gears; engine sputtering; dashboard lights flashing on and off
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or repair after two weeks
Body Control Module (BCM) failure
BCM stops working; headlights randomly fail to turn on. Entire BCM replaced by Ford service center. Failure confirmed by two independent mechanics.
When: Timing and mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: headlights randomly fail to turn on; random light failures
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Entire BCM replaced
Engine coolant leak into cylinder / head gasket / engine failure
Coolant leaks into engine, necessitating full engine replacement. Multiple owners report coolant system failures and HVAC malfunction. Some cite NHTSA customer service bulletin issued in 2022 but owner's manufacturing date fell outside the listed range. Subsequent failures confirm the issue persists.
When: Varying: one case reported as early as 2022, recurring; another at 54,000 miles; one case required multiple coolant hose replacements over time ($600 + $300 + coolant bypass valve replacement)
Symptoms owners cite: coolant leak into cylinder; low coolant levels without explanation; check engine light; engine overheating; HVAC system malfunction; rough idle with coolant in cylinder
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement quoted; coolant hose replacements ($600 and $300 on separate occasions); coolant bypass valve replacement needed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA customer service bulletin exists (2022) but owner's manufacturing date outside affected range; no action taken despite subsequent failures confirming issue
Engine stall upon acceleration from traffic light
Engine shuts off when pulling away from traffic light or intersection whether Auto Start/Stop is on or off. No error code stored. Requires placing vehicle in park and pressing stop/start button to restart. Life-threatening situation with oncoming traffic.
When: Recurring occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: engine shuts off during acceleration from stop; no diagnostic trouble code stored; requires full restart procedure
Codes mentioned:
Door lock and unlock cycling during operation
Vehicle locks and unlocks itself while being driven with no user input. Simultaneously activates hazard lights briefly. Occurs frequently regardless of moisture, speed, temperature, or driving environment. Keyless fob stored in center console with nothing contacting it.
When: Recurring
Symptoms owners cite: door locks cycle open and closed during driving; hazard lights activate with door lock cycles; no apparent cause or pattern to failures
Codes mentioned:
Liftgate failure to open or close
Rear liftgate fails to open or close completely and rarely functions. No manual override option available. Safety concern if child or animal trapped inside.
When: Timing and mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: liftgate fails to open; liftgate fails to close; intermittent operation
Codes mentioned:
Alternator failure
Alternator assembly requires replacement at very low mileage. Owner reports start/stop button killing car and requiring jump; also reports coolant leak blowing gasket necessitating engine replacement.
When: At 11,376 miles (brand new vehicle) and 54,000 miles in separate reports
Symptoms owners cite: start/stop button kills engine; vehicle requires jump start; electrical system failure
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator assembly replaced
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
he freeway I notified future ford of concord and I was told I would receive a call back but as I recall I didn’t receive a call back. The car started acting as if nothing was wrong about a week or so later then two days ago December 13,2025 first my head lights went out and a message saying there’s a bulb outage or electrical issue appeared and also the hill assist unavailable warning light…
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2019 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 3,000 and 59,512 miles, with the median around 8,623. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,000; a quarter make it past 59,512. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.