The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing, there was a loud screeching sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed an unstated service on the vehicle, but the failure persisted. No further information was available. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed of an…
2021 Ford Escape brakes problems
severe 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 36 brakes complaints filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 brakes 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2021 Escape brakes have a documented pattern of noise, poor stopping power, and recall repairs that remain incomplete years after issue notification. Many owners report repeated dealer visits and unresolved problems even after parts replacement.
A cluster of 36 complaints describes two primary brake issues: persistent noise and outright stopping failures. The noise—squealing, grinding, moaning, and screeching—hits when reversing and depressing the brake pedal, especially after the vehicle sits overnight. It starts as early as 7 miles and continues past 48,000 miles. Owners have taken their vehicles to dealers multiple times, and mechanics have swapped brake pads, rotors, calipers, and caliper bushings without eliminating the noise. Dealers occasionally told owners the noise is normal or weather-related. Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin TSB 23-2308 and Service Service Memo 52515, but multiple owners report being told no solution exists despite Ford's two-year awareness.
The second issue is more dangerous: brake pedal lockup and failure to stop. Three owners reported collisions caused by brakes that wouldn't work—one hit a fire hydrant, another rear-ended a vehicle at a stoplight, another crashed into a tree. A fourth owner reported significant braking delay. These incidents occurred at very low mileage (250 to 6,000 miles).
Adding to the problem, NHTSA Recall Campaign 21V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was issued in November 2021, but parts for the recall repair remained unavailable through 2024—three years later. Owners were stuck unable to drive vehicles they couldn't get fixed.
Same Ford Escape brakes reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Brake noise—squealing, grinding, moaning in reverse
Loud abnormal sounds (squealing, grinding, moaning, screeching, humming, screaming) from brakes when reversing and depressing the brake pedal. Occurs intermittently but regularly, especially after overnight parking or in cold conditions. Many owners report dealers initially claim the noise is normal.
When: Primarily in reverse; some owners report it while braking while driving. Most common in mornings or after vehicle sits overnight. Started as early as 7 miles, as late as 48,971 miles, with clustering around 1,500–18,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squealing from rear brakes in reverse; Grinding or screeching noise when braking in reverse; Moaning/humming sound when brake pedal depressed in reverse; Noise intermittent but recurring regularly; Abnormal brake dust accumulation on wheels; Rotor wear grooves (non-uniform)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced brake pads, rotors, calipers, caliper bushings, and rear brake system components multiple times without resolving the issue. One owner reported asbestos in brake fuse; brake pad replacement attempted on multiple vehicles with persistence of noise.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); TSB 23-2308 and SSM 52515 issued by Ford. Owners report dealer statements that no solution exists for this problem despite Ford being aware for two years. Some owners directed to NHTSA Hotline. One dealer told owner the noise was weather-related. One case filed with manufacturer; multiple cases opened but unresolved.
Brake failure and hard/stiff pedal—inability to stop
Brake pedal became hard and impossible or extremely difficult to depress, resulting in rear-end collisions or near-collisions. Pedal sensation sometimes returned to normal after the incident but remained abnormally stiff. One owner reported brakes failed to stop the vehicle when backing up, causing crash into fire hydrant. Another reported delay in braking response at speed.
When: Early in vehicle ownership (as low as 250 miles; 3,000 miles; 6,000 miles; 25,000 miles). One incident occurred while coasting/following another vehicle. Another while reversing from parking garage.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal hard to depress or impossible to depress; Loss of braking ability or significantly reduced braking; Delay in vehicle stopping after brake pedal depressed; Vehicle continued moving/accelerating despite brake application; Pedal returned to normal after incident but remained stiff
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported brakes repaired by independent mechanic but new issues emerged post-repair (shaking at 30+ MPH). One dealer diagnosed rear braking system failure and recommended system replacement but did not perform repair. One owner stated brakes returned to normal operability after the crash.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) acknowledged by some owners; one owner's vehicle under open recall for this exact problem. Dealer stated parts unavailable until Q2 2022. Manufacturer offered no assistance to some complainants; others referred to NHTSA Hotline. One case opened with manufacturer.
Brake vibration and overheating
Vehicle vibrated when braking, most commonly while reversing. One owner reported brakes getting extremely hot while driving at 40 MPH. Vibration occurred intermittently and persisted after replacement of brake kit.
When: Occurred at varying mileages: 8,000 miles (vibration in reverse), 30,000 miles (overheating). One owner updated brake kit did not resolve vibration.
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration felt while braking in reverse; Brakes becoming extremely hot during normal driving; Vibration intermittent but recurring
Repairs/costs cited: Updated brake kit installed and brake pads scuffed; vibration persisted. Dealer found no failure on another vehicle despite complaint. No repairs completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case filed with manufacturer regarding vibration. One complainant notified manufacturer of overheating brakes; manufacturer not notified by another. No recalled issued specific to overheating.
Warped brake rotors—new vehicle
Vehicle with less than 3,300 miles had both front brake rotors found warped, causing flapping noise from left front brake. This was a brand-new or nearly-new vehicle.
When: Less than 3,300 miles on brand-new vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Flapping noise from left front brake; Both front rotors warped despite minimal use
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified warped rotors but parts availability status for repair not stated in complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer awaiting parts for recall repair (brake recall from November 2021) but had not contacted owner about availability.
Recall repair delays and parts unavailability
NHTSA Campaign 21V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued for 2021 Escape but critical parts for repair remained unavailable for extended periods (up to years in some cases). Owners unable to drive vehicle safely and dealers unable to complete recalls, yet vehicle remained under recall status.
When: Recalls issued November 2021; complaints filed through 2024 with parts still unavailable. One owner waited from December 2021 lease date through multiple 2024 service visits. Another waited Q2 2022 estimate that was not met.
Symptoms owners cite: Parts for recall repair not available at dealer; Extended delays (months to years) in repair completion; Owners reluctant or unwilling to drive vehicle during recall wait; Conflicting messaging from dealers about repair availability
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs could be completed due to parts unavailability. One owner escalated to Ford Corporate in November 2024 with no response.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V922000 issued November 2021 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timelines per owner accounts. VIN tool confirms parts not available for affected vehicles. Some owners escalated to Ford Corporate without response.
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The contact leased a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes emitted an abnormal squealing sound. The contact stated that the failure mainly occurred while reversing. Additionally, a message indicating that the Forward Collision Avoidance camera had failed and needed to be repaired was displayed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving in reverse, a loud grinding sound was present while depressing the brake pedal. The contact indicated that the failure mainly occurred after the vehicle was not used for an overnight period. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the brake rotors, but the sound continued to occur. The manufacturer was…
Wife was driving vehicle. Came to intersection at end of our street. Applied brakes. Brakes did not work. Went through intersection crashed into tree. Injured, taken to hospital, vehicle towed, police report made. Vehicle is available for inspection. Would like to have vehicle inspected! Not yet inspected by anyone. No warning of problem. Vehicle has about 250 miles on it. Just leased on Dec 2,…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, an abnormally loud humming noise would emit from the vehicle upon depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on numerous occasions and on the latest visit, she had the brake pads replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer had been…
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 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 brakes problem on the 2021 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 2,000 and 18,000 miles, with the median around 8,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,000; a quarter make it past 18,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2021/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.