Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2026 Ford Escape. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Vehicle Rollaway Risk/FMVSS 114
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The Secondary On Board Diagnostic Module C (SOBDMC) software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 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.
Seat Belt Retractors Not Secured Properly
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (3)
3 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 66.7% |
| Engine | 2 | 66.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 33.3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 33.3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 33.3% |
How 2026 compares with other Escape years
Best and worst Escape years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,692 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1,807 | 4 |
| 2019 | 590 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1,604 | 23 |
| 2021 | 349 | 19 |
| 2022 | 234 | 19 |
| 2023 | 99 | 11 |
| 2024 | 76 | 8 |
| 2025 | 24 | 9 |
| 2026 | 3 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 40 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 222 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 40 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 42 / 37 / 40 | $1,700 | 222 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 42 / 36 / 39 | $1,700 | 225 |
| 1.5 L 3-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 34 / 30 | $2,250 | 298 |
| 1.5 L 3-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 Escape for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2026 Ford Escape FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 26V301000 (power train), 25V862000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Ford Escape problems?
Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (2), Engine (2), Fuel/propulsion system (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Ford Escape get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 42 city, 37 highway and 40 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2026 Escape compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Ford Escape model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (349) and the 2017 the most (2,692). The 2026 drew 3. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.