2014 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 573owner reports
- 88,000median miles
- $3,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
868 of the 2,020 complaints on this car are about the engine. 573 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2014 Escape.
Narrower sheets: Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine (55 reports)
Tick what matches of 573 reports
Overheating on other Escape years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the coolant hose or reservoir (120 reports), the head gasket (54 reports), the thermostat (16 reports) and the radiator (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
All 16 recalls on the 2014 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Escape
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 27, 2024.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 21, 2013.
Engine stalling. Closed aug 31, 2004.
Engine stalling. Closed apr 15, 2004, led to recall 04V-165.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 10, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
What owners paid
90 of the 573 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $7,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 65,000 and 112,000 miles, from the 393 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Ford Escape that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2013-2016 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.6L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a lack of cooling caused by the A/C inlet line breaking at the compressor. This may be due to the oil cooler coolant lines exerting excess pressure on the A/C inlet line.
Some 2014-2015 Escape, 2015 C-Max and Focus vehicles equipped with integrated remote start may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0116 in the powertrain control module (PCM) immediately following a remote start event.
FORD: SOME MODEL VEHICLES MANUAL FOR POWERTRAIN CONTROL/EMISSION DIAGNOSTIC (PC/ED) HAS BEEN UPDATED REGARDING IMPROVED COOLING FAN CIRCUIT DUE TO A LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING, A MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND OVERHEATING. *PE
FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. AT TIME OF PRODUCTION, THE PRESENCE OF CONTAMINATION, COOLANT MIXTURE CONTAINING CONTAMINATED WATER, IN ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM RESULTS IN CORROSION OF COOLING SYSTEMS INTERNAL ...
What owners wrote
“The engine was replaced at 50,000 miles for a known coolant intrusion issue. The problem reappeared at 72000 miles. This widely known issue should have been a recall and won't be because of the financial impact to Ford.”
Filed May 13, 2026 · 50,000 miles
“104,340 miles and diagnosed with coolant consumption and coolant intrusion into cylinder #2 causing engine misfire. known defect of the 1.6L EcoBoost engine. Needs engine replacement.”
Filed Aug 21, 2024 · 104,340 miles
“The prior reported issue of coolant intrusion of the Ford Ecoboost into the engine. They only recalled a select number and it seems from both own experience and reviews online that this is happening to a wide variety of years and people even though they "fixed" the issue. Had I not been diligent regarding my car this could have ended poorly and in this economy it's ridiculous to not have a reliable and SAFE vehicle”
Filed Jul 11, 2024 · 112,916 miles
“Coolant intrusion around 130,000 miles. I swapped the motor from a 2013 Escape that had 107,000 miles on it and the coolant intrusion is happening with that one after driving 15,000 more miles.”
Filed Feb 9, 2024 · 130,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 573 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Check engine light or misfire 317 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 304 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 139 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 128 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 112 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 107 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 97 reports
- Vehicle fire 97 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 83 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 59 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 51 reports
- Fuel pump failure 33 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 33 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 32 reports
- Engine leaks oil 30 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 28 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 27 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 27 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 26 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 25 reports