2015 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 26owner reports
- 62,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 17, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026
135 of the 1,082 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 26 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (23 reports) and the alternator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster be inoperative including a blank multiple functional display (MFD), and non-functional warning chimes, messages and warning lights. Specific warning chimes, messages and warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C03.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 38,000 and 96,744 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The battery keeps dying even though it's been tested and is good. Lights keep shorting out I've had to replace the brake light and wires twice. The coolant is disappearing causing the vehicle to overheat even after driving ahort diatances but no puddle is left to show a cracked tank or something similar.”
Filed Jul 17, 2026
“I was driving when the car turned off and the display said Transmission is not in park. The car would not turn on until the engine cooled down, I took it to mechanics and they could not figure out why it was turning off. The battery, alternator and started all tested fine. I do not know what happened.”
Filed Jul 5, 2023
“The Sync system in my vehicle no longer works properly. This makes me unable to connect my phone to the bluetooth and use my phone handsfree. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent center. I did however replace the fuse that powers the sync system and even disconnected my battery to perform a hard restart on the system and it still does not work. The sync first failed about 3 weeks ago.”
Filed Dec 14, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 26 reports involved a crash. 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.
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 209 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 135 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 119 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 74 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 68 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 51 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 46 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 30 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 27 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 25 reports