2015 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 145owner reports
- 102,000median miles
- $8,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
274 of the 1,105 complaints on this car are about the engine. 145 of those describe overheating. Only infotainment is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 145 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 (20 reports), the head gasket (17 reports) and the thermostat (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2015 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.
All 9 recalls on the 2015 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 2015 model year.
What owners paid
17 of the 145 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,000 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 73,000 and 120,000 miles, from the 78 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 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 2015-2018 Edge and 2015-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
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.
2015-2018 Edge, Fusion, Focus, MKZ, MKC, Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit coolant consumption, white smoke and/or a runs rough condition.
1 more on the 2015 Ford Escape page.
What owners wrote
“Vehicle has 126,000 miles on it and has a coolant intrusion into the engine. This has also caused my heater to go out with a weird smell and making the engine shake when driving.”
Filed Apr 21, 2026 · 126,000 miles
“Vehicle overeheated and stalled. Engine light came on. Had it to garage who told me call Ford because vehicle needed a new engine. Got a second opinion a few months later, and they confirmed that coolant was leaking in to the spark plug cylinders.And yes it needed a new engine. Prior: At 80000 miles the transmission needed replaced.I was told that my my car was notorious for needing transmissions and engines.”
Filed Jul 20, 2025 · 80,000 miles
“Vehicle is burning thru coolant. Has to be topped off multiple times a week. Have had the to replace the coolant bypass valve twice.”
Filed Sep 21, 2023
“Coolant is leaking to a cylinder. They said is a know issue due to overheating in other vehicles with the same engine, but ford hasn't extended the recall to this model”
Filed Sep 12, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 145 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 226 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 136 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 120 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 74 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 68 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 52 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 46 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 39 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 36 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 30 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 27 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports