Ford Escape Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 362 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Ford Escape across 24 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (69). The words owners use most often: “rear window” (25% of reports).
- 362visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 18mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- $700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear window: mentioned in 89 of 362 complaints (25%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Ford Escape at $700, and half of them between $590 and $820.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 275 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 362 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 18 an injury.
Ford Escape visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Escape | 1 | 1% | 16,000 |
| 2023 Escape | 1 | 1% | 13,000 |
| 2022 Escape | 2 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2021 Escape | 16 | 5% | 49,198 |
| 2020 Escape | 25 | 2% | 43,000 |
| 2019 Escape | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2018 Escape | 6 | 0% | 60,000 |
| 2017 Escape | 4 | 0% | 57,187 |
| 2016 Escape | 5 | 0% | 21,592 |
| 2015 Escape | 6 | 1% | 56,000 |
| 2014 Escape | 8 | 0% | 14,750 |
| 2013 Escape | 8 | 0% | 24,118 |
| 2012 Escape | 8 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Escape | 23 | 2% | 32,513 |
| 2010 Escape | 69 | 3% | 34,090 |
| 2009 Escape | 11 | 1% | 47,916 |
| 2008 Escape | 25 | 1% | 46,888 |
| 2007 Escape | 8 | 3% | 71,323 |
| 2006 Escape | 18 | 4% | 78,785 |
| 2005 Escape | 31 | 2% | 57,250 |
| 2004 Escape | 16 | 3% | 63,692 |
| 2003 Escape | 5 | 1% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Escape | 31 | 3% | 34,100 |
| 2001 Escape | 34 | 3% | 67,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (6)
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Risk: Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Visibility:power window devices and controls; electrical system:software
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Risk: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Model years: 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, through October 22, 2013. The panorama roof glass may not be properly bonded to the attaching bracket.
Risk: If the glass panel is improperly bonded, the glass may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect each vehicle and replace the front roof glass if its production date and sequence number falls within the affected range, free of charge. The recall is began on July 14, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S13.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 2006
Problem: On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.
Risk: After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on november 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673 or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The windshield wiper linkage can disengage due to a broken ball socket.
Risk: This condition will likely result in sudden and complete loss of the windshield wiper function, or of the wiper function on the driver side only, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper module.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V374000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and a mechanic was sent to the residence to perform a software update, but the mechanic…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after the dealer performed an unknown recall repair on the front driverâs side door, the failure occurred. The contact stated that the front driverâs side window intermittently failed to roll up or roll down and made a squeaking sound…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and 26V117000 (VISIBILITY); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escapes have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 362 owner complaints about visibility for the Ford Escape. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escape visibility?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Ford Escape?
Owners report a typical cost of $700 (half paid between $590 and $820), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “rear window”, in 89 of 362 complaints.
Other Ford Escape problems
- Engine problems (7,208)
- Power Train problems (4,655)
- Steering problems (3,945)
- Electrical System problems (2,525)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,331)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,298)
- Structure problems (2,296)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,834)
See all Ford Escape problems.