Ford Escape grinding brakes problems

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · IN

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse and depressing the brake pedal, there was a squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, and the brake pads were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The back over prevention camera failed to produce an image while in reverse. The dealer was contacted about the recall and confirmed that another letter would be sent once the remedy was available.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MI

On July 7, 2026, at approximately 113,080 miles, my 2016 Ford Escape displayed a “Transmission Fault – Service Now” warning. The exact failed component is currently UNKNOWN, but the issue appears to involve the transmission/powertrain and possibly an electrical fault. While driving, I experienced abnormal symptoms including a rotational/squeaking noise from the front-right area and an air-leak/pressure-type noise from the right side. The pressure-type noise could also be heard while revving the vehicle at idle. The Check Engine Light also illuminated. I took the vehicle to an independent repair facility on July 7, 2026. The mechanic documented the symptoms and diagnostic trouble codes and advised that additional electrical diagnosis was necessary to determine the exact cause. The transmission itself has not been conclusively diagnosed as failed, and I am not claiming a specific failed internal component without further inspection. I consider this a serious safety concern because an unresolved transmission or powertrain malfunction could potentially cause improper shifting, hesitation, reduced propulsion, loss of acceleration, or other unexpected vehicle behavior while driving in traffic. I contacted Ford regarding the problem and followed up again on July 17, 2026. After receiving no resolution, I contacted Ford again on September 9, 2026. Ford advised me that there was no exact timeframe for when the ASO would contact me and that the ASO may or may not contact me at all. I requested that Ford make a final escalation of the safety concern. Ford confirmed that my escalation and my intention to submit the unresolved safety issue to the federal safety agency were documented under Ford case CXH-08511841-T8X5L4. To my knowledge, Ford has not inspected the vehicle or provided a substantive resolution to the transmission/powertrain concern. I am also concerned that this may not be an isolated maintenance issue. I am aware of other owners reporting transmission and powertrain problems.

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Brakes · LA · crash · 2 injuries

While traveling on the interstate, the driver of the Ford Escape moved into the left lane from behind an 18-wheeler that had stopped while attempting to enter a turning lane. After moving into the left lane, the driver observed traffic ahead stopping. The vehicle ahead was at or beyond the front of the 18-wheeler. The Escape was still behind the rear of the 18-wheeler when the driver began braking. The driver pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop as expected. It may have slowed slightly at first. The driver released the brake pedal and pressed it again. On the second application, the vehicle did not appear to slow further, and the brake pedal felt as though it went straight to the floor. The driver continued holding the brake pedal down until the Escape collided with the vehicle ahead, which was at or beyond the front of the 18-wheeler's cab. The driver had applied the brakes twice before the vehicle's forward-collision/impact warning activated. There were no known brake warning lights or brake-related messages before the incident. The suspected system involved is the braking system; the exact cause is UNKNOWN. The collision resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle is currently being held at the insurance company's investigation yard and has not yet been released to the salvage department, so it remains available for inspection at this time. During approximately three years of ownership, the vehicle had previously experienced recurring squealing from the rear brakes when backing up. The vehicle was taken to Ford regarding the brakes on two occasions, and the brake pads were replaced once. Ford advised that no other issue was found at those times though squealing happened occasionally after.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Body, Visibility · TN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after the dealer performed an unknown recall repair on the front driver’s side door, the failure occurred. The contact stated that the front driver’s side window intermittently failed to roll up or roll down and made a squeaking sound while operating. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the front driver’s side door motor needed to be replaced, and the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Body, Engine · 113,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine, with the engine revving. The contact stated that while turning off the vehicle, the engine was knocking very roughly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for failures with the bearings and the rotors. The contact stated that there were abnormal sounds coming from the bearings. The contact stated that the rotors were rusted, and there was a grinding sound coming from the rotors. The contact believed that the vehicle was a flood-damaged vehicle due to the rust on the rotors, bearings, and underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.

Filed Jul 8, 2026 · Transmission · MI

My low mileage 2020 Ford Escape has rear differential shuddering, grinding, and bumping during low speed turns.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Transmission · OR

Transmission, AAMCO inspected and verified, no warnings just grinding noise and jerking of vehicle

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · MA

Shortly after purchasing my 2022 Ford Escape, I began experiencing hesitation during acceleration, loss of power, RPM fluctuations, loud howling and whining noises, grinding noises, exhaust-related rattling, coolant bubbling, and a strong sulfur/rotten egg odor. The problems were reported repeatedly to the selling dealer and Ford service departments. Despite multiple complaints, I was repeatedly told nothing was wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle continued to deteriorate and now struggles to accelerate and produces extremely loud noises during operation. The condition creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not respond normally when accelerating and may not be able to maintain speed safely in traffic. I also discovered an open safety recall involving a potentially cracked fuel injector that could allow fuel or fuel vapor to accumulate on the engine and create a fire risk. The recall remains incomplete because a remedy is not currently available. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership service departments and an independent transmission specialist. The problems have been ongoing since shortly after purchase and continue to worsen.

Filed May 21, 2026 · Transmission · TN

Stopped at a Light and took off thru the intersection and car made a loud bang noise then no power and kept bogging out, pulled into parking lot and stopped then car wouldn’t move. Shut car off then restarted it and put into reverse and car drive forward, put in neutral and car still drove forward, couldn’t get it to go into reverse, now the motor is tilting back to fire wall like motor mounts are broke and it’s make a grinding noise when idling.

Filed Mar 10, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · MO

I have had issues with my car since the day that I bought it. First, my car squealed every time that I backed up. I took it to my local Ford dealership 3 or 4 times without this ever being fixed. This then progressed to my brakes squealing anytime they’re used. I barely have 25,000 miles on my car. Additionally, I have had numerous occasions where my car will get stuck and not shift, not accelerate which is extremely scary when merging into traffic, the RPM’s will jump between 3,000 and 5,000 and stay there while I cannot accelerate or shift. The vehicle has had episodes of shaking while I am driving, and now there is a grinding sound when driving for unknown reasons. My car has also sounded like there is a hole in the exhaust, although there isn’t. I’m not sure what’s causing the noise. Now I have come to find out that there are two active recalls on my car; one for the PCM control module (the federal safety agency Recall Number: 25V‑467, Ford Recall Number: 24S55), and the SYNC/ display software update (the federal safety agency Recall Number: 26V‑123, Ford Recall Number: 25S06) which is a lesser concern. I called the dealer that I bought my car from and they can’t service my car for the PCM control module via an appointment until 4/24/26 (over a month from now when I don’t feel safe driving my vehicle). They said that I can drop my car off before 4/24 for about a week, but that they can’t provide a loaner. I can’t be without a vehicle. Per Ford there are not parts for a permanent remedy anyway, and this is only a temporary fix as it is, which I don’t have confidence in. That’s ridiculous because the recall came out 7/2025. It’s been almost a year. They also told me that the SYNC software update is only a customer satisfaction, not a recall, so they won’t fix it, which is incorrect. I called Ford customer satisfaction and was also denied a loaner car. The only option that I was given was the possibility of a buyback program, which didn’t sound promising. I’m stuck in a car that I don’t feel safe in.