The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the windshield wipers intermittently hesitated while moving from the left to the right. The dealer was contacted several times and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Ford Escape wipers problems
164 of the 27,594 owner complaints about the Ford Escape describe windshield wiper failure, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 164
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical repair cost reported
- $500
- typical mileage
- 58,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 10Check engine light 8Headlights 6Overheating 5Loss of power 4Fire or smoke 4Door locks 4Backup camera 4
What owners say
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact stated that while driving, the RPM was fluctuating. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts were not yet available for the recall repairs. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact later called the dealer and was informed that parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle was unsafe to drive in inclement weather due to the inoperable windshield wipers. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
**Subject: Unavailable Safety Recall Remedy – Ford Recall 26S14 / the federal safety agency 26V‑117** I am submitting this concern regarding an outstanding safety recall affecting the front windshield wiper motor on my 2020 Ford Escape SE. Ford Recall 26S14 (the federal safety agency Campaign 26V‑117) was announced in March 2026 because the windshield wiper motor may fail, causing the windshield wipers to stop operating properly. This defect presents a serious safety concern. If the windshield wipers fail during rain or other adverse weather conditions, a driver could suddenly lose the ability to see the roadway, surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and other hazards. As of October 9, 2026, my vehicle remains subject to this recall, and the federal safety agency's VIN-specific database indicates that a remedy is not yet available. I am particularly concerned about continuing to operate a vehicle with an unresolved defect affecting a critical visibility and safety system. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review the status of Ford's recall remedy, verify the anticipated repair availability, and provide guidance regarding appropriate safety precautions while affected vehicle owners await a repair. I also request that Ford provide a clear timeline for completing the recall at no expense to affected owners. This submission concerns an outstanding safety recall and the unavailability of a repair. It is not a report of an actual windshield wiper failure, crash, or injury.
Wiper on front dash no longer worked correctly. Water sprayed under the hood. Hose cracked.
The front windshield wiper motor in my vehicle may become non-functional or operate sporadically, according to the recall notification dated March 3, 2026. Presently, necessary replacement components are not in stock. Since the windshield wiper system is essential for maintaining driver visibility during rain and challenging weather conditions, this safety-critical component warrants immediate attention. The recall should have been resolved during all my dealership service appointments, yet this failure has caused unnecessary inconvenience and heightened safety apprehensions. Ford should ensure adequate availability of parts for addressing such important safety matters. Driving my 2021 Ford Escape with concerns about potential wiper malfunction creates unacceptable safety hazards for myself and other motorists. An investigation into Covid era 2021 Escape manufacturing is warranted, specifically examining how pandemic-related challenges supply chain disruptions, parts scarcity, labor shortages, and reduced quality control oversight affected production integrity. These systemic issues during the pandemic period appear to have resulted in substandard manufacturing quality. The frequency of defects in pandemic-produced Escape vehicles indicates they do not meet proper safety specifications, thereby exposing owners to considerable safety risks.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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 contact stated that the front windshield wipers failed to operate properly. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification for the federal safety agency 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 that upon starting the vehicle, the windshield wipers failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Wipers will swipe a couple times then stop half way and not descend all the way. Then begin to “flutter” have to shut off for them to descend and turn on again, over and over.
While driving intermittent wipers started. After only 4-5 inches in motion, they began stuttering until reaching about ¾ of the full elevation. At that point they stalled. I turned them on, which made no change. When turning off, they returned to the lowered or of position. If it had been raining, my visibility would have been severely impacted. This action continues after 3 days. I learned there is an issued recall for this issue in the same year/make/model, but my VIN / vehicle is not yet covered.
The wiper has stopped working. The part number, LJ6Z17508J, is listed under the federal safety agency bulletin 26V117, but Ford claims that the vehicle is not covered under the recall. Please expand the safety recall to include this VIN number. This is a dangerous situation!
Related recalls
Visibility: power window devices and controls
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 on July 6, 2026.
Recall number 26V374000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 November 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 on March 4, 2026.
Recall number 26V117000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V403000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 05V520000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper module.
Recall number 00V387002 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Escape wipers
Which Ford Escape years have windshield wiper failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (31 complaints), 2020 (17 complaints) and 2014 (16 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix windshield wiper failure on the Ford Escape?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 11 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Ford Escape?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history