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2014 Ford Escape Wipers & Visibility Problems

18 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

18
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2014Dec 2016
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Wipers & Visibility Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #14V403000

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

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.

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.

Owner Complaints (18)

mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Nov 2025

Rear-view camera is not working while in reverse. When backing up, it doesn't show anything but a blank screen. Says it is unavailable. I had a mechanic run a diagnostic on it and it showed the camera was faulty.

NHTSA #: 11698346
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Nov 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver’s side windshield cracked causing a visibility hazard to the driver. The contact indicated that the crack was present between the two layers of glass used in the windshield construction. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle in daylight the driver’s vision was impaired by the internal cracks. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,500.

NHTSA #: 11493901
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Oct 2019

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE IN OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED AND PARKED. CAN NOT TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY, HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TO MAKE IT STOP. THEY DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK EITHER. WIPERS GO AS SHORT AS 5 WIPES EVERY 5 SECONDS TO UP TO 30 SECONDS-MINUTE OPERATING IN THE OFF POSITION. WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. WHEN TESTING TO SEE IF THEY WILL COME ON, SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT TURN ON. CONCERN FOR THEM NOT TURNING ON WHEN IT RAINS. BEEN GOING ON FOR 6 DAYS STRAIGHT. LUCKILY THERE HASN'T BEEN RAIN, YET.

NHTSA #: 11268778
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A TOXIC ODOR COMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, REGARDLESS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON OR OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP AND AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, STATING THAT POWER WAS REDUCED AND TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA #: 11133261
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 2018

2014 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INOPERABLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD TO BE MANUALLY RESET IN ORDER TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. ALSO THAT THE WIPERS WERE OLD WHICH CAUSED THE DRAG AND WHEN THEY HEATED UP IT CAUSED A MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A LIABILITY.*JS

NHTSA #: 11122629
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 2018

FRONT WIPERS GO OFF WHEN IN OFF POSTITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE ISSUE STARTS HAPPENING IT DEGRADES QUICKLY. IT STARTS WITH A RANDOM WIPE AND OVER A MONTHS PERIOD DEGRADES INTO THE WIPERS RANDOMLY TURNING ON AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TIME INTERVALS RANGING FROM A FEW WIPES UP TO 15 MINUTES OF UNCONTROLLABLE WIPING. SOMETIMES ONLY A SINGLE WIPER BLADE WILL TURN ON RANDOMLY THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT ( ONCE RESTARTING CAR BOTH WIPERS WILL GO OFF RANDOMLY AGAIN). THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON ALL DRIVING TYPES STREET/HIGHWAY/TURNING/STATIONARY EVERYTHING. AGAIN THE WIPERS ARE IN OFF POSTITION AND NOT ENGAGED BUT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON.

NHTSA #: 11122018
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2017

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, GOING STRAIGHT, NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME, WHEN MY REAR GATE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. NOTHING HIT IT OR THE CAR. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. JUST BANG, AND IT WAS BROKEN. INITIALLY IT WAS ALL STILL IN PLACE BUT BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME, PIECES HAD BEGUN TO FALL OFF. IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, ABOUT 15 DEGREES, BUT NO WIND OR PRECIPITATION WAS FALLING. I WAS GOING ABOUT 20 MPH. *TR

NHTSA #: 10939584
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2016

BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WHEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS CLOSED. NO APPARENT CRACKS IN WINDOW PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. AFTER REPLACING THE REAR WINDSHIELD, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 24 HOURS OF IT BEING REPLACED. HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 45 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA #: 10937769
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jun 2016

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2014, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED 5 TIMES, AND EACH TIME THE CRACK PROPAGATED SO QUICKLY THAT IT COULD NOT BE CONTAINED. THE CRACKS ARE INITIATED THROUGH THE SMALLES STONES THROWN FROM VEHICLES AHEAD. ALL INCIDENCES HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION AND AT LEAST 3 IN INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. SO FAR WE REPLACED IT WITH 2 OEM WINDSHIELDS AND THE OTHERS WERE AFTERMARKET. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM IN TERMS OF CHIP OR CRACK RESISTANCE. I STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE PURE COINCIDENCE. HAVING TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 6 MONTHS IS NOT REGULAR MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA #: 10881214
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Apr 2015

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID LEAKING IN CAR, LEAK IN HOSE. WHEN FIXED DIDNT SEAL WINDSHIELD PROPERLY CAUSING RAIN TO COME INTO VEHICLE CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10703840
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Jan 2015

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY DURING THE DAY. WE WERE NOT OPERATING THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF AND THE SHADE WAS COMPLETELY OPEN. SUDDENLY AND ALL AT ONCE, THE FRONT PANE OF GLASS IN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO THE CABIN. GLASS CUT MY FACE IN TWO LOCATIONS AND CAUSED BLEEDING. THERE WAS NO NEARBY TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF US OR ON THE SIDE. WE WERE NOT TRAVELING UNDER AN OVERPASS. WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BREAKAGE CAUSED US TO SLOW DOWN AND SWERVE. THERE WERE NO OTHER COLLISIONS OR DAMAGE AFTER THE SUNROOF BROKE. AS NO OBJECT OR PROJECTILE CAUSED THE BREAKAGE AND THERE WAS NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A FAULT WITH EITHER THE GLASS OR SUNROOF ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10671793
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2014

WHILE DRIVING DONE THE ROAD, A LOUD POP WAS HEARD. MY 3 YEAR OLD POINTED TO THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF AND SAID LOOK. IT HAD FALLEN INWARD ON THE BACK OF THE GLASS WHILE THE FRONT OF THE GLASS STAYED ATTACHED, CRACKING THE GLASS. PIECES OF GLASS FELL INTO THE BACK SEAT AND ALL IN MY SONS LAP. FORD HAS HAD RECALLS ON CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS BUT NOT MINE, EPOXY BEING MIXED INCORRECTLY CAUSING GLASS TO BECOME SEPARATED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10663835
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2014

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE HIGH 20'S I HEARD A LOUD POP SIMILAR TO A GUN SHOT AND THEN LOOKED BACK AND MY REAR WINDOW JUST STARTED TO SPIDER. I WAS ONLY IN THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WERE NO IMPACT MARKS AND THE GLASS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDOW HAD FALLEN OFF BUT THE REST OF THE GLASS WAS IN TACT. THERE WERE VERTICAL STRESS FRACTURES ON EACH FAR SIDE OF THE GLASS AND SPIDERING ON THE REST OF THE GLASS TOWARD THE MIDDLE. FORD LET ME KNOW THAT THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING TO F150'S RECENTLY BUT NOT IN NEW ESCAPES AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. THEY ADVISED THAT SOMETHING MUST OF IMPACTED THE WINDOW BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE GLASS ALSO AND SUBMITTED THEM TO FORD'S CORPORATION AND ALSO THE DEALERSHIP, MOON TOWNSHIP FORD. THEY STILL WOULD NOT PAY. IT SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PATTERN FOR FORD ESCAPES THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10663952
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Apr 2014

ON FEBRUARY 3, 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 A STONE FLEW UP OFF THE ROAD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED BY SAFELITE. ON MARCH 12, 2014 THE SAME THING HAPPENED A SECOND TIME ON A DIFFERENT STRETCH OF I-95. HAD SAFELITE REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MORNING APRIL 6, 2014 AGAIN ON I-95 AND THE WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKED FOR A THIRD TIME. HAVE DRIVEN FOR 53 YEARS WITH ONLY ONE CRACKED WINDSHIELD PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE HAD THREE WITHIN 62 DAYS!!! GREATLY CONCERNED THAT ANYTHING LARGER THAN A SMALL PEBBLE MAY CAUSE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO DISINTEGRATE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. WILL TAKE TO FORD DEALER TOMORROW OR TUESDAY FOR THEM TO EXAMINE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10577769
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Apr 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE AUTOMATIC REMOTE ALSO FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM HEAT. THE CONTACT HAD TO LET THE ENGINE RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO HEAT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE THEREFORE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIX FOR THE HEATING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

NHTSA #: 10576857
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Feb 2014

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS FAILED FOR MY NEW 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER DID NOT MOVE WHEN TURN ON THE WIPER AND THE DRIVER SIDE WILL MOVE ONCE AND STUCK AT THE UP RIGHT POSITION. AFTER IT GOT STUCK, IT'LL NOT RESPOND TO ANY WIPER CONTROLS. I SHUT DOWN MY ENGINE AND THE WIPER THEN RETRACTED TO THE OFF POSITION. SENT THE CAR TO THE DEALER LAST SATURDAY BUT NOTHING WAS DONE SINCE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10562871
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2014

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HWY AT 70MPH AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. I LOOKED AROUND AND HEARD WHAT ENDED UP BEING GLASS FALLING INTO MY REAR SEAT. MY REAR PANORAMIC GLASS HAD SHATTERED AND BLOWN UPWARD IN A WAY I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, AS THERE WERE ONLY CLOTHES AND A BOX IN THE REAR SEAT. I TOOK IT TO FORD AND MADE A CLAIM WHICH WAS DENIED. I AM CONFIDENT THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT FORD SAYS THIS BREAKAGE WOULD ONLY HAPPEN UPON INSTALLATION DUE TO USING TEMPERED GLASS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE NOTHING HIT MINE AND STILL, IT SHATTERED. I ALSO HAVE A LEAKING ROOF, WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10558310
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Oct 2013

EACH TIME THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE MIRROR IS TUCKED OR FOLDED IN AND RETURNED TO ITS DRIVING POSITION THE MIRROR DOES NOT RETURN TO THE SAME POSITION AND MUST BE READJUSTED FOR THE DRIVER TO HAVE PROPER AND SAFE VISION TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MIRROR HOUSING RETURNS TO THE CORRECT POSITION, BUT THE MIRROR INSIDE THE HOUSING DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS PROPER POSITION. THIS IS A MANUAL FOLDING MIRROR WITH ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MIRROR ADJUSTMENT. I CALLED FORD AND THEY AND THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NO FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU FORGET TO ADJUST THE MIRROR OR GET DISTRACTED TRYING TO ADJUST IT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10548515

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