2024-2025 Ford Escape Instrument Cluster Recall (24V850)
Ford Motor Company · 15 vehicles · Reported November 8, 2024
Ford Motor Company is recalling 15 2024-2025 Ford Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V850 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V850000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 24C38 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 8, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2024-2025 Ford Escape |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Build dates | September 5, 2024 to September 5, 2024 |
| Component | Electrical System > Instrument Cluster / Panel |
| Safety risk | During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024-2025 Ford Escape in recall 24V850?
The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2024-2025 Escape with recall 24V850?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Escape shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the instrument cluster and panel, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V850?
Recall 24V850 covers 15 vehicles: 2024-2025 Ford Escape.
NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign, built September 5, 2024 to September 5, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Ford | Escape |
What is the fix for the Escape instrument cluster recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.
When was recall 24V850 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 24V850 to NHTSA on November 8, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 5, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| September 5, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| November 8, 2024 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V850000. |
| February 18, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 23 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 0 days. If your Escape was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Escape is part of recall 24V850?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V850 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V850000 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 24C38. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Escape owners do about recall 24V850?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V850000 applies to your Escape.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the instrument cluster and panel happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Escape owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 31 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 24V850 was reported on November 8, 2024, owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 5 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after November 8, 2024, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 100 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 31 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2024 Ford Escape: 76 complaints in total, 25 about the electrical system
- 2025 Ford Escape: 24 complaints in total, 6 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged erroneously.
2025 Ford Escape owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11669703, filed June 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH with the cruise control activated, the brakes engaged independently. The contact stated that while attempting to start to vehicle, the radio displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted.
2025 Ford Escape owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11683908, filed August 29, 2025
Turn Signal is barely audible when turning. If the radio is on, or at higher speeds on the highway, it is impossible to hear the turn signal. Sometimes, you may miss hit the turn signal when changing lanes, and may not actual signal, when you meant to.
2025 Ford Escape owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11698285, filed November 7, 2025
Can recall 24V850 make my Escape a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2024-2025 Ford Escape back, and the problem shows up again.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same instrument cluster and panel again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2024-2025 Ford Escape has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V506000.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Escape been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Escape recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V850
Did the recall 24V850 fix work?
Since recall 24V850 was reported on November 8, 2024, owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 5 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 24V850000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Escape is part of recall 24V850000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 24V850000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.