Recall 24V850 affects 15 2024-2025 Ford Escape SUVs for a passenger instrument-panel cover defect. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 15 2024-2025 Escape SUVs because the passenger-side instrument panel cover was manufactured incorrectly and can interfere with the passenger air bag. During deployment, the cover can break and send fragments into the cabin, or the air bag can deploy improperly, increasing injury risk; Ford dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The passenger side instrument panel cover on the 2024-2025 Ford Escape is part of the dashboard surface over the passenger air bag. In a crash, that cover and the material under it need to open in a controlled way so the air bag can deploy as designed. The air bag system depends on that panel behaving predictably.
On affected Escape vehicles, the supplier loaded the wrong polyurethane material into the foam-in-place mixing process for the instrument panel substrate. That wrong material can cause the substrate to separate inside the panel. If the panel separates, Ford cannot confirm that the passenger air bag will deploy as intended or that the vehicle meets FMVSS 208 for occupant crash protection.
There is no warning sign before failure. The dashboard can look normal from the cabin, and the issue is tied to how the panel was manufactured, not to a symptom an owner can see or hear while driving.
Who's affected?
The same instrument-panel assembly appears under both the instrument-panel and front air bag component listings.
| 2025 Ford Escape | instrument panel |
|---|---|
| 2025 Ford Escape | front air bag |
| 2024 Ford Escape | instrument panel |
| 2024 Ford Escape | front air bag |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the passenger air bag deploys, the cover can break and send fragments into the cabin, or the air bag can deploy incorrectly. That raises the risk of occupant injury. There is no warning sign before deployment, so confirm your VIN and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2025 Ford Escape is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free passenger-side instrument-panel-cover replacement that helps the passenger air bag deploy as intended.
- Bring the owner letter if Ford mailed one, or reference recall number 24V850 and Ford recall 24C38 when you call.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about scheduling or recall coverage.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete, especially when carrying a front passenger.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the passenger side instrument panel cover covered by recall 24V850. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid out of pocket for this repair before the recall notice, Ford's standard recall reimbursement plan gives you a path to request review. Bring receipts or repair paperwork to the service desk, or contact Ford customer service to ask how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 8, 2024 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2024 | Dealer notification began |
| November 12, 2024 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 16, 2024 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 18, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 24V850?
Recall 24V850 covers 15 2024-2025 Ford Escape vehicles with an incorrectly manufactured passenger-side instrument panel cover. During air bag deployment, the cover can break and send fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag can deploy improperly. Ford dealers will replace the cover for free.
What should I do if my 2024-2025 Ford Escape is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Escape is included in recall 24V850. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule replacement of the passenger-side instrument panel cover. Reference Ford recall number 24C38 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford's remedy says dealers will replace the passenger-side instrument panel cover free of charge at any franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 24V850?
The safety risk is injury during a crash that triggers the passenger air bag. The instrument panel cover can break and send fragments into the cabin, or the air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
When were Ford Escape owners notified about recall 24V850?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on February 18, 2025. If you bought the Escape used or never received a letter, the VIN check is still the deciding step. You can also call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 24C38.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/24V850000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 24V850 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 24V850000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →