TSB: FORD ESCAPE (2017–2019)

Bulletin SSM 48335 — November 20, 2019

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDSSM 48335
ManufacturerFORD
ModelsESCAPE
Model Years2017–2019
Date IssuedNovember 20, 2019
Date Added to NHTSADecember 4, 2019
ComponentELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicles Affected6 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

Some 2017-2019 Escape vehicles may exhibit a 'Trailer Connected' or 'Trailer Disconnected' message in the vehicle's message center with no trailer attached to the vehicle. To correct this condition, reprogram the trailer module (TRM) using

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
FORD ESCAPE 2019 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD ESCAPE 2019 210000 TRAILER HITCHES
FORD ESCAPE 2018 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD ESCAPE 2018 210000 TRAILER HITCHES
FORD ESCAPE 2017 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD ESCAPE 2017 210000 TRAILER HITCHES

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized FORD dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (SSM 48335) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.