Ford Escape Problems by Year
NHTSA has 27,478 owner complaints and 95 safety recalls on file for the Ford Escape, across 27 model years (2000–2026). The 2013 model year has the most complaints (2,750). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Ford Escape years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escape year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2013 Escape: 2,750 complaints, 18 recalls
- 2017 Escape: 2,698 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2014 Escape: 2,089 complaints, 16 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Escape: 3 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2000 Escape: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2025 Escape: 26 complaints, 9 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Escape problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 7,208 | 26 | 56 |
| Power Train problems | 4,655 | 26 | 74 |
| Steering problems | 3,945 | 24 | 112 |
| Electrical System problems | 2,525 | 27 | 40 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 2,331 | 25 | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 2,298 | 25 | 151 |
| Structure problems | 2,296 | 25 | 54 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 1,834 | 26 | 17 |
| Suspension problems | 1,145 | 22 | 30 |
| Service Brakes problems | 834 | 25 | 80 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 713 | 22 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 616 | 26 | 280 |
| Back Over Prevention problems | 533 | 14 | 11 |
| Wheels problems | 493 | 23 | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 473 | 24 | 27 |
| Visibility problems | 362 | 24 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 319 | 22 | 7 |
| Seat Belts problems | 264 | 24 | 42 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 245 | 23 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 225 | 19 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 186 | 25 | 5 |
| Tires problems | 175 | 21 | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 137 | 16 | 5 |
| Seats | 95 | 21 | 21 |
| Equipment | 81 | 21 | 3 |
| Lane Departure | 66 | 13 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 24 | 11 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 24 | 9 | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 20 | 14 | 4 |
| Traction Control System | 19 | 11 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 17 | 10 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Escape problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: fuel system, gasoline (63)
- 2021: structure (92)
- 2020: structure (670) · power train (241) · electrical system (159) · engine (121) · fuel system, gasoline (120) · fuel/propulsion system (77) · forward collision avoidance (68) · latches/locks/linkages (54)
- 2019: engine (316) · power train (128) · engine and engine cooling (94)
- 2018: engine (1,165) · engine and engine cooling (344) · power train (275) · electrical system (57)
- 2017: engine (1,579) · engine and engine cooling (509) · power train (391) · electrical system (156) · wheels (76) · fuel/propulsion system (72) · structure (62)
- 2016: power train (320) · back over prevention (241) · engine (200) · electrical system (95) · steering (73) · fuel/propulsion system (62) · engine and engine cooling (57)
- 2015: power train (286) · engine (239) · back over prevention (158) · electrical system (135) · steering (81) · fuel/propulsion system (50)
- 2014: engine (727) · power train (481) · electrical system (216) · engine and engine cooling (187) · steering (151) · fuel/propulsion system (121) · structure (84) · latches/locks/linkages (65) · back over prevention (51)
- 2013: engine (1,265) · power train (401) · electrical system (339) · steering (302) · fuel/propulsion system (247) · engine and engine cooling (175) · vehicle speed control (92) · structure (87) · latches/locks/linkages (65) · service brakes (63) · air bags (54)
- 2012: steering (139) · fuel/propulsion system (137) · engine (73) · vehicle speed control (70) · structure (68) · power train (66)
- 2011: steering (411) · power train (268) · fuel/propulsion system (253) · engine (248) · vehicle speed control (245) · electrical system (117)
- 2010: vehicle speed control (558) · power train (508) · engine (493) · fuel/propulsion system (440) · steering (423) · electrical system (216) · structure (84) · fuel system, gasoline (71) · visibility (69)
- 2009: steering (828) · power train (301) · vehicle speed control (279) · engine (254) · electrical system (143) · fuel/propulsion system (116) · service brakes (94) · fuel system, gasoline (88)
- 2008: steering (1,127) · power train (329) · vehicle speed control (175) · electrical system (136) · service brakes (120) · engine (83)
- 2006: vehicle speed control (99) · power train (80) · suspension (65) · structure (63)
- 2005: suspension (459) · structure (434) · electrical system (153) · vehicle speed control (149) · engine (130) · power train (117) · wheels (98) · engine and engine cooling (90)
- 2004: suspension (154) · structure (138) · vehicle speed control (98)
- 2003: structure (121) · suspension (90) · vehicle speed control (90) · air bags (60) · power train (55)
- 2002: engine and engine cooling (294) · service brakes, hydraulic (149) · electrical system (123) · power train (105) · vehicle speed control (100) · structure (87) · suspension (80) · air bags (79) · steering (70)
- 2001: engine and engine cooling (282) · electrical system (136) · power train (128) · service brakes, hydraulic (122) · vehicle speed control (107) · air bags (63) · steering (58) · structure (54)
All Ford Escape model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 3 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2025 Escape | 26 | 9 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Escape | 76 | 8 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Escape | 100 | 11 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Escape | 235 | 19 | 5★ | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Escape | 349 | 19 | 5★ | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Escape | 1,610 | 23 | 5★ | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Escape | 596 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Escape | 1,817 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 Escape | 2,698 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Escape | 1,158 | 4 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Escape | 1,116 | 9 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2014 Escape | 2,089 | 16 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Escape | 2,750 | 18 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Escape | 603 | 1 | 3★ | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Escape | 1,318 | 2 | 3★ | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Escape | 2,070 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Escape | 1,693 | 1 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Escape | 1,974 | 3 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Escape | 254 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Escape | 464 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Escape | 1,394 | 4 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Escape | 499 | 6 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Escape | 558 | 7 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Escape | 1,027 | 8 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Escape | 996 | 13 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Escape | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escape years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2008 (1,974), 2009 (1,693), 2010 (2,070), 2013 (2,750), 2014 (2,089), 2017 (2,698), 2018 (1,817), 2020 (1,610) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escape year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Escape?
Engine, with 7,208 complaints across 26 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Escape have?
95 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.