2019 Ford Escape Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escape years
- Fewer complaints than other years 16th of 27 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 595 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape. That ranks 16th out of 27 Escape model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (316 complaints, 53%), typically at around 61,194 miles. Complaints mention 24 crashes, 3 fires, 28 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 595owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 24complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2019 Ford Escape problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 316 | 53% | 61,194 | “coolant intrusion” (28%) | $9,800 |
| Power Train problems | 127 | 21% | 64,460 | “coolant intrusion” (9%) | $8,800 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 94 | 16% | 81,000 | “coolant intrusion” (55%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 42 | 7% | 6,350 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 37 | 6% | 3,400 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 16 | 3% | 35,600 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 2% | 8,100 | — | — |
| Structure | 12 | 2% | 36,200 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 2% | 40,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 11 | 2% | 37,300 | — | — |
| Wheels | 10 | 2% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 1% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 1% | 3,889 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 7,812 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 | 1% | 2,729 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | 30,150 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 0% | 15,832 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 57,598 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2019 Ford Escape recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Tires
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
At only 43,379 miles â well within the useful life expected of this vehicle â my 2019 Ford Escape developed two significant mechanical failures. (1) Fuel injector: the vehicle emits visible black smoke from the exhaust when accelerating at highway speeds; the dealership diagnosed this as a…
My vehicle has to have a new motor. It only has 127,154 miles on it. I have sent Ford a letter to respond with in 30 days and they have not done that. Please advise the next steps.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the message âStop Vehicleâ was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was…
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the 1.5L EcoBoost engine in my 2019 Ford Escape, which has approximately 39,000 miles. Beginning in August 2026, the vehicle developed repeated check-engine lights, misfires, and severe shaking while driving. Ignition coils and a spark plug were…
My 2019 Ford Escape Se was smoking during start up. Dealer says it needs a whole new engine due to coolant intrusion. I have been seeing there are many issues with this.
Other Ford Escape years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 Escape | 26 | 9 |
| 2024 Escape | 76 | 8 |
| 2023 Escape | 100 | 11 |
| 2022 Escape | 235 | 19 |
| 2021 Escape | 349 | 19 |
| 2020 Escape | 1,608 | 23 |
| 2019 | 595 | 3 |
| 2018 Escape | 1,816 | 4 |
| 2017 Escape | 2,696 | 4 |
| 2016 Escape | 1,154 | 4 |
| 2015 Escape | 1,113 | 9 |
| 2014 Escape | 2,089 | 16 |
| 2013 Escape | 2,750 | 18 |
| 2012 Escape | 603 | 1 |
| 2011 Escape | 1,317 | 2 |
| 2010 Escape | 2,070 | 3 |
| 2009 Escape | 1,693 | 1 |
| 2008 Escape | 1,974 | 3 |
| 2007 Escape | 254 | 2 |
| 2006 Escape | 464 | 3 |
| 2005 Escape | 1,394 | 4 |
| 2004 Escape | 499 | 6 |
| 2003 Escape | 558 | 7 |
| 2002 Escape | 1,027 | 8 |
| 2001 Escape | 996 | 13 |
| 2000 Escape | 5 | 0 |
See all Ford Escape problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report engine, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 316 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Ford Escape?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2019 Ford Escape a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escape model years, the 2019 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.