Ford Escape Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 1,834 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Escape across 26 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (440). The words owners use most often: “throttle body” (17% of reports).
- 1,834fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 17mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Throttle body: mentioned in 320 of 1,834 complaints (17%)
- Fuel gasoline: mentioned in 181 of 1,834 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the Ford Escape at $770, and half of them between $450 and $1,200.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 1,137 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,834 complaints, 17 mention a crash, 29 a fire, 9 an injury.
Ford Escape fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 1 | 33% | — |
| 2025 Escape | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Escape | 5 | 7% | — |
| 2023 Escape | 7 | 7% | — |
| 2022 Escape | 24 | 10% | — |
| 2021 Escape | 29 | 8% | — |
| 2020 Escape | 77 | 5% | — |
| 2019 Escape | 17 | 3% | — |
| 2018 Escape | 45 | 2% | 105,000 |
| 2017 Escape | 72 | 3% | 34,800 |
| 2016 Escape | 62 | 5% | 68,000 |
| 2015 Escape | 50 | 4% | 50,950 |
| 2014 Escape | 121 | 6% | 61,342 |
| 2013 Escape | 247 | 9% | 76,124 |
| 2012 Escape | 137 | 23% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Escape | 253 | 19% | 49,000 |
| 2010 Escape | 440 | 21% | 56,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 116 | 7% | 71,552 |
| 2008 Escape | 36 | 2% | 96,000 |
| 2007 Escape | 11 | 4% | 73,000 |
| 2006 Escape | 18 | 4% | 97,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 29 | 2% | 115,000 |
| 2004 Escape | 7 | 1% | 120,000 |
| 2003 Escape | 7 | 1% | 101,995 |
| 2002 Escape | 16 | 2% | 124,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 5 | 1% | 164,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the Ford Escape. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While driving down the road the vehicle lost all power and left my wife in a dangerous position on the road. The vehicle was just in for service 4 days before and we were told the vehicle had no error codes. The vehicle has lost power on multiple occasions and we have had it at different dealer…
This recall has not been resolved by Ford in a timely manner while newer recalls have been announced and remedies were made available.
On approximately September 28, 2026, the vehicle began sputtering when first turned on. It then progressed to running extremely rough. On September 30, 2026 the Engine Icon lit up first. A few days later, I received an Engine Fault Service Now message. I went to the Auto Zone on October 4, 2026 and…
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…
Failed Component/System: The engine assembly/engine cooling system. The internal structural failure of the cylinder block (open-deck design defect) allowing engine coolant intrusion into combustion chambers, cylinders 2/3. Safety: The vehicle is experiencing severe engine stalling, immediate loss…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escapes have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,834 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the Ford Escape. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escape fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Escape?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $450 and $1,200), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “throttle body”, in 320 of 1,834 complaints, followed by “fuel gasoline” (181).
Other Ford Escape problems
- Engine problems (7,208)
- Power Train problems (4,655)
- Steering problems (3,945)
- Electrical System problems (2,525)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,331)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,298)
- Structure problems (2,296)
- Suspension problems (1,145)
See all Ford Escape problems.