The Escape has a high complaint rate in most years. The safest picks are 2019 and 2021, ideally with the 2.0L engine. Avoid 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020: they drew three to five times the complaints of a typical compact SUV, including engine overheating, fires and coolant leaks.
Best years: 20192021 Years to avoid: 2013201420172020
Every Escape year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Escape problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90 | - | 10 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 139 | - | 13 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 388 | 282 | 21 | Engine | Average |
| 2021 | 385 | 265 | 21 | Structure | Average |
| 2020 | 1,841 | 1,031 | 24 | Structure | Skip this year |
| 2019 | 600 | 249 | 3 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2018 | 1,824 | 670 | 4 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2017 | 2,702 | 876 | 4 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2016 | 1,184 | 386 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2015 | 1,137 | 371 | 9 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2014 | 2,090 | 683 | 16 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2013 | 2,757 | 931 | 18 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2012 | 619 | 237 | 2 | Fuel System | Good year |
About the Escape
The Escape is practical and fun to drive, but its record is one of the weakest on this site. The 1.6L EcoBoost in 2013-2016 models could overheat and catch fire, the 1.5L EcoBoost in 2017-2019 can leak coolant into the cylinders, and the 2020 redesign launched with a long list of recalls. If you want one, choose a later year and confirm every recall.
- 2013-2019: Third generation. 1.6L EcoBoost (2013-2016) has overheating and fire recalls; 1.5L (2017-2019) has coolant intrusion complaints.
- 2020 on: Fourth generation. 2020 had many recalls; 2021-2022 improved, and newer years look better still.
Escape warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Ford files with NHTSA. 908 Escape bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program 24P28 Certain 2025 Model Year F-650/F-750, 2024 Model Year Super Duty, Transit and Escape Vehicles A/C Compressor Inspection
Customer Satisfaction Program 24N08 - Supplement #1 Certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, Escape, Mach-E, and 2022-2024 Maverick Vehicles Drivers Side Seat Buckle Replacement
Customer Satisfaction Program 23B64 Certain 2020-2024 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Equipped with High Voltage Batteries Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Software Update
Customer Satisfaction Program 26N15 Certain 2020-2026 Model Year Escape and 2021-2026 Model Year Corsair Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) High Voltage Battery Replacement
Customer Satisfaction Program 25M03 Certain 2020-2025 Model Year Escape, 2021-2025 Model Year Corsair and 2022- 2025 Model Year Maverick Vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid engine - Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...
Advance Notice - Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 Certain 2020 - 2023 Model Year Escape Vehicles - Front Door Check-Arm Reinforcement Broken Spot Welds
Customer Satisfaction Program 22N15 Certain 2020-2023 Model Year Bronco Sport, Escape, Corsair, E-Series, F-650/F-750, F-53 Motorhome Chassis, F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis Vehicles Equipped with Smart Data Link Connector (S...
Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 - Supplement #2 Certain 2020 - 2023 Model Year Escape Vehicles Inspect Front Door Check-Arm Reinforcement Spot Welds REF: Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 - Supplement #1 Published Decembe...
Customer Satisfaction Program 25N03 Certain 2021-2023 Model Year Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape with 1.5L Engine and 8F35 Transmission.
Customer Satisfaction Program 25M02 Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape with 1.5L Engine and 8F35 Transmission Upstream Catalytic Converter Replacement, If Required
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Escape
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Recall query RQ24008 · 2022 · opened Apr 2024, closed Oct 2025 · led to recall 25V467
On April 11, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) opened this Recall Query (“RQ”) to investigate the adequacy of, including various safety concerns associated with, the remedy program in recalls 22V-859 (filed Nov.
Preliminary evaluation PE23013 · 2020–2022 · opened Jul 2023, closed Jan 2024
On July 7, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-013 to investigate instances of check arm bracket failure in the front doors in model year (MY) 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Audit query AQ22002 · 2021 · opened Jun 2022
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether Healey Brothers Ford, LLC of Beacon, New York, has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Recall query RQ21002 · 2020 · opened Aug 2021 · led to recall 26V104
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No.
Recall query RQ19005 · 2013–2015 · opened Dec 2019, closed Feb 2022 · led to recall 20V177000
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Preliminary evaluation PE18007 · 2013 · opened Jul 2018, closed Dec 2024
On July 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate alleged instances of sudden stalling without warning on model year (MY) 2013 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI turbocharged engines.
Preliminary evaluation PE16001 · 2013–2015 · opened Jan 2016, closed Oct 2016 · led to recall 16V643000
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with ...
Preliminary evaluation PE13003 · 2012 · opened Feb 2013, closed Feb 2014
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles.
Defect petition DP12006 · 2012 · opened Oct 2012, closed Feb 2013
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Fo...
Escape vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Ford Escape?
2019 and 2021. The Escape has a high complaint rate in most years. The safest picks are 2019 and 2021, ideally with the 2.0L engine. Avoid 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020: they drew three to five times the complaints of a typical compact SUV, including engine overheating, fires and coolant leaks.
Which Ford Escape years should I avoid?
2013, 2014, 2017, 2020. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Escape average.
Based on 15,756 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.