Ford Escape Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 27,530 consumer complaints across the 26 model years of the Ford Escape (2000–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2013 has the most, with 2,753. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (7,217 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Escape model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | 5,000 | 9 | 85 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 76 | 11,531 | 8 | 155 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 101 | 21,193 | 11 | 192 | 13 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 236 | 35,500 | 19 | 156 | 34 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 352 | 39,000 | 19 | 204 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 1,618 | 45,000 | 23 | 273 | 83 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 597 | 64,210 | 3 | 128 | 20 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 1,822 | 80,851 | 4 | 173 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 2,702 | 70,000 | 4 | 249 | 76 · More | Rising |
| 2016 | 1,170 | 78,000 | 4 | 176 | 49 · Typical | Rising |
| 2015 | 1,132 | 76,665 | 9 | 127 | 51 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 2,089 | 75,000 | 16 | 146 | 78 · More | Stable |
| 2013 | 2,753 | 75,000 | 18 | 154 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 604 | 57,000 | 1 | 43 | 16 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2011 | 1,318 | 57,000 | 2 | 49 | 71 · More | Stable |
| 2010 | 2,070 | 59,904 | 3 | 49 | 65 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 1,693 | 90,000 | 1 | 45 | 25 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 1,974 | 100,000 | 3 | 41 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 254 | 71,600 | 2 | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 464 | 83,000 | 3 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 1,394 | 105,000 | 4 | 52 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 499 | 107,698 | 6 | 30 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 558 | 90,000 | 7 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 1,027 | 85,830 | 8 | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 996 | 75,350 | 13 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 5 | 64,500 | 0 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine7,217 26%
- Transmission and drivetrain4,662 17%
- Steering3,947 14%
- Fuel system2,562 9.2%
- Electrical system2,524 9.1%
- Engine cooling2,333 8.4%
- Vehicle speed control2,299 8.3%
- Body and structure2,297 8.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2021: “Front windshield is prone to crack. I have had to replace 5 windshields since I first purchased the vehicle. It is a known documented issue. Assuming aerodynamics is the issue and can cause more than the reasonable amount of cracked windshields. Valve body and transmission went out at 100,243 miles. All requested/required regular maintenance was completed.”
NHTSA complaint #11577252, filed 2024-03, 100,243 miles2017: “My 2017 ford was over heating got the head gasket replaced, the car was working fine for about a thousand miles when the wheel locked up and over heated again. Took it to ford and another mechanic and was told the problem was with a recall but my vehicle’s vin is not on the list. The engine short block as well as other parts.”
NHTSA complaint #11624544, filed 2024-11, 119,060 miles2014: “My daughter was backing out of driveway and said the steering was difficult to turn and felt locked. The steering assist fault came up on screen. She parked car and didn’t drive. My husband tried backing out of driveway as well and said the steering was hard to turn. He then put it in park and tried again and it drove fine.”
NHTSA complaint #11526139, filed 2023-06, 107,674 milesOther Ford models
38,897 complaintsFord Explorer
34,624 complaintsFord Fusion
22,441 complaintsFord Focus
22,107 complaintsFord Taurus
18,162 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,106 complaintsFord Expedition
9,385 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology