Ford EscapeYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 27,609 NHTSA owner complaints across 26 model years, no Ford Escape year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2007, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Escape has 95 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020 Best years'07 '22 '23 '24Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints27,609Top: Engine Safety recalls952001–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Ford Escape years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escape median. Tap a year for its full report.

9961,0275584991,3944642541,9741,6932,0711,3206042,7532,0911,1481,1922,7101,8336041,62135623810278 26 3

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2026Too new–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls 2025Too new–/10026 complaints · 9 recalls 2024Best81/10078 complaints · 8 recalls 2023Best83/100102 complaints · 11 recalls 2022Best71/100238 complaints · 19 recalls 2021Best67/100356 complaints · 19 recalls 2020Caution36/1001,621 complaints · 23 recalls 2019Solid61/100604 complaints · 3 recalls 2018Caution38/1001,833 complaints · 4 recalls 2017Caution32/1002,710 complaints · 4 recalls 2016Solid50/1001,192 complaints · 4 recalls 2015Solid51/1001,148 complaints · 9 recalls 2014Caution35/1002,091 complaints · 16 recalls 2013Caution30/1002,753 complaints · 18 recalls 2012Solid65/100604 complaints · 1 recall 2011Solid48/1001,320 complaints · 2 recalls 2010Caution38/1002,071 complaints · 3 recalls 2009Solid43/1001,693 complaints · 1 recall 2008Caution38/1001,974 complaints · 3 recalls 2007Best82/100254 complaints · 2 recalls 2006Best71/100464 complaints · 3 recalls 2005Solid46/1001,394 complaints · 4 recalls 2004Best69/100499 complaints · 6 recalls 2003Solid64/100558 complaints · 7 recalls 2002Solid48/1001,027 complaints · 8 recalls 2001Solid50/100996 complaints · 13 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Ford Escape problems

All model years combined: 27,609 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

7,247Engine283 crash/fire/injury

4,668Power train117 crash/fire/injury

3,951Steering128 crash/fire/injury

2,531Electrical system184 crash/fire/injury

2,336Engine and engine cooling88 crash/fire/injury

2,299Vehicle speed control182 crash/fire/injury

2,297Structure107 crash/fire/injury

1,838Fuel/propulsion system

1,145Suspension

6,04431 other systems734 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Engine	7247	283
Power train	4668	117
Steering	3951	128
Electrical system	2531	184
Engine and engine cooling	2336	88
Vehicle speed control	2299	182
Structure	2297	107
Fuel/propulsion system	1838	47
Suspension	1145	36
31 other systems	6044	734

95 recalls

Ford Escape recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Visibility: power window devices and controls26V-374 · 2017 · Jun 9, 2026 · 18,124 vehicles Internal: park pawl26V-301 · 2026 · May 12, 2026 · 208 vehicles Back over prevention: software26V-123 · 2020–2022 · Mar 3, 2026 · 889,950 vehicles Emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)26V-122 · 2025 · Mar 3, 2026 · 47,804 vehicles Windshield wiper/washer: motor26V-117 · 2020–2022 · Mar 3, 2026 · 604,533 vehicles Electrical: engine block heater26V-011 · 2013–2019 · Jan 15, 2026 · 116,672 vehicles Rear/other: retractor25V-862 · 2025–2026 · Dec 12, 2025 · 780 vehicles Hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments25V-829 · 2020–2025 · Dec 1, 2025 · 108,762 vehicles Electronic stability control (ESC)25V-787 · 2025 · Nov 14, 2025 · 2 vehicles Sensing system: camera25V-695 · 2015–2016 · Oct 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles Electrical: engine block heater25V-685 · 2020–2022 · Oct 10, 2025 · 59,006 vehicles Disc: pads25V-693 · 2020 · Oct 10, 2025 · 13,451 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 95 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

24 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Escape

Apr 11, 2024
Underhood fires caused by fuel leakRQ24008 · 2022 · closed Oct 30, 2025
Led to recall 25V-467
Jul 7, 2023
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment PointPE23013 · 2020–2022 · closed Jan 24, 2024
No recall
Jun 3, 2022
Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall SaleAQ22002 · 2021 · still open
Open
Aug 3, 2021
Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
Led to recall 26V-104
Dec 19, 2019
Door Latch FailuresRQ19005 · 2013–2015 · closed Feb 7, 2022
Led to recall 20V-177
Jul 16, 2018
Loss of Motive PowerPE18007 · 2013 · closed Dec 27, 2024
No recall
Jan 16, 2016
Door Latch FailurePE16001 · 2013–2015 · closed Oct 29, 2016
Led to recall 16V-643
Apr 1, 2015
Loss of power steering while drivingDP15001 · 2008–2011 · closed Jun 14, 2018
No recall
Feb 21, 2013
Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionPE13003 · 2009–2012 · closed Feb 28, 2014
No recall
Oct 2, 2012
Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionDP12006 · 2005–2012 · closed Feb 21, 2013
No recall