Menu

2001 Ford EscapeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 996 owner complaints about the 2001 Ford Escape, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 13 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-606 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.

2001 Ford Escape
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Escape median · #12 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls13Lowest repair rate 21%Owner complaints996187 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage42kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 25, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Ford Escape has problems

996 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling28217
Electrical system13625
Power train1284
Service brakes, hydraulic12227
Vehicle speed control10721
Air bags6336
Steering5810
Structure545
Fuel system, gasoline475
21 other systems29938

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

13 recalls

2001 Ford Escape recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

21%repaired · 2017 Q1

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 15V-606 · Sep 29, 2015 · 57 vehicles · 12 repaired

Risk. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

37%repaired · 2015 Q3

Structure: frame and members

Recall 14V-165 · Apr 2, 2014 · 348,950 vehicles · 129,882 repaired

Risk. A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 12V-353 · Jul 26, 2012 · 529,719 vehicles

Risk. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Recall 12V-005 · Jan 9, 2012 · 244,530 vehicles

Risk. CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 9 more recalls
–no report yet

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Recall 07V-156 · Apr 10, 2007 · 446,460 vehicles

Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MIGHT CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND IN SOME CASES, THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN BURNING…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: buckle assembly

Recall 03V-507 · Dec 5, 2003 · 132,243 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: linkages

Recall 00V-387 · Nov 27, 2000 · 46,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION WILL LIKELY RESULT IN SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION, OR OF THE WIPER FUNCTION ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY, INCREASING…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels: hubcap/cover

Recall 00V-260 · Sep 12, 2000 · 1,325 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 00V-210 · Aug 9, 2000 · 1,193 vehicles

Risk. IF EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS OCCURS AND THE SPEED CONTROL IS USED, THE SPEED CONTROL COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE, RESULTING IN A STUCK…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Recall 00V-223 · Aug 8, 2000 · 1,393 vehicles

Risk. EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS CAN LEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMING LOOSE OR SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

42kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 88 engine and engine cooling complaints. 80% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 48% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
31under 30k miles70under 100k miles18100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Power train

11 owners mentioned a cost

$3,000median

Middle half: $1,350 – $3,650

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other Escape year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escape median. How we score

'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
NHTSA crash tests

2001 Ford Escape safety ratings

2001 Ford Escape 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Ford Escape, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditAQ10001 · closed Dec 28, 2015
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREDP09003 · closed Apr 15, 2009
    No recall
  3. ENGINE STALLINGEA02027 · closed Apr 15, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-165
  4. Engine Compartment FireEA10002 · closed Feb 29, 2012
    Led to recall 12V-005
  5. ENGINE STALLINGPE01043 · closed Sep 10, 2002
    No recall
  6. SAFETY BELT BUCKLE FAILUREPE03030 · closed Dec 31, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-507
  7. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREPE06048 · closed Apr 17, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-156
  8. Stuck ThrottlePE12019 · closed Feb 21, 2013
    Led to recall 12V-353
  9. ENGINE STALLINGRP04002 · closed Aug 31, 2004
    No recall
  10. GASOLINE VAPOR INTRUSIONRQ01001 · closed Dec 21, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-277
  11. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRERQ09002 · closed Jan 15, 2010
    No recall
In owners' words

What Escape owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact pulls the vehicle over to the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not able to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local…
Complaint 11419367 · Jun 2, 2021 · 150,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 14V165000 (STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS.…
Complaint 11015079 · Aug 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ONE OCCASION TO AN INDEPENDENT…
Complaint 10702957 · Mar 31, 2015 · 140,000 miles

Own a 2001 Escape?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.