Owners have filed 15,298 complaints with NHTSA about the Ford Escape from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the engine and cooling, the transmission and drivetrain and the body, doors and structure. The years with the most complaints are 2013, 2017 and 2014.
Get recall alerts for your Escape
Add it to My Garage, free. We email you when a new recall is issued for it, plus service reminders and what it is worth each month.
Add it to My GarageStart a free car search
Tell us which years you are looking at and your budget. We review every request and help you find a good one and skip the bad years.
Start my car searchComplaints by year
Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.
Every year at a glance
| Year | Vs. other years | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Escape | One of the better years | 604 | 2 |
| 2013 Escape | Among the worst years | 2,753 | 18 |
| 2014 Escape | Worse than most years | 2,090 | 16 |
| 2015 Escape | About average | 1,138 | 9 |
| 2016 Escape | About average | 1,186 | 4 |
| 2017 Escape | Worse than most years | 2,705 | 4 |
| 2018 Escape | Worse than most years | 1,828 | 4 |
| 2019 Escape | One of the better years | 600 | 3 |
| 2020 Escape | About average | 1,621 | 23 |
| 2021 Escape | One of the better years | 355 | 19 |
| 2022 Escape | Too new to judge | 238 | 19 |
| 2023 Escape | Too new to judge | 102 | 11 |
| 2024 Escape | Too new to judge | 78 | 8 |
Similar compact SUVs
Compare the Escape with these side by sideOther Ford models
Ford Escape questions
What are the worst Ford Escape years?
Compared with its other years, the Escape years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2013. The most reported problem area across all years is the engine and cooling.
What are the best Ford Escape years?
The Escape years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2012, 2019 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.
What are the most common Ford Escape problems?
Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the engine and cooling, the transmission and drivetrain and the body, doors and structure most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.
How many recalls does the Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 140 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Escape, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a Ford Escape?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model