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Ford Escape vs Honda CR-V: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 1,102 complaints per model year about the Ford Escape and 644 about the Honda CR-V.

Side by side

Ford EscapeHonda CR-V
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints23,13613,523
Complaints per model year1,102644
Recalls8149
Years to avoid20132017201720182019
Best years200720212022202020212022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-40 mpg combined (2026)29-40 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Escape: 4642006 Honda CR-V: 39820062007 Ford Escape: 2542007 Honda CR-V: 8882008 Ford Escape: 1,9742008 Honda CR-V: 96320082009 Ford Escape: 1,6932009 Honda CR-V: 3862010 Ford Escape: 2,0712010 Honda CR-V: 48320102011 Ford Escape: 1,3202011 Honda CR-V: 5552012 Ford Escape: 6042012 Honda CR-V: 40320122013 Ford Escape: 2,7532013 Honda CR-V: 3822014 Ford Escape: 2,0912014 Honda CR-V: 58820142015 Ford Escape: 1,1482015 Honda CR-V: 6742016 Ford Escape: 1,1932016 Honda CR-V: 39620162017 Ford Escape: 2,7102017 Honda CR-V: 1,7822018 Ford Escape: 1,8332018 Honda CR-V: 2,16920182019 Ford Escape: 6042019 Honda CR-V: 1,1102020 Ford Escape: 1,6212020 Honda CR-V: 36320202021 Ford Escape: 3562021 Honda CR-V: 3422022 Ford Escape: 2382022 Honda CR-V: 27220222023 Ford Escape: 1022023 Honda CR-V: 5182024 Ford Escape: 782024 Honda CR-V: 39620242025 Ford Escape: 262025 Honda CR-V: 2712026 Ford Escape: 32026 Honda CR-V: 1842026
Ford EscapeHonda CR-V

Problems compared

EscapeCR-V
Engine8,3512,339
Transmission4,236891
Steering3,7031,718
Fuel system2,3891,626
Electrical2,0482,133
Acceleration1,755441
Airbags3351,725
Driver assistance9481,668

Questions about the Ford Escape vs Honda CR-V

Which is more reliable, the Ford Escape or the Honda CR-V?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Ford Escape has 2 years to avoid and the Honda CR-V 3. The Ford Escape has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Honda CR-V drew fewer complaints per model year (644 vs 1,102), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Escape or the Honda CR-V?

From 2006 to 2026, the Ford Escape was covered by 81 recalls and the Honda CR-V by 49.

What years of the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V should you avoid?

Ford Escape: 2013 and 2017. Honda CR-V: 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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