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Ford Escape vs Toyota RAV4: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2025, owners filed an average of 1,157 complaints per model year about the Ford Escape and 385 about the Toyota RAV4.

Side by side

Ford EscapeToyota RAV4
Model years compared2006-20252006-2025
Owner complaints23,1337,708
Complaints per model year1,157385
Recalls8043
Years to avoid201320172006200720192020
Best years200720212022201420162022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-40 mpg combined (2025)28-39 mpg combined (2025)

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 Toyota RAV4: 70520062007 Ford Escape: 2542007 Toyota RAV4: 1,0042008 Ford Escape: 1,9742008 Toyota RAV4: 57520082009 Ford Escape: 1,6932009 Toyota RAV4: 3272010 Ford Escape: 2,0712010 Toyota RAV4: 40020102011 Ford Escape: 1,3202011 Toyota RAV4: 2872012 Ford Escape: 6042012 Toyota RAV4: 26020122013 Ford Escape: 2,7532013 Toyota RAV4: 2572014 Ford Escape: 2,0912014 Toyota RAV4: 19820142015 Ford Escape: 1,1482015 Toyota RAV4: 3052016 Ford Escape: 1,1932016 Toyota RAV4: 24020162017 Ford Escape: 2,7102017 Toyota RAV4: 3082018 Ford Escape: 1,8332018 Toyota RAV4: 33320182019 Ford Escape: 6042019 Toyota RAV4: 8872020 Ford Escape: 1,6212020 Toyota RAV4: 64120202021 Ford Escape: 3562021 Toyota RAV4: 3902022 Ford Escape: 2382022 Toyota RAV4: 15020222023 Ford Escape: 1022023 Toyota RAV4: 1662024 Ford Escape: 782024 Toyota RAV4: 17720242025 Ford Escape: 262025 Toyota RAV4: 98
Ford EscapeToyota RAV4

Problems compared

EscapeRAV4
Engine8,3491,420
Transmission4,236562
Steering3,703917
Fuel system2,388589
Electrical2,0461,160
Acceleration1,755744
Airbags335649

Questions about the Ford Escape vs Toyota RAV4

Which is more reliable, the Ford Escape or the Toyota RAV4?

Between 2006 and 2025, the Ford Escape has 2 years to avoid and the Toyota RAV4 4. The Ford Escape has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Toyota RAV4 drew fewer complaints per model year (385 vs 1,157), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Escape or the Toyota RAV4?

From 2006 to 2025, the Ford Escape was covered by 80 recalls and the Toyota RAV4 by 43.

What years of the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 should you avoid?

Ford Escape: 2013 and 2017. Toyota RAV4: 2006, 2007, 2019 and 2020.

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