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Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Tiguan: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2026, owners filed an average of 1,136 complaints per model year about the Ford Escape and 131 about the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Side by side

Ford EscapeVolkswagen Tiguan
Model years compared2009-20262009-2026
Owner complaints20,4442,354
Complaints per model year1,136131
Recalls7839
Years to avoid201320172018
Best years20212022201420152017
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-40 mpg combined (2026)25-29 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

2009 Ford Escape: 1,6932009 Volkswagen Tiguan: 16820092010 Ford Escape: 2,0712010 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1102011 Ford Escape: 1,3202011 Volkswagen Tiguan: 16220112012 Ford Escape: 6042012 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1532013 Ford Escape: 2,7532013 Volkswagen Tiguan: 14020132014 Ford Escape: 2,0912014 Volkswagen Tiguan: 842015 Ford Escape: 1,1482015 Volkswagen Tiguan: 6220152016 Ford Escape: 1,1932016 Volkswagen Tiguan: 972017 Ford Escape: 2,7102017 Volkswagen Tiguan: 7720172018 Ford Escape: 1,8332018 Volkswagen Tiguan: 2892019 Ford Escape: 6042019 Volkswagen Tiguan: 19620192020 Ford Escape: 1,6212020 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1412021 Ford Escape: 3562021 Volkswagen Tiguan: 14620212022 Ford Escape: 2382022 Volkswagen Tiguan: 2812023 Ford Escape: 1022023 Volkswagen Tiguan: 7220232024 Ford Escape: 782024 Volkswagen Tiguan: 802025 Ford Escape: 262025 Volkswagen Tiguan: 5820252026 Ford Escape: 32026 Volkswagen Tiguan: 38
Ford EscapeVolkswagen Tiguan

Problems compared

EscapeTiguan
Engine8,132744
Transmission3,783211
Steering2,541198
Fuel system2,266202
Electrical1,848559
Acceleration1,44194
Airbags275319
Driver assistance894239

Questions about the Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Tiguan

Which is more reliable, the Ford Escape or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

Between 2009 and 2026, the Ford Escape has 2 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Tiguan 1. The Volkswagen Tiguan has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Tiguan drew fewer complaints per model year (131 vs 1,136), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Escape or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

From 2009 to 2026, the Ford Escape was covered by 78 recalls and the Volkswagen Tiguan by 39.

What years of the Ford Escape and Volkswagen Tiguan should you avoid?

Ford Escape: 2013 and 2017. Volkswagen Tiguan: 2018.

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