Ford Escape years to avoid
More than twice the Escape's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Ford Escape years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Ford Escape complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Ford Escape problems
All model years combined.
- Engine9,321
- Transmission4,667
- Steering3,950
- Fuel system2,574
- Electrical2,531
- Acceleration2,299
- Body2,297
- Brakes1,357
- Suspension1,145
- Driver assistance973
- Airbags617
- Visibility603
Most reported problems on the Ford Escape
Check engine light 3,528Stalling 2,900Loss of power 1,604Fire or smoke 831Transmission failure 794Hesitation 610ABS 549Won't start 303Door locks 286Ball joint 280Sudden acceleration 258Adaptive cruise 246Fuel smell 226Airbag light 218Brake failure 196Wipers 164
Ford Escape problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 3 | Electrical | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | - | 26 | Engine | 5,000 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | - | 78 | Driver assistance | 14,000 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2023 | - | 102 | Electrical | 23,106 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 86 | 238 | Fuel system | 36,000 | 19 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 2021 | 84 | 355 | Body | 39,000 | 19 | 9 | Fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 56 | 1,621 | Body | 45,000 | 23 | 20 | |
| 2019 | 83 | 602 | Engine | 64,420 | 3 | 24 | |
| 2018 | 56 | 1,829 | Engine | 80,851 | 4 | 26 | |
| 2017 | 42 | 2,708 | Engine | 70,000 | 4 | 39 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 72 | 1,188 | Transmission | 78,000 | 4 | 39 | |
| 2015 | 69 | 1,143 | Transmission | 77,000 | 9 | 31 | |
| 2014 | 46 | 2,090 | Engine | 75,000 | 16 | 47 | |
| 2013 | 37 | 2,753 | Engine | 75,000 | 18 | 49 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 83 | 604 | Fuel system | 57,000 | 1 | 38 | |
| 2011 | 70 | 1,319 | Steering | 57,000 | 2 | 38 | |
| 2010 | 53 | 2,071 | Acceleration | 59,950 | 3 | 29 | |
| 2009 | 61 | 1,693 | Steering | 90,000 | 1 | 34 | |
| 2008 | 54 | 1,974 | Steering | 100,000 | 3 | 59 | |
| 2007 | 89 | 254 | Brakes | 71,600 | 2 | 15 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 84 | 464 | Acceleration | 83,000 | 3 | 16 | |
| 2005 | 66 | 1,394 | Suspension | 105,000 | 4 | 40 | |
| 2004 | 80 | 499 | Suspension | 108,001 | 6 | 29 | |
| 2003 | 74 | 558 | Body | 90,000 | 7 | 43 | |
| 2002 | 62 | 1,027 | Engine | 86,000 | 8 | 66 | |
| 2001 | 62 | 996 | Engine | 75,500 | 13 | 76 | |
| 2000 | - | 5 | Airbags | 64,500 | 0 | 1 |
Recalls 95
Compare the Escape
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Questions about the Ford Escape
What years of the Ford Escape should you avoid?
2013 and 2017. Each has more than twice the Ford Escape's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2013 alone has 2,753, mostly about engine and transmission.
What is the best year for a used Ford Escape?
2022, 2007 and 2021 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (238, 254 and 355).
What is the most common problem with the Ford Escape?
Engine, with 9,321 complaints across all years, followed by transmission (4,667) and steering (3,950).
How many recalls does the Ford Escape have?
95 recalls between 2000 and 2026. The 2020 model year has the most, with 23.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used Ford Escape?
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