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2019 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

227 reports with mileage · 358 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 307 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports3 fire reports20 injury reports

What owners actually said

585 reports
8,100 miles · Feb 18, 2020
Exterior Lighting

LIGHTING ON CONSOLE AND HVAC FLICKER OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR MOVES WHEN EXCITING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11309780

9,000 miles · Feb 12, 2020
Wheels

WITH LESS THEN 10000 MILES ON THE CAR I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES BLOW SIDE WALLS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11308687

22,400 miles · Feb 11, 2020
SeatsStructureCrashInjury

WE WERE REAR ENDED FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON THE HIGHWAY. . MY FIANC WAS DRIVING AND SUFFERED WHIPLASH. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND BROKE MY BACK AND SEPARATED MY PELVIS, REQUIRING SURGERY TO STABILIZE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOW VERY SQUEAKY. CONCERNED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OR SEATBELT NOT …

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WE WERE REAR ENDED FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON THE HIGHWAY. . MY FIANC WAS DRIVING AND SUFFERED WHIPLASH. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND BROKE MY BACK AND SEPARATED MY PELVIS, REQUIRING SURGERY TO STABILIZE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOW VERY SQUEAKY. CONCERNED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OR SEATBELT NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, LEADING TO MY INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #11308450

20,000 miles · Feb 7, 2020
Engine

PURCHASED VEHICLE APRIL 2019. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HEARD COOLANT GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN ENGINE AUTO TURNED OFF AT STOP LIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SOUND WAS NORMAL. JANUARY RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD THAT MY VEHICLE NEED PCM REPROGRAMMING. DAY AFTER REPROGRAMMING I BEGAN TO RECEIVE CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS. SOON A…

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PURCHASED VEHICLE APRIL 2019. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HEARD COOLANT GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN ENGINE AUTO TURNED OFF AT STOP LIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SOUND WAS NORMAL. JANUARY RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD THAT MY VEHICLE NEED PCM REPROGRAMMING. DAY AFTER REPROGRAMMING I BEGAN TO RECEIVE CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS. SOON AFTER THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK WHEN CAR WAS NOT IN GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT LEAK IN TO VALVES. DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT I HAD LOST ALMOST ALL OF MY COOLANT. NOTE: I NEVER RECEIVED ANY WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT LOW COOLANT LEVEL. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES THAT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11307636

1,500 miles · Feb 2, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WE WERE DRIVING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD - NO LIGHTS OR POWER. CARS DRIVING AT BETWEEN 40-50 MPH WERE COMING UP BEHIND US, BUT COULD NOT SEE US BECAUSE WE COULD NOT EVEN GET HAZARD LIGHTS ON. WE WERE LOCKED IN - THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN!! AFTER SEVERAL NEAR …

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WE WERE DRIVING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD - NO LIGHTS OR POWER. CARS DRIVING AT BETWEEN 40-50 MPH WERE COMING UP BEHIND US, BUT COULD NOT SEE US BECAUSE WE COULD NOT EVEN GET HAZARD LIGHTS ON. WE WERE LOCKED IN - THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN!! AFTER SEVERAL NEAR MISSES, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A STRANGER STOP AND HE WAS ABLE TO ALERT ONCOMING CARS SO WE WOULD NOT GET HIT. ENDS UP THAT THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY WAS VERY LOOSE AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING FASTENERS OF THE BATTERY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR 5 WEEKS EARLIER, BRAND NEW WITH 11 MILES ON IT. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS AN EASY FIX, BUT MY SAFETY CONCERN WAS THE FACT THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN!!! IF THERE WAS A FIRE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED, AND WE COULD NOT GET OUT IN CASE WE WERE HIT BY THE VEHICLES COMING UP BEHIND US, WHICH CAME CLOSE A FEW TIMES!

NHTSA ODI #11306570

15,000 miles · Jan 27, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

NO CRANK TO START VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11302199

5,000 miles · Dec 14, 2019
EnginePower Train

THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND MISSING AT 75 MPH WITH ABOUT 5000 MILES ON IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I HAD 3 TROUBLE CODES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WERE. THEY REPROGRAMMED SOMETHING A GAVE ME THE CAR BACK A WEEK LATER. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I STARTED …

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THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND MISSING AT 75 MPH WITH ABOUT 5000 MILES ON IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I HAD 3 TROUBLE CODES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WERE. THEY REPROGRAMMED SOMETHING A GAVE ME THE CAR BACK A WEEK LATER. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I STARTED GETTING ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE CODE P0420. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT OR HONOR MY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT'S A US SPEC VEHICLE AND I'M IN EUROPE. I HAVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TO CLEAR THE CODE EVERY OTHER DAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORST THE SMALL DOOR THAT COVERS THE ODB PORT WON'T CLOSE CORRECTLY. I'M SURE IT WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE OPENED EVERY OTHER DAY.

NHTSA ODI #11289056

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2019
Engine

I BOUGHT MY 2019 FORD ESCAPE BRAND NEW IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, IT HAD LITTLE UNDER 25 MILES. AS OF NOVEMBER 11TH I AUTO STARTED MY CAR- WHEN I WENT TO GET IN IT WAS RUNNING FUNNY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, ON NOVEMBER 13TH THEY CALL AND TELL ME MY ENGINE IS BAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, MY CAR HAS 1…

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I BOUGHT MY 2019 FORD ESCAPE BRAND NEW IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, IT HAD LITTLE UNDER 25 MILES. AS OF NOVEMBER 11TH I AUTO STARTED MY CAR- WHEN I WENT TO GET IN IT WAS RUNNING FUNNY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, ON NOVEMBER 13TH THEY CALL AND TELL ME MY ENGINE IS BAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, MY CAR HAS 11,647 MILES ON IT & NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE FORD ESCAPES - I KNOW 3 PEOPLE NOW WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. VERY UNACCEPTABLE FOR BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR

NHTSA ODI #11281899

6,980 miles · Oct 31, 2019
Engine

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON. AN ALERT CAME UP THAT SAID AUTO STOPSTART SHIFT TO P RESTART ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11277286

7,800 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Electrical System

MY CAR BEGAN SENDING MY HUSBAND ALERTS MY CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AS THE ALERT READ THE FRONT CAMERA WAS NOT WORKING, THEN MY ABS AND SKID CONTROL LIGHTS WENT OFF AND MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO, WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING. MY CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SHUT IT OFF. EVENTUALLY I COULD SHUT IT OFF. THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS …

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MY CAR BEGAN SENDING MY HUSBAND ALERTS MY CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AS THE ALERT READ THE FRONT CAMERA WAS NOT WORKING, THEN MY ABS AND SKID CONTROL LIGHTS WENT OFF AND MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO, WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING. MY CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SHUT IT OFF. EVENTUALLY I COULD SHUT IT OFF. THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW AND IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP. WHEN I FINALLY SHUT IT OFF IT RE SET. DANGER: NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. ALERTS ALSO READ COLLISION WARNING NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11270016

Official recalls

3

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 15, 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 10, 2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

21V155000 · Tires

Mar 10, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems