BestCarRank

Ford ESCAPE — Years to Avoid

Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.

Avoid These Years

2013 Ford ESCAPE

3670 complaints (4588% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE, 1.6 LITER ENGINE, HAD 3 RECALLS, (TWO WERE ENGINE FIRE RELATED). ALL 3 RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, SALEM, VA. WE PICKED VEHICLE UP AFTER THIRD RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON 9/17/12. WE ASSUMED THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE CORRECTLY, AND THAT FORD'S "FIX" WORKE

2017 Ford ESCAPE

3204 complaints (4005% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. A WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON ADVISING ME THAT THE AUTO START/STOP WAS NOT WORKING AND I MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

2010 Ford ESCAPE

3182 complaints (3978% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: NO ACCELERATOR RESPONSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFTHAND TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE REVS THEN ENGINE ROARED AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TURN. DEALER SAW NO ENGINE CODES,NO NOTES,A 1.5 MILE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NOTHING,NO NOTES WITH VIN AND FORD STATED NO KNOWN ISSUES. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN? *TR

2014 Ford ESCAPE

2645 complaints (3306% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WALKED OUT AND STARTED CAR, RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, RIGHT INDEX FINGER ON STARTER BUTTON, LEFT FOOT ON OUTSIDE PARKING LOT AND LEFT HAND HOLDING CELL PHONE. AFTER STARTING CAR, CLOSED DOOR, WENT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR OVER 3-5 MINUTES, DID FIVE WEB SEARCHES BEFORE SISTER WHO WORKS I

2018 Ford ESCAPE

2070 complaints (2588% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: MY 2018 FORD ESCAPE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY PUT A MACHINE ON IT AND SAID YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE. I WENT TO SEE MY SALESMAN AND HE WAS NOT IN. I CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD HIM ABOUT MY ESCAPE. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT NOW. HE SAID THER

2020 Ford ESCAPE

2011 complaints (2514% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP COVERS WERE FOGGY ON THE INSIDE HOWEVER, THE HEADLAMPS PROVIDED ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE BULBS WERE LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLAMP COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVEN'S JERSEY CITY FORD 740 NJ-440, JERSEY CITY NEW JERS

2011 Ford ESCAPE

1871 complaints (2339% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POP COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN, POWER ASSIST MOTOR, STEERING RACK AND SHAFT WERE BEING REPLACED. THE FAILU

2015 Ford ESCAPE

1283 complaints (1604% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: PURCHASED VEHICLE 1/30/2015 AND DROVE OFF LOT WITH 3 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND HESITATING UPON ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS IN FORD REPAIR SHOP FOR 12 DAYS WITH 1200 WORTH OF PARTS REPLACED ON TRANSMISSION. PICKED UP VEHICLE WITH 810 MILES ON IT

2016 Ford ESCAPE

1248 complaints (1560% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: VEHICLE WILL CHATTER AND VIBRATE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE MODE TO GO FORWARD, EVEN WHEN TOTALLY STOPPED TO GO FORWARD. BANGS IN WHEN APPLYING GAS LIGHT OR HARD TRYING TO GET OUT OF WAY OF ON APPROACHING TRAFFIC IN STREET AND PARKING SPOTS. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN JULY 2015 STARTED FROM DAY

2012 Ford ESCAPE

792 complaints (990% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: 1. WHILE HIGHWAY CRUISING AT CONSTANT SPEED, ENGINE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO IDLE SPEED AND VEHICLE SLOWED RAPIDLY, UNTIL GAS PEDAL WAS LIFTED AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN. ENGINE HESITATED AND SURGED. PROCESSED KEPT REPEATING AT VARIABLE INTERVALS. 2. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES EXCESSIVELY ON FIRS

2019 Ford ESCAPE

700 complaints (875% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: SMELL ENTERS PASSENGER CABIN FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE CATALYTIC EXHAUST FUMES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

2021 Ford ESCAPE

426 complaints (533% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the shutt

2022 Ford ESCAPE

295 complaints (369% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V859000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The m

2023 Ford ESCAPE

146 complaints (183% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: As I was driving home with about 5 minutes to go, in my brand new (2 week old)2023 Ford Escape, I smelled something burning. I pulled over and saw smoke so I turned off the car and got out. As I got out of the car I looked under and saw fire. I got away from the car and as I did, the fire kept growi

2024 Ford ESCAPE

135 complaints (169% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illuminated without an object or vehicle being nearby. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, there wa

Safe to Buy