Ford Escape: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
27,581 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ford Escape, model years 2000 to 2026. 14 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2013 (engine 22×); 2017 (engine 31×); 2014 (engine 14×, transmission 8.7×); 2010 (engine 8.2×, transmission 9.2×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2007, 2006, 2004. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 EscapeFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 0 | |
| 2001 Escape | 995 | engine 4.5×, transmission 2.3× | 15 | |
| 2002 Escape | 1,027 | engine 4.9× | 10 | |
| 2003 Escape | 558 | quiet: 4 of 19 | 9 | |
| 2004 Escape | 499 | quiet: 3 of 19 | 8 | |
| 2005 Escape | 1,394 | engine 3.3× | 5 | |
| 2006 Escape | 464 | quiet: 2 of 19 | 5 | |
| 2007 Escape | 254 | quiet: 1 of 19 | 4 | |
| 2008 Escape | 1,974 | transmission 6× | 5 | |
| 2009 Escape | 1,693 | engine 4.5×, transmission 5.5× | 3 | |
| 2010 Escape | 2,071 | engine 8.2×, transmission 9.2× | 5 | |
| 2011 Escape | 1,319 | engine 4.1×, transmission 4.9× | 3 | |
| 2012 Escape | 603 | quiet: 6 of 19 | 2 | |
| 2013 Escape | 2,752 | engine 22× | 18 | |
| 2014 Escape | 2,089 | engine 14×, transmission 8.7× | 16 | |
| 2015 Escape | 1,143 | engine 4.3×, transmission 5.2× | 9 | |
| 2016 Escape | 1,180 | transmission 5.8× | 4 | |
| 2017 Escape | 2,707 | engine 31× | 4 | |
| 2018 Escape | 1,829 | engine 23×, transmission 5× | 4 | |
| 2019 Escape | 602 | engine 6.2×, transmission 2.3× | 3 | |
| 2020 Escape | 1,621 | — | 23 | |
| 2021 Escape | 355 | — | 19 | |
| 2022 Escape | 238 | — | 19 | |
| 2023 EscapeFEW REPORTS | 102 | — | 11 | |
| 2024 EscapeFEW REPORTS | 78 | — | 8 | |
| 2025 EscapeFEW REPORTS | 26 | — | 9 | |
| 2026 EscapeFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 2 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Ford models
Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022