Is the 2007 Ford Escape a bad year?
254 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Escape years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Ford Escape are in line with other Escape years. Brakes and speed control stand out for this year: see below.
1st quietest of 19 Escape years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Escape owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 54,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 47 (19%) | 42k–91k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 40 (16%) | 46k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 44 (17%) | 44k–114k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 30 (12%) | 52k–102k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 23 (9%) | 51k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 12 (5%) | 29k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (4%) | 40k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 31 (12%) | 66k–116k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Suspension | 19 (7%) | 70k–141k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 18 (7%) | 70k–140k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 15 (6%) | 88k–144k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 7 (3%) | 60k–125k miles · ahead | — |
| Wheels | 6 (2%) | 55k–120k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Tires | 8 (3%) | 19k–43k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 54,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 254 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Feb 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
A piece in the shifter assembly is defective causing the key to get stuck in the ignition, and instead of Ford replacing that one piece they suggest you replace the shifter assembly which is at least 400.00 vs maybe 50.00.
O/d light came on suddenly. Was driving at 40MPH. I could feel it dropping out of gear, being slow to accelerate and it would rev periodically.
My son was driving home from work. Put the car in park to stop and clean the windows and when he put it back into gear it would not go, engine just revved.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 54,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Ford Escape: 4
The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in.
The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width. Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
These seat covers are made of heavier thread and are not compatible with seats containing side airbags. The heavier seat cover could interfere with full deployment of the airbag in the event of a crash. An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 8
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Ford Escape. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles equipped with a 6F50 transaxle , with any output shaft speed (Oss) sensor or turbine shaft speed…
If there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration
There is excessive engine or exhaust noise, or an exhaust odor due to an exhaust leak
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Tire valve cracking
Neighbouring years
2006 Escape: 464 complaints, keep it · 2008 Escape: 1,974 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford Escape year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Escape years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2007 Ford Escape a bad year?
254 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Escape years. At 54,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Ford Escape?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (47), speed control (40), transmission and drivetrain (44), electrical system (30), fuel system (23).
How many recalls does the 2007 Ford Escape have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 15V-606), Suspension (NHTSA 15E045000), Hybrid system (NHTSA 14V-526), Equipment (NHTSA 10E043000). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.