Is the 2019 Ford Escape a bad year?
602 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 397, 6.2× a quiet Escape year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2019 Ford Escape were filed between 50k and 91k miles. You're at 71,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 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 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 396 (66%) | 50k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 128 (21%) | 26k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 26 (4%) | 40k–89k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 37 (6%) | 2k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 16 (3%) | 6k–49k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 12 (2%) | 30k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 10 (2%) | 12k–40k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 8 (1%) | 4k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 602 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 20 report an injury · 58 say the car was towed.
133 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I am not sure if this is the best forum but I was unable to find a better way. I was informed of a recall to my vehicle.
Rear axle seems to hop & it feels like grinding of differtial & banging noise with vibration. During acceleration ( Even slowly) this occurs left or/& right axle slips & bangs, very unnerving !!!
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 71,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Ford Escape: 3
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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.
On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production. 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.
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: 123
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Ford Escape. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
Some vehicles may be equipped with a 1.5L Ecoboost engine that uses a 50-tooth variable camshaft timing…
Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine…
Neighbouring years
2018 Escape: 1,829 complaints, consider selling · 2020 Escape: 1,621 complaints, keep it.
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 2019 Ford Escape a bad year?
602 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 397, 6.2× a quiet Escape year. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2019 Ford Escape were filed between 50k and 91k miles. You're at 71,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Escape?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (396), transmission and drivetrain (128), fuel system (26), electrical system (37), steering (16). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 50k–91k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Ford Escape have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 26V-011), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-413), Tires (NHTSA 21V-155). 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.