Ford

Escape

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD · model years 2001 to 2026

Includes Escape 2WD, Escape 4WD, Escape 4WD FFV and 11 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 152 Escape trims All Ford cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 4, below this model's typical 975; recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5.

Worst year: 2001. complaints: 996, above this model's typical 780; recalls: 13, about 2.6x this model's typical 5.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Ford Escape
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2001	4Gas	19.5	no data	$3,200	13	996	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 996, above this model's typical 780 recalls: 13, about 2.6x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 75 complaints reporting a fire: 58 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	20	no data	$3,125	8	1,027	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 1027, above this model's typical 780 recalls: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 42 complaints reporting a fire: 104 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	20	no data	$3,125	7	558	0	no data	STRUCTURE 17%, SUSPENSION 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13%
complaints: 558, below this model's typical 780 recalls: 7, above this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 31 complaints reporting a fire: 27 Score: 49 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	3Gas	19	no data	$3,300	6	499	0	no data	SUSPENSION 22%, STRUCTURE 19%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%
complaints: 499, below this model's typical 585 recalls: 6, above this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 37 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	8Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,950	4	1,572	0	no data	SUSPENSION 22%, STRUCTURE 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 1572, above this model's typical 1560 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 20 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	8Gas, Hybrid	21	no data	$2,950	3	683	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13%, POWER TRAIN 11%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 683, below this model's typical 1560 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 10 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	8Gas, Hybrid	21.5	no data	$2,900	2	378	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES 12%, POWER TRAIN 11%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 378, below this model's typical 1560 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	7Gas, Hybrid	22	no data	$2,850	3	2,417	0	no data	STEERING 42%, POWER TRAIN 13%, SERVICE BRAKES 8%
complaints: 2417, about 1.8x this model's typical 1365 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 45 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	7Gas, Hybrid	23	no data	$2,700	1	1,846	0	no data	STEERING 35%, POWER TRAIN 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%
complaints: 1846, above this model's typical 1365 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 52 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	7Gas, Hybrid	23	no data	$2,700	3	2,129	5	49	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17%, POWER TRAIN 16%, ENGINE 16%
complaints: 2129, about 1.6x this model's typical 1365 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	7Gas, Hybrid	23	no data	$2,700	2	1,354	5	48	STEERING 22%, POWER TRAIN 14%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 1354, below this model's typical 1365 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 39 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	7Gas, Hybrid	23	206	$2,700	1	618	3	42	STEERING 17%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 17%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 618, below this model's typical 1365 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	5Gas	25	170	$2,500	18	2,755	4	149	ENGINE 34%, POWER TRAIN 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 2755, about 2.8x this model's typical 975 recalls: 18, about 3.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 55 complaints reporting a fire: 90 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	5Gas	25	170	$2,500	16	2,088	2	142	ENGINE 27%, POWER TRAIN 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 2088, about 2.1x this model's typical 975 recalls: 16, about 3.2x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 41 complaints reporting a fire: 104 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	5Gas	25	170	$2,500	9	1,111	2	123	POWER TRAIN 21%, ENGINE 17%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 11%
complaints: 1111, above this model's typical 975 recalls: 9, about 1.8x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 35 complaints reporting a fire: 20 Score: 33 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	5Gas	25	169	$2,500	4	1,148	0	170	POWER TRAIN 23%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 17%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 1148, above this model's typical 975 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 10 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	6Gas	24	180	$2,600	4	2,694	0	239	ENGINE 48%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 2694, about 2.3x this model's typical 1170 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 56 complaints reporting a fire: 15 Score: 17 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	6Gas	24	180	$2,600	4	1,810	0	165	ENGINE 53%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 1810, about 1.6x this model's typical 1170 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	6Gas	24	180	$2,600	3	594	0	123	ENGINE 42%, POWER TRAIN 17%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%
complaints: 594, below this model's typical 1170 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 28 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	6Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	175	$1,825	25	1,893	3 (1 open)	275	STRUCTURE 31%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 1893, about 1.6x this model's typical 1170 recalls: 25, about 5x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 33 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	175	$1,825	21	495	3 (1 open)	212	STRUCTURE 19%, ENGINE 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 495, below this model's typical 1170 recalls: 21, about 4.2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 11 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	6Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	175	$1,825	21	381	3	157	ENGINE 20%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 381, below this model's typical 1170 recalls: 21, about 4.2x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	6Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	34.5	180	$1,850	13	134	0	186	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30%, ENGINE 15%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 134, below this model's typical 1170 recalls: 13, about 2.6x this model's typical 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	5Gas, Hybrid	30	180	$2,100	10	87	0	144	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 14%, LANE DEPARTURE 12%
complaints: 87, below this model's typical 975 recalls: 10, about 2x this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	6Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	34.5	180	$1,975	10	30	0	71	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 30, below this model's typical 1170 recalls: 10, about 2x this model's typical 5 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	30	no data	$2,250	3	4	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, ENGINE 25%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 975 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 5 Score: 89 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2001: 19.5 to 2026: 30

Owner complaints2001: 996 to 2026: 4

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Ford Escape to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.