Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact pulls the vehicle over to the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not able to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the alternator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl*- the contact stated that the 2001 Ford Escape xlt wires under the hood burned while sitting in the garage of her home. She drove the vehicle one hour prior to the fire. The alarms in her house warned her of the fire. She called the local fire department, and they found no fire in the house. They then checked the garage and they smelled something burning. The fireman opened and noticed the wires that were burning under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to town and country, and they informed her that old brake fluid leaked on the ABS, which was the cause of the wires burning. The vehicle was serviced for the ABS light coming on, and off at the local Firestone, they replaced the master cylinder . The wires burned within 24 hours of the repair. The town and country dealership gave the contact a loaner vehicle, and she felt this was odd. …
I have a 2001 Ford Escape. While staying at a hotel on vacation in marfa, tx, I was awakened by my car alarm going of at approximately 5:30 am on May 12, 2010. When I went outside to turn it off, I found smoke pouring out from under the hood. Our neighbor called 911, and the car continued to smoke until the fire department arrived. As the fire dept. Was inspecting the car, flames did appear from the ABS wiring harness and module. The fire was extinguished quickly and damage was confined to the ABS harness and module. I had received a recall notice for the ABS harness a couple of years ago, and took my car to a dealership in austin to have the necessary work performed. That work was performed on August 6, 2008. …
On October 10th, 2013, my wife and I had met for her birthday dinner at a restaurant in our town. My wife drove the 2001 Ford Escape to the restaurant, about 5 miles, from our home and parked the car. We had been at dinner for approximately 25 minutes when the waitress asked us if we drove a red SUV. We were LED to the vehicle that was on fire and in the process of being extinguished by the fire department. The fire investigator said that it looked as if the fire had started on the driver's side of the engine compartment and that nothing else looked suspicious. He pointed out that the wire insulation on that side of the engine compartment was all melted away to bare copper and that the passenger side wiring was still more intact. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic), 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling), and 14V165000 (structure, vehicle speed control). The contact did not receive any recall notifications. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. While the vehicle was parked in a residental parking space, a security guard noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. After making a second round, the guard informed the vehicle owner that the vehicle was consumed by flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was filed and the contact took pictures. The vehicle was parked and had not been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle began smoking and then caught fire. The front end of the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames. She attempted to utilize a home fire extinguisher; however, the fire would not go out. The entire front end of the vehicle was destroyed. The contact is awaiting to hear if the insurance company will classify the vehicle as destroyed. A police report was filed. She is also awaiting an investigator from the fire department to determine the origin of the fire. The fire department stated that the smell was similar to that of an electrical fire. The failure and current mileages were less than 150,000.
I went to start the car and noticed smoke coming out from under the hood and a bad smell. I opened the hood and noticed the area under the master cylinder was on fire. Luckily I had a small co2 fire extinguisher and put it out. The entire wiring harness is burned right off where it plugs into the ans module. After searching the internet it seems there is a problem with this make and model. I always wondered why I had to put brake fluid in twice per year. I hope the dealer doesn't try to rip me off and say it's not covered for some reason. They do not like to fix factory recalls.
Auto stalled while going 30 MPH on a slight incline. Auto lost all power steering and electrical. It was lucky that no one was around (early morning). We had to coast to side, and because we didn't have power steering I hit the curb pretty hard. On the way home it did the same thing at about 40 MPH. Will take this to markel Ford in omaha, ne for fix. We have 44,000 miles, and if Ford cannot get this fixed it will be time to sell. This will be my first and last Ford, if I have to pay for this fix. Now I know why my father told me to buy a Toyota.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver exited the vehicle and approximately 5 hours later the driver came outside to discover flames coming from the front end of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene to extinguish the flames. The fire marshal examined the vehicle and determined that the fire was due to an electronic failure. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 156,000.
My daughter had a 2001 Ford Escape, approx.98,000 miles, purchased used. Serviced & inspected in March of this year with no problems noted. She parked it in front of her home on April 30th after driving home from a trip to town with her 9 month old daughter. Approx. 10 minutes after entering her home, she heard a popping noise coming from outside and saw her vehicle smoking , then fully engulfed in flames. Total loss of vehicle. Fire marshal attributed to "electrical problem" some damage also to her home.
Electrical complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 136 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Ford Escape, 14% of the model year's 996 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Escape electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Ford Escape, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Escape electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 23 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.