Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 67% | — |
| 2025 | 9 | 35% | 5,000 miles |
| 2024 | 14 | 18% | 5,000 miles |
| 2023 | 32 | 32% | 5,000 miles |
| 2022 | 38 | 16% | 45,000 miles |
| 2021 | 47 | 13% | 40,000 miles |
| 2020 | 132 | 8% | 69,000 miles |
| 2019 | 391 | 66% | 71,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1,447 | 80% | 85,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1,993 | 74% | 77,000 miles |
| 2016 | 247 | 21% | 80,000 miles |
| 2015 | 273 | 24% | 83,000 miles |
| 2014 | 885 | 42% | 79,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1,426 | 52% | 79,000 miles |
| 2012 | 79 | 13% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 263 | 20% | 47,000 miles |
| 2010 | 528 | 26% | 52,000 miles |
| 2009 | 289 | 17% | 70,000 miles |
| 2008 | 120 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 2007 | 31 | 12% | 97,000 miles |
| 2006 | 68 | 15% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 220 | 16% | 103,000 miles |
| 2004 | 49 | 10% | 108,000 miles |
| 2003 | 70 | 13% | 80,000 miles |
| 2002 | 330 | 32% | 67,000 miles |
| 2001 | 309 | 31% | 50,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel, the vehicle stalled. The failure also occurred while making a turn from a complete stop. The vehicle was restarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the dealer informed the contact that no failure was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and associated the failure with the recall. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had been unable to diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the message that the engine was overheating was displayed, and the vehicle drove under reduced power. The contact exited the highway, pulled into a gas station, and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact resumed driving, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer later informed the contact that the warning light was no longer illuminated, and the failure could not be duplicated while test-driving the vehicle for an hour. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the engine misfired, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts Store, where a handheld diagnostic machine provided information that the failure was associated with a random misfire. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where DTC: P0300 and P0316 were retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began jerking and the check engine warning light started flashing. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a different dealer, where it was diagnosed and DTC P0301 was retrieved, and the contact was informed that the coil pack and spark plugs needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the wrench warning light illuminated and the message "Engine over-temperature. Service Now" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as needed upon releasing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the engine cylinder head. The dealer determined that the head needed to be replaced under Ford SSM Number: 52219; however, the part was not available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he was concerned that the repair offered by the manufacturer was only a temporary fix. …
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 55 MPH he smelled a burning odor. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot where the hood was lifted and the odor emanated strongly from the engine compartment. Additionally, he noticed sparking, and then flames erupted. The vehicle was towed to an unknown repair center. The fire department distinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,400.
As I was driving home with about 5 minutes to go, in my brand new (2 week old)2023 Ford Escape, I smelled something burning. I pulled over and saw smoke so I turned off the car and got out. As I got out of the car I looked under and saw fire. I got away from the car and as I did, the fire kept growing and growing from under the hood. The fire went high enough to hit the trees on the side of the roasd. The police and fire department came and were able to put out the fire but not before the car was distroyed. There were no warning lights or any other symtoms of a problem prior to smelling burning. The Ford company has not responded to me from the day my wife spoke to a representative on Monday, October 2nd. The car fire was on Saturday, September 30th. It's been 3 days. My insurance company was going to do an inspection. Ford wants nothing to do with us. …
The contact owned a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact heard two loud explosions, when the contact looked outside the vehicle was in flames, causing the siding of the contact's home siding to melt. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated, but the contact smelled an odor of fuel coming from the vehicle before the explosion. No one was injured and a police report was filed. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,500.
I am writing to formally demand immediate action regarding my 2022 Ford Escape, VIN [redacted] a 0% financing plan and Ford's New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Since purchase, the Escape has suffered serious safety defects, including gasoline fumes inside the cabin, burning odors, and repeated performance failures tied to the fuel system. On [redacted] and again on [redacted], the vehicle flamed up while being driven, requiring emergency intervention to extinguish. In August 2025, Ford issued Safety Recall 25S76, admitting that these vehicles may suffer fuel injector cracking, fuel leaks, and under-hood fires while being driven. Ford further admitted that no permanent repair remedy exists. The interim software update provided does not correct the defect. As a retired U.S. Army Combat Medic and Purple Heart recipient, I live with PTSD triggered by vehicle fires and explosions. …
Related recalls (9)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Oil/lubrication
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2022.
Show 4 more recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017.
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through June 2, 2013 and equipped with 1.6L engines. The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shielding, cooling and control systems, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014.
Engine and engine cooling
This is an update to a recently announced recall. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through November 26, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines, as well as certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles manufactured from February 3, 2012, through November 29, 2012, equipped with…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine for coolant system leaks and reprogram the vehicle's powertrain control module and instrument cluster with an updated calibration and overheat strategy…
Engine and engine cooling
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through August 31, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines. The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) may become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will seal the existing plug and add a secondary plug cover, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 11, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA investigations
Engine stalling
Summary:the petitioner alleges that after having the recall remedy performed on her model year (my) 2001 Ford escape, it continued to exhibit an intermittent stall condition.consequently, she petitioned the agency to examine the adequacy of the recall remedy for safety recall 04v-165.on April 5, 2004, Ford motor company (Ford) notified the agency that it would conduct a recall of 321,903 my 2001 through 2002 and…
Engine stalling
Engine stalling
Ford's and Mazda's letters to NHTSA dated April 5 and April 9, 2004, state that they will recall model year 2001-03 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles with the v6 engine built thru September 11, 2002.dealers will adjust engine calibration in the programmable control module (PCM), which in its current setting, can cause the engine to shut down if the vehicle is decelerating at speeds below 40 MPH.
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles.
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
On July 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate alleged instances of sudden stalling without warning on model year (MY) 2013 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI turbocharged engines. Complaints alleged that vehicles stalled due to engine overheating, resulting in a delayed or no restart condition.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escape years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2017 (1,993), 2018 (1,447), 2013 (1,426), 2014 (885) and 2010 (528) model years. Engine complaints make up 74% of all complaints for the 2017.
Is there a recall for Ford Escape engine problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 26V-122 (gas recirculation valve (egr valve), Mar 3, 2026); 25V-372 (engine, Jun 3, 2025); 25V-345 (engine, May 23, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Escape engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 28% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine › gasoline (295 mentions), followed by the engine (183).
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.