Ford Escape 2013–2019
3rd generation · Ford C1 / Global C
NHTSA data through 12 August 202615,128 complaints, 8,278 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,347 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 39 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 13,000
- 25%
- 43,000
- Median
- 73,000
- 75%
- 100,347
- 90%
- 127,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 412 | 5.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 245 | 3.0% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 235 | 2.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 193 | 2.3% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 182 | 2.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 204 | 2.5% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 197 | 2.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 229 | 2.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 240 | 2.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 245 | 3.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 324 | 3.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 331 | 4.0% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 420 | 5.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 369 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 407 | 4.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 359 | 4.3% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 402 | 4.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 400 | 4.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 381 | 4.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 278 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 351 | 4.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 274 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 234 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 216 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 245 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 146 | 1.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 158 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 83 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 106 | 1.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 68 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 100 | 1.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 42 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 53 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 26 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 19 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 19 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 18 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 14 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 8 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 6 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 39 | 0.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 15,128 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2019 Ford Escape, and 8,278 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,347 miles. The median is 73,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (35.6% of complaints, typically around 73,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (15.1% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles), the engine and its cooling system (9.2% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles).
33 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine73,000median 72,899 miles, middle half 44,000 to 99,000
- Transmission and driveline86,000median 86,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 112,000
- Engine and its cooling system89,000median 89,100 miles, middle half 68,000 to 113,000
- Problems owners could not categorise65,000median 65,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 93,000
- Electrical system56,000median 56,500 miles, middle half 24,000 to 89,000
- Steering63,000median 63,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 95,000
- Fuel and propulsion system70,000median 69,960 miles, middle half 43,000 to 90,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5,381 | 35.6% | 73,000 | 44,000–99,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 2,283 | 15.1% | 86,000 | 60,000–112,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 1,397 | 9.2% | 89,000 | 68,000–113,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 1,141 | 7.5% | 65,000 | 39,000–93,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,020 | 6.7% | 56,000 | 24,000–89,000 |
| Steering | 704 | 4.7% | 63,000 | 37,000–95,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 605 | 4.0% | 70,000 | 43,000–90,000 |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 371 | 2.5% | 88,000 | 64,000–118,000 |
| Body structure | 321 | 2.1% | 40,000 | 16,000–63,000 |
| Wheels | 262 | 1.7% | 51,000 | 31,000–68,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 73,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 35.6% of complaints (5,381 reports, 2,326 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,899 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,000 and 99,000 miles.
A single system taking 35.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 15.1% of complaints (2,283 reports, 1,326 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 112,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 9.2% of complaints (1,397 reports, 1,257 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,100 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 68,200 and 112,513 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.5% of complaints (1,141 reports, 416 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,700 and 93,100 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.7% of complaints (1,020 reports, 626 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 89,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.7% of complaints (704 reports, 444 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,142 and 95,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 3,678 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 729. The median year sits at 2,156.
The first year of the generation, 2013, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 33 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (5), the fuel system (4), the transmission and driveline (3). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 15,128 complaints filed against this generation, 362 reported a crash; 358 reported a fire; 384 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 2.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 100,347 miles, with a median of 73,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 72,899, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2013–2014
1.6L EcoBoost: if coolant level drops, the cylinder head overheats, cracks and leaks oil onto hot exhaust components, causing underhood fires. Ford ran successive campaigns (12S45, 13S12, 17S09) culminating in fitting a coolant level sensor with warning logic.
Engine 2017–2019
1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion: coolant migrates from the block into the combustion chamber through the block-to-head interface, causing misfires, white smoke, coolant loss and eventual head cracking or engine failure.
Door Latches 2013–2015
Door latch pawl spring tab can break, so a door may appear shut but can open while driving. Multi-model Ford recall.
Fuel System 2013
Launch-year 1.6L cars had fuel line splitting and multiple other first-year recalls; the 2013 model year is an outlier in recall count even within this generation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3,678 | 2,611 |
| 2014 | 2,659 | 1,720 |
| 2015 | 1,321 | 748 |
| 2016 | 1,324 | 696 |
| 2017 | 3,261 | 1,422 |
| 2018 | 2,156 | 792 |
| 2019 | 729 | 289 |
Recalls (33)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V374000 | 2026-07-22 | Visibility:power Window Devices and Controls |
| 25V695000 | 2026-01-02 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 22V413000 | 2022-10-27 | Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod |
| 22V254000 | 2022-05-27 | Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod |
| 21V155000 | 2021-04-27 | Tires |
| 20V331000 | 2020-07-27 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 18V471000 | 2018-09-20 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever and Linkage:floor Shift |
| 18V104000 | 2018-03-14 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings |
| 17V803000 | 2018-02-02 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 17V209000 | 2018-01-05 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 17V472000 | 2017-10-25 | Seats |
| 17V398000 | 2017-08-08 | Air Bags:knee Bolster |
| 16V643000 | 2017-01-27 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 16V617000 | 2016-09-06 | Electrical System:software |
| 15V813000 | 2016-01-07 | Electrical System:wiring |
| 15V406000 | 2015-08-04 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 15V436000 | 2015-07-27 | Electrical System:ignition |
| 14V597000 | 2015-05-26 | Seat Belts |
| 15V005000 | 2015-02-27 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 14V495000 | 2014-10-06 | Electrical System:wiring |
| 14V525000 | 2014-09-15 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery |
| 14V403000 | 2014-07-16 | Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly |
| 14V239000 | 2014-05-30 | Structure:body:door |
| 14V237000 | 2014-05-30 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 14V164000 | 2014-05-30 | Seats:front Assembly:recliner |
What owners reported
My Escape likes to stall going like 10 MPH. The vehicle starts to hestistate and wont go anywhere. It stalls and like it shutting off with the oil light and the battery light comes on. I restart the vehicle and it does it again like it dont want to move. It stalls like three to four times and it would run like normal.…
2013 · Electrical system
After driving the vehicle for 7 minutes after i started it, the car overheated on the highway. I had to pull over in a parking lot and shut off the car. When i attempted to open the turn on a car after a little while it would not allow me. This same problem had happened exactly on march 16 and the dealership service…
2013 · 2 miles · Engine
While i was driving my car 40mi/hr on december 23rd, the low engine coolant fluid message came on, and about 10 seconds later, there was a message saying the engine was overheating and to pull over safely immediately. The car starting stalling and i pulled on the side of the road. After putting more engine coolant…
2013 · 2 miles · Engine
The Escape has stalled several times. First time it stalled and stopped with no indication of issue on interstate. We were able to get it moved to parking lot after several times waiting for it to start. Had car towed to mechanic. The car never stopped for him. We picked it and drove in the morning to church and back…
2013 · 3 miles · Engine
Built from 8,278 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page