Ford Escape Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 8,556 of the 23,571 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford Escape (36.3%) name the engine, 1.9× the median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2017, 2018 and 2013.
Engine complaints
8,556
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
36.3%
of 23,571 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
12
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Escape engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 231 | 9.6% | 5 | — | 22 |
| 2009 | 315 | 17.1% | 4 | — | 23 |
| 2010 | 541 | 25.4% | 4 | — | 27 |
| 2011 | 267 | 19.7% | 8 | — | 31 |
| 2012 | 81 | 13.1% | 4 | — | 26 |
| 2013WORST | 1,429 | 51.8% | 80 | 26V01100013V58300012V55100012V431000 | 55 |
| 2014 | 887 | 42.4% | 87 | 26V01100017V209000 | 47 |
| 2015 | 273 | 23.8% | 15 | 26V011000 | 46 |
| 2016 | 249 | 20.9% | 10 | 26V011000 | 45 |
| 2017WORST | 2,002 | 74% | 18 | 26V011000 | 84 |
| 2018WORST | 1,456 | 79.6% | 11 | 26V011000 | 44 |
| 2019 | 399 | 66.1% | 4 | 26V011000 | 33 |
| 2020 | 197 | 10.7% | 3 | 25V68500025V34500023V38000022V48400022V191000 | 27 |
| 2021 | 58 | 15% | 7 | 25V68500025V34500023V38000022V48400022V191000 | 22 |
| 2022 | 110 | 28.4% | 7 | 25V68500025V34500023V38000022V48400022V191000 | 13 |
| 2023 | 37 | 26.4% | 2 | 25V37200025V34500023V380000 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 | 16.7% | 0 | 25V372000 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 | 29% | 0 | 26V12200025V372000 | 14 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Ford Escape engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 8,556 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford Escape years to avoid for the engine
2017 Ford Escape
2,002 engine complaints (74% of the year's 2,707). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 26V011000.
2018 Ford Escape
1,456 engine complaints (79.6% of the year's 1,829). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recall 26V011000.
2013 Ford Escape
1,429 engine complaints (51.8% of the year's 2,757). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recalls 26V011000, 13V583000, 12V551000, 12V431000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford Escape years to avoid.
Ford Escape engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Ford Escape model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V122000 · 2026-03-04 · 2025 models
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- 26V011000 · 2026-01-16 · 2013–2019 models
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- 25V685000 · 2025-10-10 · 2020–2022 models
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- 25V372000 · 2025-06-04 · 2023–2025 models
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
- 25V345000 · 2025-05-23 · 2020–2023 models
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 components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- 23V380000 · 2023-05-27 · 2020–2023 models
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 components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- 22V484000 · 2022-07-07 · 2020–2022 models
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 components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- 22V191000 · 2022-03-25 · 2020–2022 models
The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
- 17V209000 · 2017-03-27 · 2014 models
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 leak oil.
- 13V583000 · 2013-11-25 · 2013 models
The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.
- 12V551000 · 2012-12-03 · 2013 models
Coolant system leaks may cause the engines to overheat and leak flammable engine fluids.
- 12V431000 · 2012-09-04 · 2013 models
The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) may become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 2,002 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Escape, 74% of all 2,707 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (1,579 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 26V011000. 18 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2018 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 1,456 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Escape, 79.6% of all 1,829 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (1,193 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 26V011000. 11 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2013 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 1,429 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape, 51.8% of all 2,757 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (811 complaints). 4 engine-related recalls cover it: 26V011000, 13V583000, 12V551000, 12V431000. 80 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ford Escape years have the most engine complaints?
2017 (2,002), 2018 (1,456) and 2013 (1,429), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford Escape engine problems?
In the 8,556 engine complaints, owners most often describe overheating or coolant loss (56.4%), misfire or check-engine light (37.2%) and engine failure, seizure or replacement (28.5%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford Escape model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration