Ford Escape Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Ford Escape years to avoid are 2017, 2018, 2016: the 2017 alone has 2,691 NHTSA owner complaints and 249 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2020 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-10-13 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,110 | 128 | 9 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 1,146 | 176 | 4 | — |
| 2017AVOID | 2,691 | 249 | 4 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 1,806 | 173 | 4 | — |
| 2019 | 594 | 128 | 3 | — |
| 2020BEST | 0 | 268 | 23 | — |
| 2021 | 349 | 200 | 19 | — |
| 2022 | 234 | 151 | 19 | — |
| 2023 | 100 | 175 | 11 | — |
| 2024 | 76 | 138 | 8 | — |
| 2025BEST | 30 | 68 | 9 | — |
| 2026 | 4 | 17 | 2 | $30,974 (14 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Ford Escape problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Ford Escape are engine, power train, engine and engine cooling, back over prevention. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2017 Ford Escape: 2,691 owner complaints, 249 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, engine and engine cooling, power train.
2018 Ford Escape: 1,806 owner complaints, 173 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, engine and engine cooling, power train.
2016 Ford Escape: 1,146 owner complaints, 176 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: power train, back over prevention, engine.
2025 Ford Escape: cleanest recent federal record (30 complaints, 68 bulletins).
2020 Ford Escape: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 268 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Ford Escape?
Based on federal records, the Ford Escape years to avoid are 2017, 2018, 2016: the 2017 alone has 2,691 NHTSA owner complaints and 249 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2020 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Ford Escape?
Among recent model years, the 2025 and 2020 Ford Escape show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Ford Escape reliable?
The Ford Escape's reliability varies by model year. Across 8,140 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2017, 2018, 2016 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2025 and 2020 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Ford Escape?
The most-reported problem areas for the Ford Escape are engine, power train, engine and engine cooling, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Ford Escape before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.