2019 Ford Escape engine problems
403 of the 588 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 37 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 403 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 104 · 2025: 144 · 2026: 80
Half of the 157 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 50,000 and 93,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
588 complaints in all about the 2019 Ford Escape, 80 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Escape engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Driving on the highway, all of a sudden warning comes on stating, "car is overheating stop engine now." car started to shake and steering wheel started to shake. Pulled to the side of the highway. Check engine light is red. Police officer pulled aside to assist. Opens hood of the car.
My 2019 Ford Escape has less than 20,000 miles and is already having coolant leak issues into the engine. Cylinder 3 issue and the dealership is telling me that the engine will likely need to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle suddenly surged forward to the right and crashed into a utility pole. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer friendly Ford (2800 n.
Since buying my Escape brand new with 1 mile on it, it has been plagued with issues, engine shuts off while driving can be going 30 MPH or 70 MPH, while driving on the interstate at 70 bad smell from catalytic converter seeps in through vents. Passenger side tire wall blew while turning out of a parking lot.
Low coolant level previous oil change/coolant added. Rough idle cold start, P0302 2/11/2020 with again low coolant. Topped off coolant 2/11/2020 dropped off at dealership 2/23/2020 again coolant level low. Apparently this is very common and engine replacement is only remedy. Very damaging to vehicle value
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications37 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 52335 Service bulletinMar 6, 2024
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to b
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0300 P0316 P1299 P0217 P1285 P0302 P0303 P0012
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Ford Escape names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Ford Escape
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 125 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2019 Ford Escape?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 403 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (69% of everything owners filed about it), and 37 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2019 Ford Escape?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2019 Ford Escape?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 72,000 miles; half of them between 50,000 and 93,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.