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2025 Ford Escape

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

39 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls3 critical 10

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 31

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 40 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2025 Ford Escape is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escape FWD PHEV, is EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Ford Escape — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Ford Escape (2001 generation) · Photo: Elise240SX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
Active	Gas	FWD	—	180 hp	199 lb-ft	30 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	17 in
Active	Gas	AWD	—	180 hp	199 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	17 in
ST-Line	Gas	FWD	—	180 hp	199 lb-ft	30 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	18 in
ST-Line	Gas	AWD	—	180 hp	199 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	18 in
ST-Line Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	—	192 hp	155 lb-ft	39 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	18 in
ST-Line Select Hybrid	Hybrid	AWD	—	192 hp	155 lb-ft	39 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	18 in
ST-Line Select	Gas	AWD	—	250 hp	280 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	18 in
ST-Line Elite Hybrid	Hybrid	AWD	—	192 hp	155 lb-ft	39 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	19 in
ST-Line Elite	Gas	AWD	—	250 hp	280 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	19 in
Platinum Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	—	192 hp	155 lb-ft	39 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	19 in
Platinum Hybrid	Hybrid	AWD	—	192 hp	155 lb-ft	39 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	19 in
Platinum	Gas	AWD	—	250 hp	280 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	37.5 cu-ft	19 in
PHEV	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	—	210 hp	155 lb-ft	101 mpg	5	34.4 cu-ft	18 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Escape FWD PHEV	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl + 78 kW DCPM	42	37	40 (65 MPGe blended)	37 mi electric	33	3.4 h	$1,700
Escape AWD HEV	Hybrid	4WD (part-time)	2.5L 4-cyl + 216V Li-Ion	42	36	39	—	—	—	$1,700
Escape FWD HEV	Hybrid	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl + 216V Li-Ion	42	36	39	—	—	—	$1,700
Escape FWD	Gas	FWD	1.5L 3-cyl turbo	27	34	30	—	—	—	$2,250
Escape AWD	Gas	AWD	1.5L 3-cyl turbo	26	32	28	—	—	—	$2,400
Escape AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	31	26	—	—	—	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 48663, 48609, 48601, 48602, 48608, 48607.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Escape AWD HEV, Escape FWD HEV, Escape FWD PHEV	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV20 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 20	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Escape AWD, Escape FWD	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Escape AWD	6 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

New-vehicle warranty

Source: manufacturer press kits, make-level

Basic 3 yr / 36,000 mi Powertrain 5 yr / 60,000 mi Roadside 5 yr

As stated in Ford's press kits for the 2025–2026 model years (8 kits); this model year's own kit states no warranty terms, so the make's are shown. Confirm the term for this car with the dealer.

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Recalls (10)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

26S10

47,804 vehicles 39% reported repaired built Nov 14, 2024 – May 14, 2025

Problem 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. Risk An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Fix 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. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V122000 reported Mar 3, 2026 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Electrical System

25SC4

25,237 vehicles 43% reported repaired Plug-in hybrid only

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. Risk Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V091000 reported Feb 17, 2026 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Seat Belts

25C68

780 vehicles 69% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened. Risk An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V862000 reported Dec 12, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Structure

25SD6

108,762 vehicles 15% reported repaired built Dec 2, 2024 – Apr 1, 2025

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle. Risk A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V829000 reported Dec 1, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Service Brakes, Hydraulic

25SC6

2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jun 17, 2025 – Jun 17, 2025

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Maverick and Escape vehicles. The cover for the electric brake booster's ECU may cause the printed circuit board to overheat and result in a loss of vehicle stability control systems (anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and traction control) or a loss of brake power assist. Risk Loss of vehicle stability control or brake power assist can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the electric brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 17, 2025.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V787000 reported Nov 14, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Engine

25S61

404 vehicles 74% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. Fix 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. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V372000 reported Jun 3, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Electrical System

25S52

6,781 vehicles 57% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in. Risk An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V343000 reported May 23, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Back Over Prevention

25C08

4,721 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Dec 10, 2024 – Jan 17, 2025

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Escape vehicles. The rearview camera may incorrectly display an inverted image when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An inverted rearview camera image will not accurately display what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C08.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V161000 reported Mar 14, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Electrical System

25C02

298 vehicles 97% reported repaired built Dec 6, 2024 – Dec 13, 2024

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305. Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C02.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V049000 reported Jan 31, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

24C38

15 vehicles 87% reported repaired built Sep 5, 2024 – Sep 5, 2024

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Fix Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V850000 reported Nov 8, 2024 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Escape

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ford publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Ford’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2025 Ford Escape, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

31complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

2.3 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 132,053 Escape built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 7 · 2026: 24

Most-cited components

Electrical System 10

Engine 9

Forward Collision Avoidance 7

Unspecified 6

Power Train 3

Lane Departure 2

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The digits no longer display on the speedometer gauge of the electronic dashboard. Digits on the high voltage battery discharge and charging gauge also do not display. Given those failures, I have concerns about warning lights that may not be working. The lack of proper speed indication increases the possibility of a collision.

Electrical System Aug 2, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11754326

I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding a systemic, life-threatening defect in the tuning of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software in modern vehicles, specifically experienced in the 2024 Ford Escape.

Forward Collision Avoidance Oct 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11769493

I am requesting a serious investigation into potentially life-threatening steering, braking, and stability-control interventions in modern vehicles. I have experienced unexpected steering forces, directional changes, shaking, and behavior consistent with unintended wheel-specific braking across multiple vehicles, including my 2019 Toyota…

Steering Oct 10, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11770269

The audible sound to let the driver know the blinker is on is too low of a volume to hear. This has created situations where the blinkers are activated, but the driver doesn't know. This could lead to accidents in lane changing, intersections and confusion for pedestrians

Exterior Lighting Sep 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766433

Several spots on the body are misaligned which could indicate underlying assembly issues down to the frame which could impact crumple zones and safety

Structure Sep 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11763917

On XXX at approximately 2:45pm MDT I was traveling on XXX in . I had approximately a quarter tank of gas. I received a low fuel alert, stating 50 miles to empty. My plan was to stop at the next exit approximately 10 miles away.

Fuel/Propulsion System Aug 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11757994

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Ford itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 3.0 per 100,000 built. Every Escape model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 92

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-14

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 73 service bulletins, 11 over-the-air updates, 8 others

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System.

TSB 26-2442 Service bulletin
2026-10-14 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen after welcome animation. The rear-view camera will still function when shifting the vehicle to reverse under these conditions.
SSM 55221 Service bulletin
2026-10-06 · Power Train
For 20222026 vehicles equipped with a 8F35 transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer reported transmission concerns and aids in locating the proper root cause. During diagnosis and testing, details regarding whether the condition is more prevalent when t
SSM 55211 Over-the-air update
2026-10-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System
2023-2026 Escape and 2025-2026 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may require removal of the turbocharger wastegate control actuator linkage for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-04 Fuel Charging and Controls - Turbocharger - 1.5L EcoBoost > Removal and Installation > Wastegate Control Actuator Linkage service procedure has been added. In addition, the
TSB 26-2428 Service bulletin
2026-09-29 · Power Train
This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble
TSB 26-2428 Service bulletin
2026-09-29 · Electrical System
This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble
TSB 26-2092 V2 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Structure — Body
This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a headliner rattle or sagging condition around the roof opening panel. This may be due to the adhesive separating f
TCU-26.2.12.2.2 Mach E, F Over-the-air update
2026-09-16 · Electrical System
Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail
ECG-26.2.12.3 Bronco,Esca Over-the-air update
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1285 P1285 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	4 bulletins
P1299 P1299 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	4 bulletins
P2450 P2450 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0300 P0300 on Ford →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Unknown Or Other · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0301 P0301 on Ford →	Cylinder 1 is misfiring.	Unknown Or Other · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0302 P0302 on Ford →	Cylinder 2 is misfiring.	Unknown Or Other · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0303 P0303 on Ford →	Cylinder 3 is misfiring.	Unknown Or Other · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0304 P0304 on Ford →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Unknown Or Other · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0316 P0316 on Ford →	Misfire in the first seconds after start-up.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
U2016 U2016 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
B118C	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	2 bulletins
B118D	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.32%

failed the safety inspection

3,114 initial inspections of 3,094 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Escape	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0.32%	0.36%	3,113
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.22%	0.16%	3,114
Miles driven a year	7,169	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	10,595	12,194	odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Compare the 2025 Escape with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2025 Toyota RAV4 · Compact SUV · grade B	Escape +9.2
2025 Tesla Model Y · Compact SUV · grade B	Model Y +26.9

Escape by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 C 3 4 40 mpg 2025 this page F 10 31 40 mpg 2024 F 10 88 39 mpg 2023 F 13 138 40 mpg 2022 F 21 384 41 mpg 2021 F 21 497 41 mpg 2020 F 25 1,905 41 mpg 2019 C 3 596 26 mpg 2018 D 4 1,821 26 mpg 2017 C 4 2,701 26 mpg 2016 D 4 1,167 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2025 Escape

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Ford Escape have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 10 recall campaigns for the 2025 Ford Escape, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V091000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Ford Escape?

NHTSA gave the 2025 Ford Escape 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (39/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Ford Escape?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Ford Escape, the best EPA combined figure is 40 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Ford Escape?

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Ford Escape, most often about electrical system, engine, forward collision avoidance. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2025 Ford Escape?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Ford Escape runs 6 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV20, California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 20, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Ford Escape?

The manufacturer has filed 92 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Ford Escape, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-10-14. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2025 Ford Escape do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Ford Escape failed the safety inspection on 0.32% of first inspections — close to the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Is the 2025 Ford Escape better than the 2025 Toyota RAV4?

The Ford Escape wins clearly, 93.1 to 83.9, on tech & comfort, fuel & range. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on safety and performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Ford Escape against the 2025 Toyota RAV4 — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	10	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	31	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	5 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	92	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	13 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2025 Ford Escape

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

New-vehicle warranty

The cheapest ownership win

Recalls (10)

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System

Seat Belts

Structure

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Engine

Electrical System

Back Over Prevention

Electrical System

Air Bags

Whether any of this applies to one specific Escape

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2025 Ford Escape

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed the safety inspection

Compare the 2025 Escape with

Escape by model year

Common questions about the 2025 Escape

Does the 2025 Ford Escape have any recalls?

How safe is the 2025 Ford Escape?

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Ford Escape?

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Ford Escape?

How clean is the 2025 Ford Escape?

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Ford Escape?

How does the 2025 Ford Escape do at state inspection?

Is the 2025 Ford Escape better than the 2025 Toyota RAV4?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method