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Home›Ford›Ford Escape› engine problems
Owner complaints · Engine · every model year

Ford Escape engine problems, 2016–2026

4,697 of the 9,226 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Escape 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (2,082), 2018 (1,499), 2019 (403). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 manufacturer bulletins, 7 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

4,697 complaints, 11 model years 51% of everything filed about the Escape typically at 79k miles

Ford Escape engine problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the engineShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
2026250%——the year →
2025931%—18 TSBs · 2 recallsthe year →
20241517%—23 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20233526%—23 TSBs · 3 recallsthe year →
2022 in depth10829%45k27 TSBs · 4 recallsthe record →
2021 in depth9118%—41 TSBs · 5 recallsthe record →
2020 in depth19810%63k48 TSBs · 4 recallsthe record →
2019 in depth40369%72k37 TSBsthe record →
2018 in depth1,49983%86k44 TSBsthe record →
2017 in depth2,08277%77k84 TSBsthe record →
2016 in depth25523%80k45 TSBsthe record →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
4,697complaints name the engine, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 11 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 31 · 2019: 108 · 2020: 120 · 2021: 103 · 2022: 268 · 2023: 695 · 2024: 1385 · 2025: 1302 · 2026: 659

79kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 1,829 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 54,000 and 102,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

While driving 40 MPH in the city, I felt a jolt, engine was still running, but had zero gas pedal response. RPM slowly bled off as I was able to coast into a parking lot while dodging through traffic. When the jolt was felt, a "check manual" message appeared on the driver's information screen.
Engine at 34,800 miles Jun 27, 2018 NHTSA owner report
A month ago I had a check engine light that came on. It ran really rough and felt like I was going over rocks the way the SUV was running. On my phone I had an app that said there was a misfire. They fixed it saying they replaced some wires. A week ago the check engine came on again.
Engine at 23,400 miles Jan 31, 2018 NHTSA owner report
2018 Ford Escape with around 10,000 miles started having engine trouble while driving on the highway. Engine light came on and was taken directly to a Ford dealership to diagnose the issue. They stated that coolant is leaking into the cylinders. They did a coolant pressure system test and replaced a spark plug.
Engine at 10,000 miles Jun 26, 2019 NHTSA owner report
I got the vehicle back in late january early february of 2019. In april, the check engine light came on for a cylinder 3. Brought the car to get fixed on 4/25 a week after the check engine light came back on in which the Ford dealership was surprised due to the fact that 6 cylinders and sensors were fixed.
Engine at 27,000 miles Jun 5, 2019 NHTSA owner report
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.
Engine at 4,100 miles Jun 22, 2020 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

3 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the Ford Escape

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Ford Escape problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Ford Escape years have the most engine complaints?

2017, 2,082; 2018, 1,499; 2019, 403. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (83%).

Is there a recall for the engine on the Ford Escape?

Yes — 7 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V122000 (2025), 25V372000 (2025), 25V345000 (2023), 23V380000 (2023). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the Ford Escape?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 79,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 54,000 and 102,000. 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.