Your vehicle report
2019 Ford Escape
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 599
- Received Mar 2019 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine153 complaints · 26% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion138 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips23 complaints · 3.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #26V011000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- Recall #22V413000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engineFirst signal: May 2020
- Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolantFirst signal: Feb 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 24 crashes, 3 fires, 28 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
7 more problems
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates
- Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2023 | 54 |
| 2024 | 135 |
| 2025 | 180 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 116 |
| Total | 599 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 153 | 26% | 11.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 138 | 23% | 16× | NHTSA recall #26V011000 |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 23 | 3.8% | 1.3× | NHTSA recall #22V413000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 23 | 3.8% | 1.8× | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 17 | 2.8% | 1.9× | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 14 | 2.3% | 2× | NHTSA recall #21V155000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 2.2% | 0.7× | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 12 | 2.0% | 1.3× | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 9 | 1.5% | 0.9× | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 1.2% | 0.4× | |
| Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant | 7 | 1.2% | 14.6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.9% |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 6 | 1.0% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 6 | 1.0% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 6 | 1.0% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 6 | 1.0% | 1.4× | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 5 | 0.8% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 4 | 0.7% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 4 | 0.7% | 0.3× | |
| Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates | 4 | 0.7% | – | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 4 | 0.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #26V011000January 15, 2026116,672 vehicles affected
equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
NHTSA recall #22V413000June 10, 20222,925,968 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl); power train: shift linkage/cable/rod
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
NHTSA recall #21V155000March 10, 202115,769 vehicles affected
tires
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2019 Ford Escape.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN