VehicleVerdict

Ford Escape years to avoid

The Ford Escape years to avoid are 2013, 2017, 2010, 2014, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2005, 2020, 2021 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2000 is the cleanest year on record.

35,796

Total complaints

98

Recall campaigns

2000–2026

Years covered

10

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Ford Escape NHTSA complaints by model year3,670 complaints2000: 5 complaints2001: 1,389 complaints2002: 1,397 complaints2003: 736 complaints2004: 715 complaints2005: 2,030 complaints2006: 627 complaints2007: 350 complaints2008: 2,404 complaints2009: 2,348 complaints2010: 3,182 complaints2011: 1,871 complaints2012: 792 complaints2013: 3,670 complaints2014: 2,650 complaints2015: 1,285 complaints2016: 1,258 complaints2017: 3,207 complaints2018: 2,097 complaints2019: 708 complaints2020: 2,025 complaints2021: 428 complaints2022: 298 complaints2023: 149 complaints2024: 136 complaints2025: 32 complaints2026: 7 complaints
Ford Escape NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Escape years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2013High complaint rate3,670
2017High complaint rate3,207
2010High complaint rate3,182
2014High complaint rate2,650
2008High complaint rate2,404
2009High complaint rate2,348
2018High complaint rate2,097
2005High complaint rate2,030
2020High complaints + open investigation2,025
2021Open safety investigation428

Every Escape year

YearComplaintsRecalls
202672
2025329
20241368
202314911
202229819
2021avoid42819
2020avoid2,02523
20197083
2018avoid2,0974
2017avoid3,2074
20161,2584
20151,2859
2014avoid2,65016
2013avoid3,67018
20127922
20111,8713
2010avoid3,1825
2009avoid2,3483
2008avoid2,4045
20073504
20066275
2005avoid2,0305
20047158
20037369
20021,39710
20011,38915
200050

Common questions

What are the worst Ford Escape years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Escape years to avoid are 2013, 2017, 2010, 2014, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2005, 2020, 2021. The cleanest year on record is 2000.

What is the best year for the Ford Escape?

By complaint volume, 2000 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Escape years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Ford Escape have?

Across all model years, the Escape has 98 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 35,796 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.