VehicleVerdict

Ford Escape years to avoid

The Ford Escape years to avoid are 2013, 2017, 2010, 2014, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2020, 2005, 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.

36,295

Total complaints

98

Recall campaigns

2000–2026

Years covered

10

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Ford Escape NHTSA complaints by model year3,681 complaints2000: 5 complaints2001: 1,389 complaints2002: 1,397 complaints2003: 736 complaints2004: 715 complaints2005: 2,030 complaints2006: 627 complaints2007: 350 complaints2008: 2,405 complaints2009: 2,349 complaints2010: 3,185 complaints2011: 1,878 complaints2012: 792 complaints2013: 3,681 complaints2014: 2,663 complaints2015: 1,344 complaints2016: 1,348 complaints2017: 3,275 complaints2018: 2,170 complaints2019: 737 complaints2020: 2,111 complaints2021: 461 complaints2022: 313 complaints2023: 154 complaints2024: 139 complaints2025: 34 complaints2026: 7 complaints
Ford Escape NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Escape years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2013High complaint rate3,681
2017High complaint rate3,275
2010High complaint rate3,185
2014High complaint rate2,663
2008High complaint rate2,405
2009High complaint rate2,349
2018High complaint rate2,170
2020High complaints + open investigation2,111
2005High complaint rate2,030
2021Open safety investigation461

Every Escape year

YearComplaintsRecalls
202672
2025349
20241398
202315411
202231319
2021avoid46119
2020avoid2,11123
20197373
2018avoid2,1704
2017avoid3,2754
20161,3484
20151,3449
2014avoid2,66316
2013avoid3,68118
20127922
20111,8783
2010avoid3,1855
2009avoid2,3493
2008avoid2,4055
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, 2020, 2005, 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 36,295 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.