2021 Ford Escape Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Ford Escape. Part of Generation 4 — 2020–present.

20202022
Complaints
362
Crashes
14
Fires
11
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
52

Worst 2021 Ford Escape Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#161 complaints

STRUCTURE:BODY

#246 complaints

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Avg mileage:50,872 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#338 complaints

SERVICE BRAKES

Avg mileage:9,465 mi
Crash-related:5
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Ford Escape.

STRUCTURE:BODY
61
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
50,872
SERVICE BRAKES
38
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
9,465
ENGINE
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
4
Avg Miles
58,389
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
26,992
POWER TRAIN
24
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,895
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
36,540
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,494
STRUCTURE
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,181
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
10,000
SUSPENSION
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
41,513
SEAT BELTS
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,000
VISIBILITY/WIPER
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
BACK OVER PREVENTION
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,000
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
STEERING
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
49,750
VISIBILITY
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
121,000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
21,000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
50,246
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
AIR BAGS
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
3,000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
5,618
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
7,000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
5,000
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2021 Ford Escape

52 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~7,629,986 vehicles.

26V117000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
~604,533 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

26V117000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
~604,533 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

26V117000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
~604,533 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

26V117000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
~604,533 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

26V123000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
~889,950 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

25V829000STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
~108,762 affected

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.

25V829000STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
~108,762 affected

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.

25V685000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
~59,006 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

25V685000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
~59,006 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

25V467000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
~694,271 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.

+ 42 more recalls

Other Ford Escape Years

Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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