NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 604 owner complaints for the 2019 Ford Escape.
Recalled components: equipment, powertrain, and tires. Most-described problem: overheating or coolant loss (254 complaints, 42%). Most-reported area: engine (324 complaints, 54%; median mileage when it happened: 61,200).
One of the best Escape years by owner complaints
The 2019 drew 71 owner complaints in its first three years, against 165 for a typical Escape year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2011 and 2013; best years: 2018, 2019, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine.
NHTSA listing: ESCAPE. Ford campaign 26S01.
Powertrain
Jun 10, 2022
automatic transmission · gear position indication (prndl)
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018C-Max,2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles.
NHTSA listing: ESCAPE. Components: Powertrain: automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl); Powertrain: shift linkage/cable/rod. Ford campaign 22S43.
On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150,2018-2020F-250,F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires.
NHTSA listing: ESCAPE. Ford campaign 21S10.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Ford Escape.
What owners report
Owners have filed 604 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Escape. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Overheating or coolant loss254 · 42%
Median 74,800 miles at failure, from 88 reports with mileage
Check engine light171 · 28%
Median 72,000 miles at failure, from 91 reports with mileage
Engine failure or replacement167 · 28%
Median 81,400 miles at failure, from 63 reports with mileage
Misfires or rough running111 · 18%
Median 74,900 miles at failure, from 34 reports with mileage
Smoke or a burning smell76 · 13%
Median 72,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Shaking, shuddering or vibration53 · 9%
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration41 · 7%
Median 72,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Transmission failure or replacement39 · 6%
Median 97,100 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Median 61,200 miles at failure, from 71 reports with mileage
Powertrain128 · 21%
Median 64,500 miles at failure, from 54 reports with mileage
Engine and cooling94 · 16%
Median 81,000 miles at failure, from 87 reports with mileage
Electrical system37 · 6%
Median 3,400 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system17 · 3%
Steering16 · 3%
Exterior lighting13 · 2%
Most named: headlights (3)
Unknown or other42 · 7%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Ford Escape recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2011 Escape drew the most (451) and the 2019 drew 71.
Owner complaints
2019: 604 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Ford Escape
Model year
Complaints
2010
2,130
2011
1,357
2012
619
2013
2,758
2014
2,091
2015
1,148
2016
1,193
2017
2,710
2018
1,833
2019
604
2020
1,912
2021
502
2022
388
2023
140
2024
90
2025
31
2026
4
Safety recalls
2019: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Ford Escape
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
2
2012
1
2013
18
2014
16
2015
9
2016
4
2017
4
2018
4
2019
3
2020
25
2021
21
2022
21
2023
13
2024
10
2025
10
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 604 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Ford Escape, the problems described most are overheating or coolant loss (254), the check engine light coming on (171), and engine failure or replacement (167). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2019 Ford Escape safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Ford Escape earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2019 Ford Escape?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Ford Escape.
How do I check if my Escape has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Ford dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ESCAPE.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.