UsedScore

2019 Ford Escape: Best bet

Owners filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 0.4× the rate of a typical Escape year. That's among the fewest of any Escape year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (41% of complaints, median 27,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Escape year
Rank
1st of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
154
first five years; 62 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
3
campaigns
3rd generation, 2013–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Ford Escape SE 4WD

Photo: 2019 Ford Escape SE 4WD · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine41% · 63 complaints · median 27,000 miles
  2. Powertrain27% · 41 complaints · median 29,000 miles
  3. Electrical12% · 19 complaints · median 3,000 miles
  4. Air bags3% · 5 complaints
  5. Seats and belts3% · 4 complaints
  6. Brakes5% · 8 complaints · median 11,000 miles
  7. Speed control3% · 4 complaints
  8. Wheels and tires6% · 10 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  9. Steering5% · 8 complaints
  10. Body and structure3% · 5 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners of this Escape describe sudden loss of power or complete shutdowns while driving, sometimes paired with dashboard and camera glitches or warning lights. Many say dealers struggled to find or fix the cause, and a few mention a transmission-related recall.

Warning signs:
Many mention warning lights (powertrain, ABS, ESC, network communication), a dark speedometer/gauges, dimming lights, or engine idling roughly before the shutdown.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the problem, though some replaced alternators, tightened wiring connections, or replaced modules like the BCM.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 20,000 miles, among 17 complaints that give it

“All instrument panel lighting, gauges, and display screens went out. The gauge needles returned to their 'home' positions.”

“the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several warning lights illuminated”

Engine

Many 2019 Escape owners report coolant leaking into the engine, causing misfires, stalling, overheating, and white exhaust smoke, often diagnosed as needing an engine or short-block replacement. Some owners mention technical service bulletins or customer satisfaction programs related to coolant intrusion, but say their vehicle wasn't covered or repairs weren't completed.

Warning signs:
Many report a check engine or overheating light, rough idle, misfiring, shuddering, stalling, white smoke from the exhaust, and low or empty coolant reservoirs.
What shops did:
Dealers most often diagnosed coolant intrusion or engine failure and said the engine or short block needed replacement, though many report the vehicle was left unrepaired or repairs did not resolve the issue.
Mileage:
most between 50,000 and 90,000 miles, among 139 complaints that give it

“there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders”

“coolant had intruded into the engine block and the engine needed to be replaced”

Powertrain

Owners of this Escape commonly report transmission and powertrain trouble, from stalling and rough shifting to the vehicle rolling away in park. Repairs often involve replacing the transmission, torque converter or flex plate, though some owners say parts were backordered or dealers denied coverage.

Warning signs:
Owners report jerking, shuddering, hesitation, abnormal grinding, clanking or whining sounds, warning lights such as check engine or transmission fault, and loss of power while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed transmission, torque converter, flex plate or transmission pump failures and replaced parts, though some owners say parts were unavailable, repairs were denied under warranty, or the issue could not be duplicated.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 95,000 miles, among 54 complaints that give it

“the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The contact heard an abnormal sound and the vehicle lost motive power and stalled.”

“the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V011000January 2026116,672 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied.

  • NHTSA 22V413000June 20222,925,968 vehicles

    Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod · Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 21V155000March 202115,769 vehicles

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 128 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2019 Escape. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSM 54601 · February 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code.
  • TSB 25-2570 · November 2025This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure.
  • SSM 54366 · November 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
  • SSM 52335 · March 2024For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and…
  • SSM 51838 · August 2023In various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable.
  • SSM 51409 · March 2023Some 2014-2020 Fusion and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles may be equipped with a 1.5L Ecoboost engine that uses a 50-tooth variable camshaft timing (VCT) intake and exhaust unit from the assembly plant or…
  • TSB 22-2322 · August 2022Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit low coolant level, white…
  • SSM 50975 · July 2022Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPass®/LincolnWay® app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode.

All 2019 Escape bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2019 Ford Escape reliable?
Owners filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 0.4× the rate of a typical Escape year. That's among the fewest of any Escape year. Ratings compare Escape years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2019 Escape problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (41%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27%) and the electrical system (12%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2019 Ford Escape been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Ford Escape, the most recent in January 2026 (equipment). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2019 Ford Escape on NHTSA.gov · How we rate