2021 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 21 NHTSA recalls and 380 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Ford Escape
The 2021 Ford Escape shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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21
NHTSA Recalls
21 recalls on record
380
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
10
Crash Reports
9 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford Escape (21)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: A dealer will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. The owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump: Control/Drive Module
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. Interim notification letters (remedy not available) were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 14,…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper
During certain situations, the driver may have to apply more brake pedal force, and the distance required to stop the vehicle may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake pads, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Oil/Lubrication
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18,…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety…
🔧 Engine
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
🔧 Equipment: Other: Labels
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Showing 10 of 21 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford Escape
Based on 380 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford Escape VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2017, 2018, 2020 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford Escape
Is the 2021 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford Escape has 21 recall campaigns and 380 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Escape have?
The 2021 Ford Escape has 21 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford Escape are: Structure, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Fuel System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2021 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 21 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2017, 2018, 2020.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.