2021 Ford Escape: owner complaints and recalls

Owners have filed 326 complaints about the 2021 Ford Escape and NHTSA has issued 19 recall campaigns. The most-reported system is structure, named in 90 of them.

326
Complaints
19
Recalls
9
Crash reports
9
Fire reports
5
Injuries
39.9
Severity index

Severity index 39.9 - Medium. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 39.9p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2021 Ford Escape sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Ford Escape ranks 62 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 31% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.

What actually fails

StructureStructure: 90 complaints (27.6%)90 28%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 55 complaints (16.9%)55 17%Service BrakesService Brakes: 49 complaints (15.0%)49 15%Fuel SystemFuel System: 41 complaints (12.6%)41 13%GasolineGasoline: 41 complaints (12.6%)41 13%EngineEngine: 40 complaints (12.3%)40 12%Power TrainPower Train: 39 complaints (12.0%)39 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 31 complaints (9.5%)31 10%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
STRUCTURE9027.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5516.9%
SERVICE BRAKES4915.0%
FUEL SYSTEM4112.6%
GASOLINE4112.6%
ENGINE4012.3%
POWER TRAIN3912.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM319.5%

Complaints filed per year

040792021: 82022: 342023: 792024: 562025: 702026: 79 (partial year)21222379242526
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20218
202234
202379
202456
202570
2026 (year to date)79
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 4.9x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V86900010/11/2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 Escape vehicle equipped with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
21V62500010/08/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULEFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles. The fuel delivery module may leak inside the fuel tank, causing low fuel pressure which could result in an engine stall.
21V92200023/11/2021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affect braking performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle
22V14900011/03/2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Corsair and 2021-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
22V19100025/03/2022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATIONFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
22V48400007/07/2022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair, and 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate
22V85900018/11/2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
23V38000026/05/2023ENGINEFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate nea
24V33000010/05/2024POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2020-2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
24V85200008/11/2024EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply
24V95400020/12/2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM)Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
25V16500014/03/2025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 22V-859 or 24V-187. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
25V34500023/05/2025ENGINEFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be relea
25V44200027/06/2025BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2
25V46700011/07/2025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMFord 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.
25V68500010/10/2025EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERFord 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 coolan
25V82900001/12/2025STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTSFord 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.
26V11700003/03/2026VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORFord 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.
26V12300003/03/2026BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREFord 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 s
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.