2010 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability
3,185 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2010 Ford Escape, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 76/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Speed control leads the reports, typically around 52,500 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2010 Ford Escape sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2006–2007, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 2010 sits among all Escape years
What owners report
“The engine lost power while driving multiple times in traffic which caused a dangerous situation. There was a limited area which to pull the car off away from moving traffic. The throttle body is at fault.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
“When i began to takeoff the engine or trans hesitated badly and the "wrench" light came on and stayed on until i turned off the engine. When i restarted the engine the wrench light did not come on. Next day while driving the engine and transmission hesitated again and the wrench light came back on.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
“I have taken my vehicle multiple times for vehicle maintenance and to correct fuel system module recall only to be told the part was unavailable.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
“Suv stalls, no acceleration. Light looking like a wrench comes on when car stalls.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
“It says my car is not under the recall for the power steering assit failure but my car is doing exactly what the recall is for there is no power steering and has a message that let's us know power steering assist failure”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
“While driving my escape i lost all power steering control. Error noted was power steering assist fault.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2010 Escape
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 2,757 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 57,873 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,500 and 80,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed…
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner…
Fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss…
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND…
Fix: MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, MILAN, AND ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 27, THROUGH MARCH 26, 2010. THE PARK ROD GUIDE RETENTION PIN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT…
Federal defect investigations
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2010 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2010 Ford Escape drew 3,185 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 76/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2010 Ford Escape problems?
The top reported problems for the 2010 Ford Escape are speed control (558 complaints), engine (528), and fuel system (510).
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Escape problems show up?
Owners most often report 2010 Ford Escape problems around 57,873 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,500 and 80,500 miles.
Does the 2010 Ford Escape have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2010 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.