2019 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability

729 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Ford Escape, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 21/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 72,000 miles.

729Complaints
21/100Trouble index
3Recalls
60,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2019 sits among all Escape years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 389 complaints (53%) · typically ~72,000 miles
“The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle hesitated and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer diagnosed the issue with a coolant leak and engine failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Escape
Transmission & drivetrain 121 complaints (17%) · typically ~64,460 miles
“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the shifter while in second and third gear. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Escape
Electrical 50 complaints (7%) · typically ~5,600 miles
“I have 11376 miles on my 3019 Ford escape and the alternator asy had to be replaced”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Escape
Other 39 complaints (5%) · typically ~8,675 miles
“Transmission failed at 59000 miles had it replaced and it’s failing again a year later”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Escape
Fuel system 25 complaints (3%) · typically ~66,500 miles
“My vehicle I’ve had for 3 months and now it won’t start and it’s from a coolant leak flooding my engine. As they called it a coolant intrusion into my engine and will cost 12k to get this fixed as I need a whole new engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Escape
Wheels & tires 23 complaints (3%) · typically ~34,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 289 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 87,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (3)

EQUIPMENT 26V011000 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. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is…

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…

POWER TRAIN 22V413000 2022

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.

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…

TIRES 21V155000 2021

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.

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…

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2019peak 226 in 20252026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2019 Ford Escape reliable?

The 2019 Ford Escape drew 729 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 21/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 2019 Ford Escape problems?

The top reported problems for the 2019 Ford Escape are engine (389 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (121), and electrical (50).

At what mileage do 2019 Ford Escape problems show up?

Owners most often report 2019 Ford Escape problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 87,000 miles.

Does the 2019 Ford Escape have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

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.