2019 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

SMELL ENTERS PASSENGER CABIN FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE CATALYTIC EXHAUST FUMES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

Owner-reported narrative. 719 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184932 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. STEPS TO REPRODUCE ISSUE: KEYFOB IS INSIDE VEHICLE IN DRIVERS COAT POCKET, MOBILE PHONE IS INTERMITTENTLY CONNECTED TO VEHICLE VIA USB CORD, VEHICLE IS ON, ENGINE RUNNING, START/STOP IS ON, VEHICLE IS DRIVING THEN STOPS AT A STOPLIGHT, START/STOP ENGAGES AND IDLES ENGINE FOR AT LEAST 15 SECONDS. WHEN FOOT BRAKE IS RELEASED VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RADIO, INFOTAINMENT, ETC TURN OFF. TO RESTART VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND VEHICLE ON/OFF BUTTON PRESSED. VEHICLE RESTARTS,…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194073 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT THE CAR MARCH 20TH BRAND NEW. ON APRIL 14TH I WAS DRIVING IT HOME AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT GET IT STARTED AND WHEN I FINALLY DID IT WOULDN'T MOVE AND I COULD NOT SHUT IT OFF. THIS WENT ON FOR 2 AND A HALF HOURS. I FINALLY GOT IT HOME (DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND) AND THE NEXT MORNING (MONDAY) WE GOT IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD MONDAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ONTO THE FLATBED TRUCK. WE PUT IN A CLAIM TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203056 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND SHUT OFF AGAIN AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ISLAND FORD (3698 RT 9 SOUTH OLD, BRIDGE, NJ) AND UNKNOWN PINS WERE TIGHTENED. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE AND LATER PARKING IT, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206220 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD MY FORD ESCAPE FOR JUST OVER 30 DAYS. ABOUT TWO WEEKS INTO OWNING IT, I HAD STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE. THE START/STOP ENGAGED AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE AGAIN THE POWER TRAIN FAULT ILLUMINATED. IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST TIME, AGAIN TODAY. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IF THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU DOES NOT STOP IN TIME.

Owner-reported narrative. 736 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206365 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED THAT ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING, GAUGES, AND DISPLAY SCREENS WENT OUT. THE GAUGE NEEDLES RETURNED TO THEIR 'HOME' POSITIONS. THERE WAS AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE MAIN TOUCH SCREEN THAT SAID: NETWORK COMMUNICATION FAILURE. WORRIED, I TOOK THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT AND FOUND A PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, FIGURING THAT IF I COMPLETELY SHUT THE CAR DOWN THE SYSTEM WOULD SOMEHOW CORRECT ITSELF AFTER A 'REBOOT' OF THE THE PCM AND B…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209894 at NHTSA ↗

FORD DEALER CHECKED MY BRAKES AFTER 11000 MILES AND WAS TOLD MY REAR BREAKS WERE BAD AND IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER 10000 MILES THEN I WAS TOLD THAT'S COMMON WITH THE ESCAPES THE BREAKS DON'T LAST! I FEEL THE BRACES SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRENTY

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217753 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING A LOCAL INTERSTATE BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH, OUR NEWLY PURCHASED (3,000 MILES) 2019 FORD ESCAPE SEL SPORT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND PULL OFF THE ROAD WHILE TRAFFIC WAS WHIZZING BY US AT BREAKNECK SPEED. TURNS OUT THAT PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS HAD EITHER LOOSENED ON ITS OWN OR WAS NEVER PROPERLY SECURED FROM THE FACTORY. SO, THE SERPENTINE BELT MANAGED TO CLIP THIS WIRING HARNESS WHICH, IN TURN, PULLED THE HARNESS FROM ITS SOCKET WHILE STARTING T…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228943 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2021-03-10 (March 10, 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.

Reported: 2022-06-10 (June 10, 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 15, 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 plugged in.

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

Remedy: 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 block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.