Problems · by component

2001 Ford Escape engine problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Escape cite engine, 3% of all 1,027 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
3% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH , MY CAR STARTED SHAKING ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY , MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE THE MMUFFLER WAS FALLING OFF. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD , SHUT THE CAR OFF. OPEN THE HOOD TO FIND THE COIL LAYING ON THE MOTOR AND THE SPARK PLUG NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. CALLED A FRIEND WHO'S A MECHANIC , HE WENT N GOT A NEW SPARK PLUG , PUT IT IN AND THE CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. BECAUSE YESTERDAY COMING OFF THE PARKWAY THE CAR STARTED SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE AND MAKING NOISE LIKE THE MUFFLER CAME OFF.SO I PULLED INTO A WALMART PARKING LOT ONLY TO FIND THAT IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN ... THE SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE TWICE NOW IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. NOW THE SPARK PLUG WILL NOT GO BACK IN. WHEN WE WENT TO GET ANOTHER SPARK PLUG THE MAN AT THE PARTS STORE SAID THUS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS. THAT IS NOT EXCEPTABLE!! I HAVE TO LOSE A DAY OF WORK TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANICS SHOP. MY DAUGHTERS AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM YOU NEED TO FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2019EngineODI 11207163
“MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WITHOUT RUNNING HARD AND TICKING ONCE I GET SET PAST 3RD GEAR IT WILL RUN OKAY I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT WILL NOT STAY AND PARK IT ROLLS SO I HAVE TO PUT A BRICK UNDER THE WHEELS I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT I HAVE MISPLACED IT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT I HAD EVERYTHING WAS PLACED AND BOXES AND STUFF AND I CANNOT FIND IT IF SOMEBODY CAN PLEASE CONTACT ME BACK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I CAN GET IT FIXED AND START DRIVING MY ESCAPE AGAIN IT SHIFTS HARD IT CLUNKS AND IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE PARKING SPOT IT'S STILL ROLLS I HAVE A BRICK UNDERNEATH IT SO IT DOESN'T ROLL AND HIT SOMEBODY ELSE IF SOMEBODY COULD CONTACT ME ON THIS PLACE THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2019EngineODI 11182893
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN:07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND :12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2017EngineFire reportedODI 11024973
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE FEEDBACK EGR (DPFE) SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2016Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10908012
“DESPITE NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD, I STILL RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES ON THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WAS A CASH FOR CLUNKERS VEHICLE. I PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM AND THE VEHICLE WAS PERMANENTLY DISABLED BACK IN 2009/2010.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2016Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, EngineODI 10905032
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, STALLED, AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V175000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2016Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10884826

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.