Problems · by component

2001 Ford Escape engine and engine cooling problems

287 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Escape cite engine and engine cooling, 28% of all 1,027 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
287
28% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle loss motive power. The contact pulls the vehicle over to the side of the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not able to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the alternator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2021Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11419367
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 14V165000 (STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTAL PARKING SPACE, A SECURITY GUARD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER MAKING A SECOND ROUND, THE GUARD INFORMED THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP IN WRITING, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2017Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesFire reportedODI 11015079
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ONE OCCASION TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10702957
“IN 2001 FORD ESCAPES A MISFIRE OCCURS AND CAUSE THE FUEL MILEAGE TO DECREASE. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER AT IDLE WHEN IT IS COLD. AFTER CHECKING MESSAGE BOARDS IT APPEARS THAT MORE THAN A HANDFUL ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND DESPITE CHANGING ANY PARTS ACCEPT THE CONNECTORS AND PCM THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. THE NUMBER OF CARS EFFECTED BY THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A COINCIDENCE AND SHOULD BE LISTED AS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10679944
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE CAUSE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE/SUSPENSION CRADLE WAS SUFFERED FROM ABNORMAL CORROSION THAT ALLOWED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION IS NOT PRESENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THEREFORE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH THE COMPONENT THAT CAUSED A PREMATURE FAILURE AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A FORD QUALITY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED THAT COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY AND DEATH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2013Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10548858
“AFTER DRIVING FOR APPX 19 MILES, STOPPED AT MY DESTINATION AND PUT CAR IN PARK. ENGINE STARTED RACING TO APPX 3000-4000 RPM. TAPPED GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE IT STOP, WHICH I COULDN'T (IT CONTINUED TO RACE FOR A FEW MOMENTS). AT THIS POINT I JUST TURNED IGNITION OFF. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10466643

Showing 6 of 287 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Remedy pending

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jul 26, 2012NHTSA 12V353000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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