Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 2 NHTSA variants

2025 Ford EscapeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints for the 2025 Ford Escape. Most complaints involve electrical system (7) and engine (5). The EPA rates it 26–40 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
26–40mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
9campaigns
Latest Mar 2026
Owner complaints
26
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$1,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

9 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine and engine cooling: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 4, 2026NHTSA 26V122000

Seat belts: rear

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.

Seat beltsReported Dec 12, 2025NHTSA 25V862000

Structure: hatchback

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.

StructureReported Dec 2, 2025NHTSA 25V829000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

26 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2025 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system7
  2. Engine5
  3. Forward collision avoidance4
  4. Engine and engine cooling4
  5. Power train3
  6. Steering2
  7. Lane departure2
  8. Structure2
  9. Vehicle speed control2

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

By model year

Complaints for each Escape model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20011,027
20021,070
2003598
2004499
20051,584
2006720
2007393
20082,417
20091,693
20102,130
20111,319
2012604
20132,757
20142,089
20151,135
20161,178
20172,701
20181,823
2019599
20201,548
2021353
2022238
2023102
202477
202526
20263
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

7 reports
“I am requesting a serious investigation into potentially life-threatening steering, braking, and stability-control interventions in modern vehicles. I have experienced unexpected steering forces, directional changes, shaking, and behavior consistent with unintended wheel-specific braking across multiple vehicles, including my 2019 Toyota Prius and rental vehicles from several manufacturers. These behaviors occur on ordinary roads with uneven asphalt, pavement seams, manhole covers, and cross-slopes. I am concerned that electronic steering, stability control, wheel-speed sensors, or driver-assistance systems may be interacting incorrectly. How can these features be considered safe if their interventions can push a vehicle toward another traffic lane or into a bicycle lane? The risk is especially serious during freeway lane changes, when drivers must simultaneously monitor traffic ahead, approaching vehicles behind, blind spots, and available space. An unexpected steering or braking intervention at that moment can create a dangerous loss of control. I am also concerned that drivers may lack a meaningful way to disable certain interventions, even when they believe…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2026Steering, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11770269

Engine

5 reports
“I bought this vehicle in mid April 2026 with 9,500 miles. It has the 1.5L Ecoboost engine. I drove the car for 3,000 miles and noticed the coolant was at ‘minimum’ and wondered why a car with so few miles is using coolant. I took the car to my dealer and they confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine due to a bad head gasket. The vehicle is now at the dealer waiting on either a new head gasket or other more intensive repairs due to internal damage. I wanted to flag this because the engine is the 3rd version of this engine but the same issues as previous versions. The repair is under warranty.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2026EngineODI 11739774

Forward collision avoidance

4 reports
“I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding a systemic, life-threatening defect in the tuning of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software in modern vehicles, specifically experienced in the 2024 Ford Escape. I am a professional driver who operates vehicles for approximately 14 hours a day. My livelihood and my life depend on predictable vehicle handling. The current federal mandates surrounding un-deletable active driver assists are not protecting drivers; they are actively creating high-risk highway hazards. The Safety Defect: When encountering standard municipal road imperfections—such as sunken manhole covers, jagged asphalt seams, or road inclinations—the vehicle’s inertial (G-sensor) and lane-keeping software drastically overreacts. 1. Unprovoked Steering Redirection: The software interprets mechanical displacement from a pothole or road seam as an accidental lane drift. The vehicle then forcefully and violently applies steering torque to "correct" the lane position, throwing the vehicle toward adjacent traffic lanes. 2. Aggressive Stability Control Intervention: Upon hitting a road depression,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2026Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11769493
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · 1.5L 3-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic 8-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
EV range
560 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Escape FWD PHEV
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
423740$1,60078
Escape AWD HEV
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
423639$1,650225
Escape FWD HEV
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
423639$1,650225
Escape FWD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
273430$2,150298
Escape AWD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
263228$2,300316
Escape AWD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
233126$2,450336
  • Escape FWD PHEV
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    42 city · 37 hwy · $1,600/yr
    40
    mpg comb.
  • Escape AWD HEV
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    42 city · 36 hwy · $1,650/yr
    39
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD HEV
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    42 city · 36 hwy · $1,650/yr
    39
    mpg comb.
  • Escape FWD
    Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    27 city · 34 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Escape AWD
    Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    26 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Escape AWD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    23 city · 31 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Ford Escape Gas SUV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford Escape Gas SUV FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 20301Vehicle 20300
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2025 Escape questions

How many recalls does the 2025 Ford Escape have?

9 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2025 Ford Escape problems?

Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (7), engine (5), forward collision avoidance (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2025 Ford Escape get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Ford Escape at 26–40 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2025 Ford Escape?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2025 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026