Ford Escape years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 26 model years of the Ford Escape by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2017, 2020, 2018, 2013, 2014 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 0 | Too new to judge |
| 2025 | 26 | 13 | 0.2 | 9 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2024 | 77 | 26 | 0.4 | 8 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2023 | 102 | 26 | 0.4 | 11 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
| 2022 | 238 | 48 | 0.7 | 19 | 7 | Typical |
| 2021 | 353 | 59 | 0.8 | 19 | 9 | Typical |
| 2020 | 1,548 | 221 | 3.1 | 23 | 20 | Most complaints |
| 2019 | 599 | 75 | 1.0 | 3 | 24 | Typical |
| 2018 | 1,823 | 203 | 2.8 | 4 | 26 | Most complaints |
| 2017 | 2,701 | 270 | 3.8 | 4 | 39 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 1,178 | 107 | 1.5 | 4 | 39 | Typical |
| 2015 | 1,135 | 95 | 1.3 | 9 | 31 | Typical |
| 2014 | 2,089 | 161 | 2.2 | 16 | 47 | Most complaints |
| 2013 | 2,757 | 197 | 2.7 | 18 | 50 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 604 | 40 | 0.6 | 2 | 38 | Typical |
| 2011 | 1,319 | 82 | 1.1 | 3 | 38 | Typical |
| 2010 | 2,130 | 125 | 1.7 | 5 | 32 | Typical |
| 2009 | 1,693 | 94 | 1.3 | 3 | 34 | Typical |
| 2008 | 2,417 | 127 | 1.8 | 5 | 72 | Typical |
| 2007 | 393 | 20 | 0.3 | 4 | 16 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 720 | 34 | 0.5 | 5 | 23 | Fewest complaints |
| 2005 | 1,584 | 72 | 1.0 | 5 | 44 | Typical |
| 2004 | 499 | 22 | 0.3 | 8 | 29 | Fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 598 | 25 | 0.3 | 9 | 44 | Fewest complaints |
| 2002 | 1,070 | 43 | 0.6 | 10 | 68 | Typical |
| 2001 | 1,027 | 40 | 0.5 | 15 | 77 | Typical |
- 20263 complaints · 2 recallsToo new to judge
- 202526 complaints · 9 recallsFewest complaints
- 202477 complaints · 8 recallsFewest complaints
- 2023102 complaints · 11 recallsFewest complaints
- 2022238 complaints · 19 recallsTypical
- 2021353 complaints · 19 recallsTypical
- 20201,548 complaints · 23 recallsMost complaints
- 2019599 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 20181,823 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 20172,701 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 20161,178 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 20151,135 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 20142,089 complaints · 16 recallsMost complaints
- 20132,757 complaints · 18 recallsMost complaints
- 2012604 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 20111,319 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 20102,130 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 20091,693 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 20082,417 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2007393 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 2006720 complaints · 5 recallsFewest complaints
- 20051,584 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2004499 complaints · 8 recallsFewest complaints
- 2003598 complaints · 9 recallsFewest complaints
- 20021,070 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
- 20011,027 complaints · 15 recallsTypical
Fewest complaints for their age: 2025, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2023, 2024, 2006.
About this comparison
What Ford Escape years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2017, 2020, 2018, 2013, 2014 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 26 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.