2022 Ford Escape Problems and Complaints

Crossovers have become the most popular form of transportation within the automobile industry. And the sharp surge in demand for crossovers started around 2000 following when all the major carmakers across the globe came up with their version of crossovers to appeal to the mass market. With the sharp rise in the sales of crossovers along with their ever-increasing demand, other vehicle types such as sedans, hatchbacks, and compact city cars have been reeling under the declining sales figures. Crossovers have been offering a near-perfect blend of utility and comfort since their inception and with time, it got even better with more and more features coming as standard along with the crossovers getting more compact for absolute ease of driving within the city limits. Even if you wish to venture off the roads for adventure purposes, there are vehicles such as the Ford Bronco Sport offering some commendable off-roading prowess in its segment. Among the crossovers, the subcompact and the compact types have slightly more demand than the full-size and the mid-size ones owing to their easier maneuverability and fuel efficiency, qualifying them for a perfect city driving companion. 

The US car brands such as Ford and General Motors have a solid presence in this market segment with a wide portfolio of vehicles. The Ford Escape has been hustling in the segment since its launch in 2000 and is still among the top preferences for an average buyer in the segment. Being around for about two decades now, the Ford Escape stands in its fourth-generation model at present. The 2022 Ford Escape comes with some minor changes in terms of its features and remains majorly unchanged. Powering the SUV is a basic 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged I-4 motor that is good for 181 horsepower along with 190 lb-ft of torque. The Escape is also available in a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid variant and they get a bigger 2.5-liter naturally aspirated motor combined with an electric motor. The vehicle carries a base price tag of $25,555 that puts it to direct competition with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Hyundai Tucson.

Ford Escape user complaints and problems

A mainstream vehicle with high sales volume should be reliable to give its customers a hassle-free experience with the vehicle along with having absolute peace of mind too. Ford, in the recent past, has not been able to maintain the consistency as well as the quality control part. And it is evident from a huge number of Ford’s vehicles facing serious issues, mostly with their safety systems, electronics, and powertrain. The Ford Escape, despite being a popular vehicle in its segment has been ridden with issues even before getting into its current fourth-gen model. The Ford Escape coolant leak problem was the most complained issue in the 2018 Escape models. The 2019 Ford Escape engine problems also had a majority of coolant leak issues along with other problems such as transmission and misfiring problems as well. 

Engine problems

• Coolant leak: This has been the most notorious and cumbersome problem with the Ford Escape since its third-gen model. The issue crept into the fourth-gen model too however, the number of vehicles getting affected was lesser as compared to the previous generation. All the complaints stated that the cooling system of the engine would leak coolant and the engine would burn the coolant, leading to a variety of problems ranging from a misfire, white smoke, loss of power, to sudden stalling as well. In several cases, after repeated repairs the coolant leak issue recurred and the manufacturer was unable to provide any permanent fix.
• Transmission issues: Alongside the infamous coolant leak issue, the Escape was affected by transmission issues too. The issues were present from the third-gen model onwards while it worsened by the time the fourth-gen model was introduced. The 2018 models faced complete transmission failures while the 2019 and 2020 models faced multiple issues such as the transmission shifting to neutral randomly, causing the engine to stall, transmission slippage, and transmission oil leakage. 
• Engine catching fire: The 2021 Ford Escape faced two complaints regarding this problem. Both the complaints stated that the affected vehicles were destroyed completely by fire. One complaint states that while driving, black smoke started to come out from under the hood along with the engine coolant warning light coming on. Shortly after the vehicle was pulled over to a safe location, the fire from the engine destroyed it. Another complaint also stated that the engine caught fire shortly after there was black smoke coming out from under the hood.

Safety problems

• Airbags failing to deploy: Almost all the model years of the Escape have a handful of complaints regarding this issue and it is quite common with other modern vehicles too. All the reports stated that in an event of a crash, the airbags failed to deploy or a partial deployment would happen.
• Brakes failing: Several complaints regarding the brakes of the Ford Escape were recorded by the NHTSA. Most of them state that the brakes would fail randomly, leading to a crash. Some more detailed complaints stated that the brake pedal would get extremely hard, making it impossible to brake when needed. Sometimes, restarting the vehicle would solve the problem but posed a serious safety concern for the affected vehicles.

Electrical problems

• Multiple systems failure: Electrical system malfunctions have been another nemesis of the Escape. There were several complaints recorded regarding the electrical systems of the vehicle from the 2018 model year to 2021. A majority of the issues were such where, while driving, the vehicle would show multiple system error messages such as power steering, hill start assist is not available. During the incidents, it was also quite hard to control the vehicles too, since the power steering system also stopped working more than partially.
• Complete shutdown of vehicle: This issue was also recorded alongside the above ones. Here, the reports stated that while driving, the vehicle would just shut down randomly and in most cases, the wiring harness caused the issue. In some instances, after repeated repairs, the problems kept on recurring.

2022 Ford Escape recalls

Considering the rather troublesome track record of the Escape as per the NHTSA reports, the vehicle cannot be termed as a completely reliable one. The Ford Escape coolant leak recall never happened even though it was quite a serious one and even the latest 2021 model had some problems with the cooling system of the affected units. However, the brand did issue several recalls that covered a majority of the reported complaints such as the transmission issue and the airbags failures. Still, the electrical system problems are yet to receive specific recalls. 

Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Component Affected	Recall Issue	Explanation
December 18, 2017	17V803000	AIR BAGS	Inflator Component may Detach During Deployment	If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
February 12, 2018	18V104000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	Incorrect Brake Hoses may Chafe	A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
March 10, 2021	21V155000	TIRES	Tire Failure may Cause Sudden Air Loss	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.
August 28, 2019	19V633000	SEATS	Reduced Seat Back Strength/FMVSS 202 & 207	A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
July 17, 2020	20V415000	AIRBAGS	Side Curtain Air Bags May Not Properly Inflate	In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during airbag deployment, the curtain airbag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
September 10, 2020	20V550000	POWER TRAIN	Missing or Loose Bolts on Start/Stop Accumulator	Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
September 23, 202	20V575000	VISIBILITY	Distorted or Inoperative Rearview Camera/FMVSS 111	Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
October 15, 2020	20V635000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES	Tire Pressure Monitoring System Malfunction	Low tire pressure may lead to poor vehicle handling and a possible loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
January 15, 2021	21V011000	POWER TRAIN	Inadequate Lubrication In Rear Drive Unit	If the rear-drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
August 10, 2021	21V625000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	Fuel Delivery Module May Leak	An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
November 23, 2021	21V922000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	Reduced Braking Performance/FMVSS 135	During certain situations, the driver may have to apply more brake pedal force, and the distance required to stop the vehicle may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash.

What model year of the Ford Escape to avoid?

The Ford Escape might pose as an appealing option in the segment yet, its poor reliability history holds it back from attaining higher success rates. Both the 2018 and 2019 Ford Escape engine problems render them a no-go from the used car markets while the 2020 models are also best avoided owing to some of the underlying problems being present from the previous model years. 

Should you buy a used Ford Escape?

No, buying a used Ford Escape might prove to be a seriously bad decision given its troubled reliability aspect. Sure, the SUV is offered with several strengths such as multiple choice of powertrains, a spacious carbon, a comfortable ride quality, and user-friendly in-cabin controls. But it seems that Ford is yet to iron out the major and previously-reported issues such as the coolant leak and the electrical system malfunction problems. Hence, you can opt for other alternatives in the segment such as the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Tucson.

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