2019 Ford Escape Driver assistance Problems

1. The sensor on the backup camera doesn't often detect someone behind the vehicle. This has occured for the last couple of years. 2. The hatch has also started to short out, popping open when the car is off, refusing to unlock etc. I heard my hatch make the latch sound and then got down the road a bit and it was open about a foot. I could have hurt someone. I can't get into my trunk about 50%og the time now. I have to do a series of locking and unlocking before I press the hatch button. I'm concerned it's not truly latching and then unlatching when I turn off my vehicle. There is the potential that items could fall out of the back causing injury to others. It is very concerning and I know this has been reported in other models of the Ford Escape. I've been dealing with this for about a month now. It should be covered by a recall.

NHTSA ID

11739839

Incident

May 24, 2026

Coolant Intrusion into sccylinder one. Long block assembly required.

NHTSA ID

11735392

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

Coolant intrusion into Cylinders 2 and 3.

NHTSA ID

11707065

Incident

Dec 23, 2025

Car operated fine until it suddenly started running rough, then lost power/accelleration while driving down a busy state highway. Ford Dealership found what the service manager called "catastropic engine failure, caused by coolant instrusion." He showed us the whole process of coolant corruption of our Ford Escape's engine -- and the engineering flaw that caused the intrusion. Service manager explained that our 2019 Ford Escape model was "the Problem Child of Ford Motor Company." The loss put our daughter, alone, stranded on the side of a 55 mph 2-lane highway in a car with only 57,000 miles. It put other highway drivers at risk as well. We had no warning that something was wrong with the car. The check engine light came on AT the time of the incident. That is, when the car started feeling rough and wouldn't accellerate, the check engine light came on Car and mechanics who repaired it are all available upon request. Also please see attached repair invoice from Richardson Ford.

NHTSA ID

11701328

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was black, almost causing the vehicle to strike a pedestrian. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the speedometer and fuel gauge readings were inaccurate, and the hatch had failed to open intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the dealer, where unknown repairs were performed; however, the failures persisted. The contact also stated that the Auto START/STOP system was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11663356

Incident

May 28, 2024

Mileage

78,000 mi

Electric power steering failing at 35000 miles

NHTSA ID

11656174

Incident

Apr 21, 2025

My 2019 Ford Escape Eco Boost Titanium vehicle is currently loosing antifreeze at an alarming rate. I had the error codes read and I have four. The first, P0303, states cylinder #3 is misfiring. The second, P0141, says the heater in 02 sensor is taking too long to warm up. The third, P0016, states the camshaft position A correlates to bank 1 and finally, P04DB, says the crankcase ventilation system in the vehicle is disconnected. From what I have read online the system that is failing is that there is an engine coolant leak. I am fine providing the car for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and my family is at risk because should I not keep the coolant filled and full Ford states that the vehicle engine may overheat, catch fire, damage the pistons, and possible misfires while driving. I reported the issue to Ford via their social media link X (twitter) on March 16, 2025 but I will also be calling the Ford contact phone number tomorrow, March 17. I hope to have the vehicle or component inspected by the manufacturer soon but based on the complaints online I am one of many having this failure on my vehicle. My engine warning light came on about 2 months ago but when I had it read for error codes at that time it only stated the code, P0141, the heater in 02 sensor is taking too long to warm up. At that time I called Ford service to see how I could get it repaired and was told that even though I had previously had the error codes read they would start by charging me $250 to read the error codes.

NHTSA ID

11648592

Incident

Jan 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the transmission was previously replaced by the same local dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11598366

Incident

Jun 27, 2024

Mileage

88,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the tailpipe. While driving, the vehicle was slow to respond. Additionally, the contact’s son, who is a mechanic, informed her that there was water entering the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the vehicle was built with the wrong engine. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine was a long-block engine and should be a short-block engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11556418

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

Mileage

75,000 mi

On 9/14/23 after starting car parked on level surface, I placed car in Drive, but it went in Reverse. The vehicle was supposedly repaired for Safety Recall Notice 22S43 by dealer. I placed car back in park, then shifted back to Drive and it moved forward as expected. Later in day while my wife was driving, she experienced difficulty in disengaging cruise control and when she tapped brakes, vehicle began spinning 360 degrees, slid sideways off interstate, and auto was totaled. Upon impact the right, rear passenger door was unlocked and somehow opened on its own ejecting passenger. Vehicle is currently in salvage yard at IAA Odgen, 1800 S 1100 West, Ogden, UT 84401. I don't know if the faulty transmission had anything to do with accident, but it seems like today we drive computers and not a mechanical motor vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11546899

Incident

Sep 14, 2023

I was driving along in a Eagle Grove. Iowa when my Escape's collision assist was shut off, then the traction control light started to come on and off. i tried to shut it off with a button but it wouldn't listen. Also my engine acted like it was dying I could only go about 5 miles per hour. I found a parking lot, pulled in and shut the car off hoping the computer would reset. I waited a bit, tried the Escape and everything was fine. I drove off. This Escape was in a car crash in Feb.2021 the brakes failed and my son was driving we hit another SUV. Now I wonder if someone shut off our brakes. I am scared now, I think someone is trying to harm me.

NHTSA ID

11428498

Incident

Aug 7, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER FRIENDLY FORD (2800 N. TELEGRAPH RD, MONROE MI.) THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. *JS

NHTSA ID

11318594

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

Mileage

500 mi

I SUBMITTED THIS COMPLAINT ON 3/08/2020. THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED WHEN THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD MY CAR TOWED INSPECTED THE CAR. THEY FOUND THAT I HAD INSTALLED A WEATHERTECH FLOOR MAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND HAD OVERLAPPED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MAT OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAD SNAPPED THE MAT FIRMLY IN PLACE SO THAT IT WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED WHEN THE FLOOR MAT WAS REMOVED AND INSTALLED PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11316979

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

3,889 mi

CAR ACCELERATED FROM 25 TO 75 MPH WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON ACCELERATOR. CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, STOPPED AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM ANY SPEED WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO CONTROL MY SPEED ON A WINDING, NARROW, ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS. I COULD ONLY CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE CAR BY RIDING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES OVERHEATED. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT 5,000 RPM. I CAME TO A STOP, THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT 4,500 RPMS. PUSHED THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE LEXINGTON, VA FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11316885

Incident

Mar 8, 2020

Mileage

3,889 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PRE-COLLISION ASSIST FEATURE MALFUNCTIONED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING CLOSE TO OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TWO FEET FROM THE PRECEDING VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. ALSO, THE FEATURE ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO RANDOM OBJECTS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SUCH AS TRASH CONTAINERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE MARSH FORD(12415 S. 1ST ST, MILAN, TN) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SAFETY FEATURE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,957.

NHTSA ID

11251927

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

4,957 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING MALFUNCTIONED. THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BRAKED SUDDENLY ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO VEHICLES NEARBY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE BRAKES ACTIVATED AGAIN WITH NO VEHICLE NEARBY. SUMMERVILLE FORD (9700 DORCHESTER RD, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29485, (843) 873-3550) COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DROPPED OFF THE KEY AND WAS PROVIDED AN ULTIMATUM OF GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR GETTING A NEW VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID

11245674

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

500 mi