RoadVitals

2019 Ford Escape Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
587
Latest Sep 21, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
17
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
27

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

383
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that at cold starts, the vehicle vibrated significantly with heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine light was intermittently illuminated, accompanied by a noticeable coolant odor. A diagnostic test by the dealer confirmed that there was coolant leaking between cylinders #1 and #2, leading to total engine failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The dealer submitted a goodwill request to the manufacturer for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 43,800.

NHTSA ID 11765764 · filed Sep 21, 2026

Vehicle has coolant intrusion into cylinders verified by Ford dealer

NHTSA ID 11765000 · filed Sep 17, 2026
All 383 reports naming engine →

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

122
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My 2019 Ford Escape has the Ford 6F35 transmission and I was just informed that mine is going out and needs to be replaced by a Ford dealership service department. Since 12/2025, I have had my car in the shop 3 times. I have researched and there are thousands of issues and complaints about this transmission that is going out and Ford has not done a recall. This is an immediate high risk hazard. If driving and the transmission has mechanical failure at 65+ mph it will drop into newtral and lose all gear engagement. with the vehicle drop in speed without brake lights a high speed rear end collision could occur which could then lead to a major pile up.

NHTSA ID 11764367 · filed Sep 15, 2026

The vehicle had a transmission shutter and shakes the car. It also had a hard shift at 38mph. It happens daily, was not a one time Incentent

NHTSA ID 11763277 · filed Sep 10, 2026
All 122 reports naming powertrain (other) →

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

37
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Dash board has been flashing images and turning black and white like something is malfunctioning the automatic stop start has been inconsistently working I have issues with the lights getting dimmer while I’m driving at night and sometimes I have to manually hold the brights forward for the lights to work there seems to be something distracting me in the control paneling of the vehicle making me nervous and tired sometimes distracting my eyes.

NHTSA ID 11744278 · filed Jun 15, 2026

I am reporting the failure of Ford Motor Company to perform a mandatory safety recall (Recall 22S43 / NHTSA ID 22V413) on my 2019 Ford Escape. This failure is compounded by evidence of falsified internal service records (OASIS reports) that misrepresent the vehicle's recall status as 'completed.' ​Furthermore, the failure to perform this specific recall directly prevented a necessary diagnostic inspection of the transmission linkage and adjacent engine compartment. Had this recall been performed, the technician would have identified the progressive corrosion and mechanical stress that subsequently destroyed the high-pressure fuel pump and the Transmission Control Module (TCM). ​The manufacturer meticulously recorded routine maintenance while ignoring a critical federal safety mandate. Their negligence directly caused a cascading mechanical failure, rendering my vehicle an unsafe, non-operational hazard. I am seeking a formal investigation into these falsified service records and the manufacturer's failure to remedy this safety hazard. I attempted to resolve this manner at the lowest levels, before taking this route. Unfortunately, to their detriment; Ford basically told me I was on my own. I have already alerted the Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, as well. The subsequent loss of the vehicle as a result of the abhorrent behavior of Ford Motor company has resulted in time lost with my kids and my mental health appointments with the Veterans Administration. I can not make it to my therapist or get my medication. I have the Carfax and Oasis reports as further evidence to back these claims.

NHTSA ID 11742528 · filed Jun 7, 2026
All 37 reports naming electrical →

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

24
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Ford only showed one code P0403 tuneup with a written statement I asked for wanting 15k for a new engine and verbal;y stating I need a whole new engine. The 2019 Ford escape began to smoke heavily while driving. I put over had the car towed to Ford dealer in sandy springs. As Ford is stating that this car needs a new engine the old recall existed from years ago has expired on the VIN number 2022. Just because I made a purchase from 2024 doesn't mean the the issues have been resolved and you should be aware and know about the mechanical issues and list them remained as a recall. The 2020 model also shows major concerns in fact from 2012 to 2020 models Ford escape complaints are listed on your website repetitive recall mechanical issues unfixed or part not available should be all listed as a recalls safety of drivers. Some referred to as problematics when driving but other diagnostics showed engine transmission, now showing on Ford website is Block heater element replacement, Powertrain control module reprograming and Transmission shifter cable bushing

NHTSA ID 11750774 · filed Jul 16, 2026

I am reporting the failure of Ford Motor Company to perform a mandatory safety recall (Recall 22S43 / NHTSA ID 22V413) on my 2019 Ford Escape. This failure is compounded by evidence of falsified internal service records (OASIS reports) that misrepresent the vehicle's recall status as 'completed.' ​Furthermore, the failure to perform this specific recall directly prevented a necessary diagnostic inspection of the transmission linkage and adjacent engine compartment. Had this recall been performed, the technician would have identified the progressive corrosion and mechanical stress that subsequently destroyed the high-pressure fuel pump and the Transmission Control Module (TCM). ​The manufacturer meticulously recorded routine maintenance while ignoring a critical federal safety mandate. Their negligence directly caused a cascading mechanical failure, rendering my vehicle an unsafe, non-operational hazard. I am seeking a formal investigation into these falsified service records and the manufacturer's failure to remedy this safety hazard. I attempted to resolve this manner at the lowest levels, before taking this route. Unfortunately, to their detriment; Ford basically told me I was on my own. I have already alerted the Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, as well. The subsequent loss of the vehicle as a result of the abhorrent behavior of Ford Motor company has resulted in time lost with my kids and my mental health appointments with the Veterans Administration. I can not make it to my therapist or get my medication. I have the Carfax and Oasis reports as further evidence to back these claims.

NHTSA ID 11742528 · filed Jun 7, 2026
All 24 reports naming fuel system →

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 24, 2026

Coolant Intrusion into sccylinder one. Long block assembly required.

NHTSA ID 11735392 · filed May 3, 2026
All 16 reports naming driver assistance →

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Electric power steering failed and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The power steering unit failed while driving down a curvy highway in Kenai Burrow, Alaska. I took the vehicle to the local Ford dealer and dropped said vehicle off. The service tech stated that the 2019 Ford escape was prone to having issues with the power steering unit. The vehicle is in the shop at this time. The warning lamp came on stating that there was a problem with the power steering unit that however, happened while we were driving down the highway. This was a life-threatening incident that it could’ve caused my wife and I and any oncoming traffic to parish in a car accident. The roads were snow covered and icy

NHTSA ID 11714103 · filed Jan 29, 2026

My battery light has been on for about a week it will come off and on thos morning as I was pulling into work I notice the power steering wasn't working right!

NHTSA ID 11694579 · filed Oct 20, 2025
All 16 reports naming steering →

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

13
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report a design defect affecting serviceability and safety on my 2019 Ford Escape. On this vehicle, replacement of a standard headlight bulb requires removal of the fender assembly in order to access the headlight housing. This design transforms a routine, safety-critical maintenance item into an excessively complex and costly repair. I have had to replace a headlight twice within the past two years. The most recent replacement cost approximately $800, with the majority of the cost attributable to labor required solely because of the vehicle’s design, not due to damage or abnormal conditions. The headlight bulb itself represents only a small portion of the total cost. Headlights are a required safety component that must be replaced periodically. A design that makes replacement prohibitively expensive discourages timely maintenance and may result in vehicles being operated with failed lighting, creating a potential safety risk. I believe this represents a failure to design for serviceability and places an unreasonable maintenance burden on consumers for a basic safety function. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this design as a potential defect. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID 11706470 · filed Dec 22, 2025

he freeway I notified future ford of concord and I was told I would receive a call back but as I recall I didn’t receive a call back. The car started acting as if nothing was wrong about a week or so later then two days ago December 13,2025 first my head lights went out and a message saying there’s a bulb outage or electrical issue appeared and also the hill assist unavailable warning light appeared , following the 911 calling assistance is unavailable as well, and I also noticed my radio is no longer producing sound so I believe the engine ( block , head gasket etc) component also electrical system, sync 3 system has also failed or malfunctioned. During the second occurrence I was driving as I was before which led to The safety of my children, my husband and myself put at risk being it was night time and I could no longer see the road the car acted as if it was turning off and slowing down.. yes there was warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem during the failures, and they first appeared at the exact time of the failures . Also below are photos captured from the ford vehicle app alerting me about issues for the car

NHTSA ID 11705433 · filed Dec 16, 2025
All 13 reports naming exterior lighting →

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Defect in engine block causing coolant intrusion.

NHTSA ID 11752003 · filed Jul 22, 2026

The accident occurred while I was driving south on Highway 38 at approximately 45 mph. Another driver pulled forward into my path and did not appear to see my vehicle. I attempted to swerve to avoid a more serious collision and protect both drivers, but the front driver-side area of my vehicle struck the rear driver-side area of the other vehicle. The impact caused significant front-end damage to my vehicle, particularly on the driver-side/front corner. Despite the severity of the collision and damage, my airbags did not deploy. The other vehicle’s airbags did deploy during the crash. I am concerned that the airbag system, crash sensors, or related safety components may have failed to activate properly during the collision. Due to the speed of travel and force of impact, I believe the lack of airbag deployment placed my safety at risk and could have resulted in serious injury. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. At this time, I am requesting an investigation into why the airbags did not deploy during the crash.

NHTSA ID 11736443 · filed May 7, 2026
All 11 reports naming airbags →

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle purchased from dealer with concealed total loss history and federal/state odometer fraud. Official state title records show the odometer froze at 73,539 miles between Tennessee title issued March 2025 and Ohio title issued January 2026. Live OBD-II scanner diagnostics confirm true vehicle mileage exceeds over 86,278 miles. Vehicle was in a severe crash (December 2024) resulting in a Junk/Salvage total loss declaration at auction, later fraudulently rebranded and re-titled as Rebuilt without mandatory consumer disclosure. Vehicle has undisclosed structural and mechanical damage presenting serious safety risks.

NHTSA ID 11761195 · filed Sep 1, 2026

Rear drivers side door latch suddenly will not latch. No damage noted. Simply closed the door after leaving the house, then tried to close it 8 minutes later and it wont latch.

NHTSA ID 11748803 · filed Jul 7, 2026
All 11 reports naming body & structure →

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Was told the lugnuts were swollen when I tried to have tires rotated. The repair shop is mainly and oil repair shop. I took it to the dealership I purchased the car from and was told this is a major issue they deal with everyday and Ford has not issued a recall. I have to replace with my own money and labor costs. I have to have it done but think Ford should address this issue as if I had a flat tire somewhere in a remote area I could not get tire off with wrench provided with spare tire.

NHTSA ID 11761514 · filed Sep 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V011000 (Equipment); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated while driving. Upon inspection, the contact's husband became aware that the coolant level was abnormally low. Additionally, a diagnostic scan retrieved Diagnostic Trouble Code: P0302; indicating a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID 11754800 · filed Aug 4, 2026
All 11 reports naming other / unspecified →

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Tire size 235/45R-19 95H Vehicle began to shake and vibrate. Upon inspection both the inner and outer tread had separated from the tire. Ford dealership recommended immediate replacement of tires.

NHTSA ID 11745008 · filed Jun 18, 2026

Tire size 235/45R-19 95H Vehicle began shaking and vibrating at highway speed. Upon inspection both front tires had the outer and inner edge tread separating from the tire. Ford dealership advised all tires be replaced.

NHTSA ID 11745000 · filed Jun 18, 2026
All 11 reports naming tires & wheels →

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My battery light has been on for about a week it will come off and on thos morning as I was pulling into work I notice the power steering wasn't working right!

NHTSA ID 11694579 · filed Oct 20, 2025

Car was parked in residential parking lot overnight. This morning I noticed my vehicle had rolled forward and hit a pole and the curb, cause front left damage to the fender, wheel and wheel hub assembly, and the brakes. Call is currently under recall due to a problem with the transmission slipping out of gear

NHTSA ID 11549404 · filed Oct 11, 2023
All 10 reports naming brakes →

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Rear right passenger seatbelt came apart at the webbing. When my granddaughter tried to buckle her seatbelt it came apart in her hands. This has been confirmed by the dealer, it appears to have been severed but there has been no accidents.

NHTSA ID 11724483 · filed Mar 15, 2026

Right side rear passenger seat belt malfunction as it won't retract and when pulling it around your body there is no resistance as it just hangs loose.

NHTSA ID 11723859 · filed Mar 12, 2026

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he observed that the rear door latch was separating from the door panel. The contact stated that the door was able to open, close, and lock as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the door assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 57,598.

NHTSA ID 11566046 · filed Jan 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side interior door panel separated from the door frame, making it very difficult to open and close the door. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clamps used to secure the interior panel had failed and the door panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ID 11498367 · filed Dec 21, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

On 2/12/2026 I was driving in Gordon County, GA. I was going about 25 MPH when I hit a pothole on the right hand side of the road. It resulted in a split wheel/rim on the right front side of my vehicle. It also damaged the wheel/rim on the right hand back side, as well as breaking the shock absorber on the right back side.

NHTSA ID 11719083 · filed Feb 19, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. While the contact’s daughter was driving 65 MPH, the driver's side rear control arm fractured and detached. The contact stated that the failure occurred when the vehicle drove over a mild bump on the road, causing the entire driver's side rear wheel to detach from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that his 1-year-old grandchild was an occupant of the vehicle and was seated in the rear seat when the failure occurred. The contact stated that the daughter was able to safely drive the vehicle to a nearby Midas, where the technician stated that they did not know how the contact's daughter was able to drive the vehicle in the defective condition. The technician informed the contact that when the vehicle arrived at the shop, the driver's side rear wheel was dangling and flopping, and the rear of the vehicle was fishtailing. The contact was informed that the driver's side rear control arm had fractured in half and detached from the vehicle. The contact was informed that the driver's side rear control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact was given the detached rear driver's control arm. The contact stated that the driver's rear control arm had a crack, which indicated a previous failure. The contact stated that the failure could have caused injuries and needed to be addressed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID 11701741 · filed Nov 26, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The cowl part broken in JAN24, dealership replaced. I was told this part hold windshield and protects electrical in vehicle. March 2024, I noticed the seal on bottom of windshield wasn’t against the windshield, buckling in several spots, I contacted Ford customer service, Told to take it back to the dealership. The dealership had to order the part and didn’t have a detailed reason why the part was broken / defective, the dealership could order a new cowl part and install when part comes in.

NHTSA ID 11586353 · filed May 1, 2024

We bought this new Ford Escape at Malloy Ford in December 2019. It now has just under 21,000 miles. We have never had any prior wiper problem. Our Escape is a Titanium model with intermittent wipers that adjust automatically to whatever speed is needed to clear whatever amount of rain is hitting the windshield. On January 31, 2023, we made a trip from Falls Church, VA to our home in Slanesville, WV. The trip started out with intermittent rain, so our wipers were on – sometimes in the intermittent position and sometimes on full time at regular speed. As we passed through Winchester, VA, the rain had stopped but the wiper control was still in the intermittent position. We proceeded north on 522 and headed west on 127 toward Slanesville for several miles. At that point the wipers had not moved for a number of miles, with the control lever still in the intermittent position. Suddenly, without me touching the wiper control at all, the wipers jumped up especially quickly and especially far and stayed in the up position. The driver’s side wiper actually moved past the windshield post so the tip of the wiper was off the windshield and flapping in the wind. After remaining in this extreme up position for several seconds the wipers moved back down to the cowl and then back up to the same extreme up position where they held in place. At this point I moved the wiper control from the intermittent position to the “off” position, at which time the driver’s side wiper moved back down to the cowl and the passenger side wiper remained up in the extreme upright position. The wipers remained in these different positions for several more miles until we arrived home, and they stayed in these positions when I shut off the car. I called my mechanic who told me I could move the passenger side wiper by hand to its down position and restart the car to see what happened. When I did this the wipers stayed down at the cowl because the control was still “off.” When I moved the contr

NHTSA ID 11507769 · filed Feb 17, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated and then accelerated. The contact stated that the engine was hesitating and chugging to maintain power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired due to parts being on backorder. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11685222 · filed Sep 5, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal failed to respond. The vehicle was stalling and jerking. There were no warning lights illuminated. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed with CVT transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that if a warning light became illuminated, assistance would be provided with the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID 11643798 · filed Feb 19, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .