2010 FORD ESCAPE

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    throttle and pedal

    14 stranded, 530 unsafe, 2 broken

    546
    incidents
    Typical range: 41,000–65,000 mi

    Median 51,000 mi, based on 1022 reports (3% had no usable mileage)

    • "NO ACCELERATOR RESPONSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFTHAND TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE REVS THEN ENGINE ROARED AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TURN. DEALER SAW NO ENGINE CODES,NO NOTES,A 1.[REDACTED ADDRESS] SHOWED NOTHING,NO NOTES WITH VIN AND FORD STATED NO…"~4,292 mi, complaint #801026
    • "GOING AROUND A TURN, THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESTARTED IT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND THE PART…"~41,200 mi, complaint #1011397
    • "MY SON WAS DRIVING TO A SCHOOL EVENT SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND THE THROTTLE POSITION LIGHT CAME ON. HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND IT SAID THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE WAS STUCK OPEN, BUT WHEN I S…"~51,235 mi, complaint #1012870
    • "I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 53, DOING 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLESPEED, BUT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. ALSO THE WRENCH LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WHERE BOTH ON. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF…"~65,842 mi, complaint #1026562
    • "DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWING, TRAFFIC WAS CLEARING AND EVERYONE ACCELERATING BACK TO SPEED AND I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED AND MY ESCAPE JUST DIED. TRIED TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT KEPT DYING WHEN ATTEMPTING…"~599,611 mi, complaint #1007744
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    34 stranded, 235 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    270
    incidents
    Typical range: 43,000–73,500 mi

    Median 54,500 mi, based on 506 reports (5% had no usable mileage)

    • "I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LET COOL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THEN DROVE IT ABOUT 20 MILES IT DIED AGAIN. LET IT COOL AGAIN AN IT DID THIS 4 TIMES BEFORE GETTING TO DEALER. THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON AUG 9 2013 BUT WOULD NOT START. DEAL…"~3,600 mi, complaint #1006873
    • "VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUT OFF AT 60 MPH. HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR TO GET POWER. *JS"~43,500 mi, complaint #1012020
    • "VEHICLE STALLED. MECHANIC SAID THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST ME 350."~55,000 mi, complaint #1294360
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR…"~72,958 mi, complaint #1071074
    • "CAR WOULD REDUCE SPEED ON ITS OWN NO WARNING,ALMOST GOT REARENDED AT A SPEED OF 55 DUE TO MY CAR LOSING SPEED EVEN HAS I WAS GIVING IT GAS. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER DID IT AGAIN TOOK TO A SHOP ON MAY 6 2014 AND THEY REPLACED A TBI UNIT SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON…"~440,000 mi, complaint #1062820
  3. #3

    steering electric assist

    180 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    181
    incidents
    Typical range: 86,500–144,000 mi

    Median 112,000 mi, based on 179 reports (31% had no usable mileage)

    • "PURCHASED 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT ON 12-12-09. ON MONDAY, 12-14-09 POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND LIGHT FOR STABILIZER CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. CAR WAS HARDLY DRIVABLE AND EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. DEALERSHIP STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NEWLY COMPUTERIZED TH…"~500 mi, complaint #751553
    • "THE OUTLINED RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. DESPITE THIS, THIS PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. I AM UNSURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. AS POWER STEERING IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE.…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1650847
    • "WHILE DRIVING THE 2010 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING TO SUDDENLY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT."~111,156 mi, complaint #1727617
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULTY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC W…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1618362
    • "I PARKED MY CAR AND ONCE TRIED TO DRIVE THE NEXT DAY,I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TO HARD."~576,000 mi, complaint #1416225
  4. #4

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 stranded, 134 unsafe

    135
    incidents
    Typical range: 41,500–63,000 mi

    Median 51,000 mi, based on 224 reports (5% had no usable mileage)

    • "DRIVING ON [REDACTED ADDRESS] AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. WE (CHILDREN AND MYSELF) WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A SEMITRUCK COMING UP FROM BEHIND US HAVING NO IDEA THAT MY AUTO LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. ENGI…"~17,000 mi, complaint #983961
    • "CRUISING AT 60MPH. WITHOUT WARNING, CAR SLOWS, THROTTLE UNRESPONSIVE. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON. CAR DID NOT STALL, BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE. COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD, DODGING TRAFFIC. PUT CAR IN PARK, RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. AS OF OCT 7,…"~41,620 mi, complaint #1014292
    • "DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 55-60MPH WHEN THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. HIT THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN CAR OFF. POWER, LIGHTS, & A/C WERE STILL WORKING, BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WRENCH/CHECK…"~51,430 mi, complaint #987146
    • "I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE I-5 SOUTH IN CARLSBAD CA WHEN SUDDENLY THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL THROTTLE, PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS IN THE THIRD LANE AND HAD TO COAST BACK TO…"~63,214 mi, complaint #1050770
    • "I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED AND LOST POWER. THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS NOTHING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO "LOPE" AND THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE…"~114,000 mi, complaint #1121525
  5. #5

    glass and windshield

    67 unsafe

    67
    incidents
    Typical range: 14,000–69,000 mi

    Median 40,500 mi, based on 85 reports (13% had no usable mileage)

    • "THE REAR WINDOW ON OUR 2010 FORD ESCAPE SHATTERED WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. WE PURCHASED THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 5, 2009. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 90 DAYS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 900 MILES ON IT. IT IS USED WITHIN A 10 MILE RADIUS OF OUR HOME WITH VERY LITTLE EXPRESSWA…"~850 mi, complaint #762022
    • "MY HUSBAND WAS STANDING BESIDE MY FORD ESCAPE WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE REAR GLASS JUST EXPLODED AS HE STOOD THERE. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE WHOLE WINDOW BLEW OUT. IF HE HAD BEEN STANDING ANY CLOSER, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT BY GLASS OR IT COULD…"~12,000 mi, complaint #827760
    • "LIFTGATE WINDOW GLASS SHATTERED WHEN THE HATCH WAS CLOSED WITH NORMAL FORCE. STUFF LOADED IN THE BACK WAS NO HIGHER THAN 12" OFF THE FLOOR AND NOWHERE NEAR WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FACING SOUTH, AND HAD BEEN THERE ABOUT 90 MINUTES. INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOU…"~43,800 mi, complaint #972322
    • "MY CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE AND WE WERE UNLOADING BAGS FROM THE TRUNK. A FRIEND CLOSED THE TRUNK (NOT JUST THE WINDOW, THE ENTIRE DOOR) WHEN THE BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED SHOOTING SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE GROUND, MY CAR AND THE PEOPLE STAN…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1142714
    • "REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN I CLOSED THE LIFTGATE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY! WASN'T SHUT HARD, ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SLAM ONE OF THESE LIFGATES. THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GLASS."~152,000 mi, complaint #1525623
  6. #6

    transmission automatic

    4 stranded, 59 unsafe

    63
    incidents
    Typical range: 14,500–82,000 mi

    Median 45,500 mi, based on 82 reports (19% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND SUDDENLY, THERE WAS HESITATION AND A VIOLENT JERKING MOTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUT…"~864 mi, complaint #908359
    • "TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR FEELS LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO YOU. DOES IT A COUPLE TIME A MONTH BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BREAK SOMETHING IT CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON YOU PUTTING IT IN D OR R. IT ALSO HAS STARTED SLAMMING INTO…"~15,357 mi, complaint #943607
    • "TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT [REDACTED ADDRESS] IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. NOTICE SUDDEN DROP IN POWER AND VEHICLE STARTS COASTING! PRESSING ACCELERATOR ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING. "MONKEY ICON" ICON APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS RIDING MY BU…"~48,000 mi, complaint #987295
    • "WHILE DRIVING ON [REDACTED ADDRESS], THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SUDDENLY APPEARED TO DOWNSHIFT DROPPING MY SPEED APPROX. BY 20 MPH, THEN LURCHED AT 50 MPH UNTIL I PULLED OFF ON THE SHOULDER. THIS WAS ON A UNLIT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I…"~82,000 mi, complaint #1115945
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled forward. Additionally, the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle would jump forward while driving.…"~235,000 mi, complaint #1828498
  7. #7

    power steering hydraulic

    55 unsafe

    55
    incidents
    Typical range: 85,500–143,500 mi

    Median 124,000 mi, based on 47 reports (23% had no usable mileage)

    • "2010 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED AWD, BUILD DATE 10-29-2009. POWER STEERING FAILED DURING LEFT TURN, NEARLY CAUSING A SIDESWIPE CRASH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. QUICK REFLEXES AND BRAKING PREVENTED THE CRASH. CAR HAD BEEN RUN…"~32,500 mi, complaint #868048
    • "POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN ARRIVING TO JOB SITE AS I PULLED IN THE DASH BOARD FLASHED POWER STEERING FAULT AND THAT WAS IT NO MORE POWER STEERING. NOTICED THAT ON THE WAY TO WORK HAD A GHOAST STEERING THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED ON ITS OWN IT TWETCHED ON OWN 50…"~92,977 mi, complaint #1522173
    • "WHEN CAME OUT OF STORE AND STARTED THE TRUCK THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE HAD ME LOOK FOR THE FILL RESERVOIR FOR THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK THE BELT. HE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A CLOSED SYSTEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES S…"~124,000 mi, complaint #1212773
    • "POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. CANISTER PURGE VALVE AND ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED."~151,300 mi, complaint #1557488
    • "MY VEHICLE HAD A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT RECALL IN 2014, NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V284000., FORD RECALL # 14S05. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO FORD IN AUGUST 2104 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SENSOR JUST CAME BACK ON . I DO NOT HAVE ANY…"~260,000 mi, complaint #1471729
  8. #8

    fuel tank and lines

    1 stranded, 41 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    45
    incidents
    Typical range: 64,000–119,000 mi

    Median 80,000 mi, based on 51 reports (37% had no usable mileage)

    • "WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT AND ABOUT A QUART OF FUEL LEAKS FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS LEAK DOES NOT COME FROM A SPILLAGE AT THE PUMP HANDLE AND FILLER TUBE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I REFUEL. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DANGEROUS FIRE H…"~19,215 mi, complaint #902452
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND A SMOKE TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER LOCATED A LEAK IN THE SYSTEM WITH THE…"~70,480 mi, complaint #961520
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the garage, fumes entered the garage and into the house. The contact had to park the vehicle outside. There were no warning lights illuminated. The cont…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1965437
    • "CAP LESS FUEL SYSTEM INDICATES FAILURE ON WARNING SYSTEM. AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE ENGINE WARNING ELUMINATES."~119,000 mi, complaint #1319074
    • "WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A FUEL LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE RISK FOR OUR 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH THE LI I4 ENGINE MANUFACTURED AT THE CLAYCOMO, MISSOURI, PLANT. THERE HAS BEEN FUEL ODOR SINCE SEPTEMBER, 2019 UPON APPROACHING THE VEHICLE. AS OF THIS WEEK, IN ADD…"~197,000 mi, complaint #1652361
  9. #9

    hv system fault reduced power

    3 stranded, 37 unsafe

    40
    incidents
    Typical range: 47,000–67,000 mi

    Median 58,000 mi, based on 60 reports (2% had no usable mileage)

    • "ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED SEEMED NORMAL BUT REPEATED AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. NO TROUBLE CODE OR IDIOT LIGHT IS ON. *TR"~19,575 mi, complaint #977365
    • "WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AROUND 70MPH WHEN CAR WENT INTO A "LIMP" MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT PERFORMED AS NORMAL AND NO WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE WEEK AT VARYING SPEED…"~47,000 mi, complaint #995905
    • "THE CAR ENTERED INTO FAILURE MODE EFFECTS MANAGEMENT (FMEM) MODE OR LIMP MODE WHEN IT WAS ON HIGH WAY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) OR WRENCH LAMP WERE BOTH ON THE DASH. THE POWER AND VEHICLE SPEED WAS GETTING REDUCED,EVEN WHEN I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE T…"~56,015 mi, complaint #1086270
    • "I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ABOUT TO ENTER THE BELTWAY AND I STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS A RED LIGHT. I PRESSED THE GAS AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. THIS WRENCH SYMBOL SHOWED UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN MY CA…"~64,990 mi, complaint #994006
    • "MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH THE ETB WHICH IS PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE. THIS ISSUE WAS INVESTIGATED ON A NUMBER OF FORD VEHICLES IN 2014 AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART OF THE THROTTLE BODY, HOWEVER HYBRID VEHICLES WERE OM…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1672383
  10. #10

    corrosion and rust

    32 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    33
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=23, median 110,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS RUSTED, WHEN PAINT REMOVED PIN HOLES THROUGHOUT METAL--DEFECTIVE METAL. ENTIRE QUARTER PANELS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO RUST ON LIFT GATE. *JS"~28,000 mi, complaint #912208
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CHASSIS WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHIC…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1727252
    • "CORROSION OF HATCHBACK BRACKETS.I HAVE OWNENED MY ESCAPE FOR 2 YRS AND NOTICED THE CORROSION OF THESE BRACKETS.I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING AND WENT TO OPEN THE GLASS PORTION OF THE HATCHBACK WHEN THE HINGES BROKE OFF DUE TO THE CORROSION OVER THE YEARS.…"~89,000 mi, complaint #1298754
    • "FRAME ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING WHEEL TO BE DETACHED FROM FRAME AND ALSO CONTROL ARM. TOLD NOT TO DRIVE CAR AT ALL UNTIL FRAME IS FIXED. SAFETY ISSUE. VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED."~113,488 mi, complaint #1652097
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, HE CAME ACROSS RUST ON THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE UNDERCA…"~212,093 mi, complaint #1498090
  11. #11

    steering column

    26 unsafe

    26
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=20, median 119,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "PURCHASED NEW FORD ESCAPE 06/01/10, AT APPROX 800 MILES IT DEVELOPED A METAL TO METAL CLICKING SOUND WITHIN STEERING COLUMN WHEN MANUVERING IN AND OUT OF PARKING LOTS AND SLOW SPEED TURNS. BROUGHT ESCAPE TO DEALER ON 06/21/10, DEALER SAID THEY HAVE TO REALIGN…"~800 mi, complaint #813920
    • "UPON STARTUP, VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, NO POWER STEERING. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. HARD FAULT CODE B1342, EPAS FAILURE. REPAIR: REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEED, THE ABILITY TO SWERVE WOULD H…"~81,000 mi, complaint #938126
    • "STEERING COLUMN NOT WORKING STATIONARY OR IN MOTION"~119,000 mi, complaint #1336194
    • "STEERING CAPABILITY SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. FORTUNATELY, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. UPON STARTING ENGINE, STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. IN NO WAY WOULD IT HAVE BEEN SAFE TO OPERATE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD IN THAT CONDITION. THE STE…"~140,000 mi, complaint #1429546
    • "The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving their vehicle at various speeds they noticed that an abnormal clicking sound can be heard from the steering column. The contact stated that when this sound occurs the vehicle's steering…"~204,000 mi, complaint #2040033
  12. #12

    trunk or liftgate

    17 unsafe, 7 broken, 1 annoyance

    25
    incidents
    Typical range: 43,000–89,000 mi

    Median 79,000 mi, based on 29 reports (12% had no usable mileage)

    • "IN DECEMBER 2010, I WAS CLOSING THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE AND THE LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED AS IT CLOSED. THE GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUT. THE SHATTERING GLASS ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PAINT ON THE LIFTGATE. THE GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE…"~6,500 mi, complaint #854374
    • "THE REAR HATCH DOES NOT OPEN DUE TO A FAULTY ACTUATOR. ALL ESCAPES HAVE THIS ISSUE SINCE 2001 BUT FORD HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE FROM YOUR VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU…"~41,500 mi, complaint #983936
    • "ON 3/22/14 I PURCHASED A USED 2010 FORD ESCAPE AT ROUNTREE FORD IN SWANZEY NH. ON 3/23/14 I PARKED THE VEHICLE, LET MY DOGS OUT OF THE BACK CARGO AREA, WHEN I CLOSED THE TAILGATE THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TT"~76,069 mi, complaint #1057077
    • "SHUT THE REAR HATCH TO OUR FORD ESCAPE AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED. *TR"~91,000 mi, complaint #1142684
    • "THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY - THE LIFT GATE TRAPS WATER INSIDE AND HAS CAUSED THE LIFT GATE TO RUST OUT SO BADLY THAT IT HAS CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE LIFT GATE LATCH ACTUATOR MOTOR AND ASSEMBLY ON THE LIFT GATE 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY 2010…"~180,000 mi, complaint #1741382
  13. #13

    other

    6 unsafe, 14 annoyance

    20
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "STARTED CAR, TURNED ON REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER, OPENED HATCH, CLOSED HATCH. REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. OVER THE PHONE, FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED THERE IS A FLAW IN DESIGN BUT SUBJECT TO NO RECALL. HAD TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIM AND DEDUCTIBLE WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY.…"~38,000 mi, complaint #1106323
    • "2010 FORD ESCAPE WITH 80000 MILES. APROX 3FT LONG HORIZONTAL CRACK IN FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE NEAR REAR WHEEL."~80,000 mi, complaint #1431980
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR, THE WINDOW ON THE DOOR SHATTERED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC HINGES ON THE DOOR WERE ALSO CRACKED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1427254
    • "RECALL HAS EXPIRED ON MY SUV DUE TO IT BEING OVER 150,000 MILES. I DIDNT NOT RECIEVE A LETTER INDICATING THAT I NEEDED THIS UPDATE DONE TO MY CAR UNTIL AUG 19 2016 WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER WITH THE WRENCH SYMBOL BEING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. I CALLED…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1310331
  14. #14

    unintended acceleration

    18 unsafe

    18
    incidents
    Typical range: 30,000–62,000 mi

    Median 40,000 mi, based on 31 reports (6% had no usable mileage)

    • "MY WIFE IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS INCLUDING THE MOST RECENT ON DECEMBER 18. 2013. THERE IS A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ENGINE ACCELERATION SIMILAR TO WHAT THE TOYOTA VEHICLE…"~6,000 mi, complaint #1028434
    • "AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DID A RPM SURGE AND WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR"~31,000 mi, complaint #986660
    • "UPON ENTERING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND INCREASING SPEED, REALIZING WHAT WAS HAPPENING I ENGAGED THE BRAKE TO NO AVAIL, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE. I NAVIGATED TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS GAINING SP…"~40,000 mi, complaint #965231
    • "THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, I HAD TO SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND PLACE THE CAR IN PARK TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THESE 2010 FORD CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY HARMFUL TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES IT. "~80,000 mi, complaint #1194175
    • "REPEATED INSTANCES OF THE VEHICLES EITHER STALLING IN MOTION OR SUDDENLY SURGING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. **JB"~652,013 mi, complaint #1006781
  15. #15

    abs module

    15 unsafe

    15
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "I WAS DRIVING IN WET WEATHER AND SLID ON SOME LEAVES WHILE BRAKING. THIS CAUSED AN ACTIVATION OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). AFTER THE ABS EVENT I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY AND IT TOOK ALL OF MY EFFORT ON THE…"~74,759 mi, complaint #1634262
    • "ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH AND NO CODES SCANNED. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BARELY COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD ABS SYSTEM REPLACED BY A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS AS IT HAPPENS ON THESE CARS FREQUENTLY FROM WHAT…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1550759
    • "ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILING ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES MUSHY AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL MUCH LONGER. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. MANUFACTURER SAYING NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE OF HIGH MILEAGE. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. R…"~120,000 mi, complaint #1342426
    • "HELLO, I JUST SPENT 1/2 HOUR WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON THE PHONE ABOUT THEIR FORD ESCAPE 2010 AND THE FAULTY ABS MODULE. I ALMOST HAD A WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM FOR ESCAPE AND OTHER MODELS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHI…"~121,000 mi, complaint #1518915
    • "HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I HAD NO BRAKE. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOUR DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000. I HAVE HAD FRONT BRAKES AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1641472
  16. #16

    steering rack mechanical

    15 unsafe

    15
    incidents
    Typical range: 72,000–160,000 mi

    Median 106,000 mi, based on 27 reports (16% had no usable mileage)

    • "STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. ALMOST CRASHED. VERY STIFF, WHILE TURNING."~69,400 mi, complaint #1508222
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT DROVE VERY SLOWLY TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC PERFOR…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1037099
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway, the steering wheel locked up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…"~98,000 mi, complaint #1799033
    • "WHEN I STARTED VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE A LITTLE BIT ON ITS OWN, THEN I TRY TO LEAVE PARKING SPACE AND STEERING WAS REALLY HARD TO MOVE. I TRIED TO DRIVE LIKE THIS BUT IT IS REALLY HARD TO STEER VEHICLE ON THIS CONDITIONS TRYING TO DRIVE ON TRAF…"~160,000 mi, complaint #1735634
    • "STEERING WHEEL SHAKE VEHICLE IS PARKED RUNNING AT IDLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH WITH OUT TOUCHING IT. THIS SHAKE ALSO OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH. *TR"~203,000 mi, complaint #1329622
  17. #17

    brake hydraulics

    14 unsafe

    14
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=15, median 73,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I HAD JUST TURNED LEFT UNDER AN UNDERPAS AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE UNDER AN OVERPASS I REMEMBER THINKING "WOW. THIS IS APOWERFUL ENGINE." A CAR WAS COMING IN FRONT OF ME AND WHEN I BRAKE IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND I HIT THE CAR AND THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER WHE…"~2,900 mi, complaint #1085430
    • "I WAS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN UNRELATED SERVICE AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING- IT FELT LABORED. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS COLD OR SOMETHING BUT SOON REALIZED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I TURNED AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER (1…"~26,519 mi, complaint #959491
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress the floorboard without warning. The contact stated that he would have to pump the brakes and engage the ABS to stop the vehicle. The con…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1784377
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, WHICH EXTENDED THE BRAKING DISTANCE. MULLINAX FORD OF MOBILE ([REDACTED ADDRESS], MOBILE, AL 36608) WAS CONTACTED BY PHON…"~125,495 mi, complaint #1660441
    • "WE'VE HAD THE BRAKES FAIL ONCE BEFORE AND ONCE AGAIN TODAY. WE HIT THE BRAKES ON THHE INTERSTATE AND AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE LAST TIME, WE TOOK IT TO A SERVICE STATION AND THEY COULDNT' FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENED AG…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1649974
  18. #18

    evap system

    11 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=19, median 58,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A PR…"~37,456 mi, complaint #1032798
    • "FIRST IT STARTED WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I HAD THE CODES READ AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY SAW IT WAS AN "EVAP CENSOR" AND STATED THIS IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A GAS CAP LEAKING. WELL, THE ESCAPE WE HAVE DOESN'T HAVE A GAS CAP!!! IT'S ONE OF…"~48,760 mi, complaint #993128
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…"~57,873 mi, complaint #968913
    • "I RECENTLY HAD AN INCIDENT ON 8/28/13 WITH A FUEL VAPOR LEAK. IT WAS FIXED ON 9/6/13. AS OF 9/17/13 THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN.. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND HAVE NOT FIXED. SO NOW WHEN YOU HAVE A VAPOR LEAK & THEY REPLA…"~75,653 mi, complaint #1010390
    • "IS IT COMMON FOR MY 2010 ESCAPE XLT TO HAVE A EVAP CODE READING HAVING A LARGE LEAK? CODE P0455"~90,000 mi, complaint #1657144
  19. #19

    suspension arms and bushings

    10 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    11
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 121,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "FROM DAY 1, 365 MILES, AS I TURNED LEFT ON A WIDE TURN OR SHORT TIGHT TURN I HEAR A CLUNK NOISE FELT IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. AFTER 10,000 MILES I CAN MAKE IT DO IT ON COMMAND. ONLY LEFT TURNS. FORD HAS REPLACE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND ONLY LASTS 2-3 DAYS, NOISE R…"~600 mi, complaint #884755
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THE THAT THE FRONT…"~63,810 mi, complaint #1689427
    • "MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TODAY STRAIGHT ON A STREET AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE (ONLY BY GODS GRACE SHE WAS SPARED FROM A DEADLY ACCIDENT). I WENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AT HER HOME AND FOUND OUT THE RIGHT LOWER…"~106,000 mi, complaint #1652243
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle continuously pulled to the right, requiring the driver to make constant corrections. Upon visual inspection of the vehicle, the contact…"~122,000 mi, complaint #2013835
    • "DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, HIT BUMP FROM ROAD CONSTRUCTION. SURFACE WAS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED, STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THEN WAS TILTED APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES OFF CENTER TO THE LEFT. LIFTED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED, FOUND K-FRAME ON PASSE…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1680183
  20. #20

    airbag system

    9 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    10
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "WE WERE STAYING AT A HOTEL AT THE INNER HARBOR IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. WE PULLED INTO THE ENTRY WAY OF THE HOTEL. WE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND WERE GOING TO HAVE IT VALET PARKED FOR THE EVENING. BEFORE THE DRIVER COULD GET MORE THAN 7 FEET FROM WHERE WE WERE ST…"~1,128 mi, complaint #752504
    • "LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REQUEST ASSISTANCE RE HIS 2010 FORD ESCAPE SUV AND THE UNINTENDED DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE CURTAIN-IMPACT AIRBAGS; REPLY ATTN: GEORGETOWN, DE DISTRICT OFFICE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB"~1,128 mi, complaint #774410
    • "AIR BAG SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION- VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN COLLISION- JUST DRIVING DOWN ROAD. *TR"~1,500 mi, complaint #748988
    • "TAKATA RECALL / FORD DEFECTIVE PRODUCT LOW MILEAGE ESCAPE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE (2005 ACCURA) AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY. $13,000 ESCAPE WAS TOTALED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE."~88,000 mi, complaint #1315049
    • "TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON"~95,000 mi, complaint #1533984
  21. #21

    control module

    10 unsafe

    10
    incidents
    Typical range: 56,000–200,000 mi

    Median 97,500 mi, based on 26 reports (13% had no usable mileage)

    • "I PURCHASED A 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT, USED ON FEB 28, 2012 FROM A FORD DEALER, NORTHEAST PHILA. IT HAD 52,000 MILES. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 3YEAR 36,000MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. UPON DRIVING OFF THE LOT, I NOTICED HIGH IDL…"~52,000 mi, complaint #1002663
    • "THE ANTI-THEFT SIGNAL KEEPS COMING ON IN MY CAR. WHEN I AM MOVING AND NOT MOVING ALL THE WARNING IN MY CAR COMES ON. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, THE GAS GAGE GOES TO EMPTY, ETC WITH ALL THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF SU…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1415386
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING FUNCTION. YEARS BEFORE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND THE IC M…"~97,411 mi, complaint #1259527
    • "BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT STARTS AND ALL MY GAUGES GO OFF. TO BE ABLE TO START WHEN IT DOESN'T WANT TO I HAVE TO HIT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND I HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING WHEN ALL MY GAUGES GO OFF."~127,000 mi, complaint #1360850
    • "PURCHASED MAY 30, 2012....LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, I WAS DRIVING ONTO A RAMP AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CAR JUST STOPPED BUT I COULD STEER SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER. A STATE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND I SAID I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY MECHANIC. APPARENTLY,…"~200,000 mi, complaint #986828
  22. #22

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 stranded, 5 unsafe, 4 annoyance

    10
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE WITH REMOTE START MALFUNCTIONED IN 2010 AND 2011. THE UNIT STARTS THE VEHICLE WHEN FOBS ARE LAYING UNTOUCHED ON A TABLE AND AWAY FROM ALL POSSIBLE CONTACT. A REPROGRAMMING OF THE UNIT WAS COMPLETED IN 2010 BUT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN…"~10,000 mi, complaint #837921
    • "ALARM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON WHEN PARKED. REPLACED BATTERIES IN KEY FOBS WITH NO CHANGE. HAD ISSUE INVESTIGATED LAST YEAR BY FORD WITH NO SATISFACTION. WAS OK DURING WINTER BUT NOW IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. HEAT RELATED?"~62,000 mi, complaint #1670691
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE KEY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROWN FORD ([REDACTED ADDRESS], LYN…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1442588
    • "THE SWITCH FAILS TO START THE ESCAPE. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PRESS ON THE KEY AND WIGGLE IT. NOW THE CAR FAILS TO START. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUE COULD LEAVE US STRANDED, WHETHER OUT ON THE ROAD, OR SOMEWHERE WE ARE NOT KNOWN. THIS HAPPENS…"~110,000 mi, complaint #1612720
    • "STARTING THE CAR WITH THE KEY. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY IN HARD AS YOU ARE TURNING IT."~136,500 mi, complaint #1391704
  23. #23

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    4 unsafe, 2 broken, 3 annoyance

    9
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 44,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "PURCHASED A 2010 FORD ESCAPE NEW, 4 MONTHS AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY CLAIMED IT COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED BY AN OBJECT MOST LIKELY FROM THE ROAD. DAMAGES ARE NOT COVERED UNDE…"~5,000 mi, complaint #805376
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BAD ODOR WAS EMITTING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.…"~34,531 mi, complaint #935564
    • "WHEN WE USE THE MAX A/C IT RECIRCULATES AND YOU CAN SMELL VERY HEAVY GAS. WHEN YOU TURN IT TO REGULAR A/C THE SMELL GOES AWAY. IT IS HORRIBLE."~47,000 mi, complaint #1302981
    • "THE A/C BROKE JUST 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED. I HAVE CLIENTS AND CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE DAILY, AND IN THE EXTREME DC HEAT IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WITH ONLY HOT AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. THIS IS A TERRIBLE PROB…"~68,000 mi, complaint #1400977
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND BLEW HOT AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST HILL FORD ([REDACTED ADDRESS] S, BREMERTON, WA 98312) WHERE IT WA…"~133,000 mi, complaint #1491177
  24. #24

    engine internal

    9 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=13, median 67,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "WHILE ENGINE IS UNDERLOAD REPRODUCED BY PRESSING BOTH GAS AND BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY; AT ACCELERATION AND BETWEEN 30-40 MPH THE ENGINE MAKES AN AUDIBLE THUMPING NOISE. FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND CALLS IT NORMAL. THEY INDICATED I SHOULD DRI…"~22,361 mi, complaint #993337
    • "WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY, AT ABOUT 65 MPH THERE WAS AN ENGINE SHUDDER, THEN THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON LEFT SIDE OF CONSOLE. ENGINE WAS NOW VIBRATING AND SHAKY. STEPPED ON GAS AND NO ACCELERATION, ALTHOUGH ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL I…"~58,256 mi, complaint #1015394
    • "BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH. ON JULY 13, 2013, I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. MALLOY FORD IN WINCHESTER, VA, CHARGED ME $310 TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I'M DISGUSTED WITH FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP. *TR"~67,151 mi, complaint #1025344
    • "MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IDLING VERY ROUGHLY WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE IN DRIVE. WHILE IN PARK MY VEHICLE IDLES NORMALLY BUT AFTER COMING TO A STOP IT BEGINS IDLING SO ROUGH IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS SHAKING."~75,000 mi, complaint #1502357
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the…"~265,000 mi, complaint #2004274
  25. #25

    battery and charging

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 74,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "FROM THE TIME WE FIRST BOUGHT THE ESCAPE (NEW) THE BATTERY LIGHT HAS CAME ON AT RANDOM TIMES. WE HAVE TAKEN IN AND DEALER SAID THERE IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHEN WE DRIVE THE CAR AND HAVE THE HEAT OR AIR ON IT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF AND THEN A MINUTE LAT…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1250443
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO D…"~68,500 mi, complaint #1022569
    • "MY CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING & WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION (COMPLETELY LOSING ALL POWER) A LARGE SUV SWERVED TO PREVENT FROM HITTING ME. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE VIC BAILEY FORD, THE…"~74,000 mi, complaint #1144189
    • "@12:56PM ON 2/11/2021, MY CAR SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, ACCELERATION, LIGHTS, PEDAL/GAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. THE TIME REMAINED ON. IT WAS 19* F WITH NO PRECIPITATION ON DRY/PARTLY SNOWY PAVEMENT ON HIGHWAY US31 JUST S OF THE N…"~76,152 mi, complaint #1726356
    • "WHEN DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT COMES ALL LIGHTS ON DASH GOES OUT THEN EVENTUALLY WILL COME BACK ON, THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE ON THE DASH THEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT N THE HEAT WILL GO OFF N ON PERIODICALLY. I'VE SEEN OTHERS COMPLAIN REGARDING SAME ISSUE ON B…"~147,000 mi, complaint #1642582
  26. #26

    starter

    4 stranded, 2 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "IN THE SPAN OF 4 DAYS MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLS ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS WERE RESOLVED BY JUMP STARTING PROBABLY DUE TO LOW BATTERY OUTPUT. SO YESTERDAY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND REPLACED THE FACTORY-IN…"~21,133 mi, complaint #943031
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWIT…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1035532
    • "CANNOT START VEHICLE! PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. KEY WILL NOT TURN FORWARD ENOUGH TO ENGAGE STARTER. PROBLEM STARTED YEARS AGO AND NOW HAS PROGRESSED TO THIS POINT WHERE IT WILL NOT START AT ALL USING THE IGNITION. THANKS!"~100,000 mi, complaint #1687189
    • "I'VE REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, AND NOW HAVING TO REPLACE IGNITION HOUSING. LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS STATIONARY AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS MADE ME LATE FOR WORK AND SCHOOL. *TR"~102,000 mi, complaint #1670435
    • "WHEN YOU TURN ON THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE LIGHT COME ON, IT DINGS, ALL THAT HAPPENS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENS TO MAKE IT CRANK/START,. ITS LIKE THERE IS NO BATTERY BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS LIGHTING UP AND DINGING, I HAVE TO REPEAT THIS 3 OR 4 TIMES FOR IT TO F…"~126,000 mi, complaint #1426313
  27. #27

    suspension struts shocks

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. ON JULY 1, 2014, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE DRIVER DROVE OVER A SPEED BUM AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ABNORMALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. THE DRIVER THE…"~44,000 mi, complaint #1086049
    • "THE REAR SHOCK UPPER MOUNTING TOWER AND SUPPORT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM FRAME OF VEHICLE CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO LOOSE CONTACT WITH ROAD. VEHICLE THIS AGE SHOULD NOT HAVE FRAME RUST / DAMAGE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND T…"~120,000 mi, complaint #1580228
    • "CLUNKY FRONT SUSPENSION. EXTREME NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, AND SUSPENSION, WHILE DRIVING. WONDERING IF SOMETHING WILL COME LOOSE, OR DISENGAGE THE STEERING. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING."~126,000 mi, complaint #1384887
    • "STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND ENTIRE CAR SHAKES WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING. SOMETIMES YOU CAN REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF IT BY APPLYING A SLIGHT TURN OF THE WHEEL, BUT EVEN THEN IT OFTEN STARTS AGAIN. IT EVEN OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND IS VERY DISTRACTING."~176,000 mi, complaint #1358606
  28. #28

    wiring harness

    5 unsafe, 1 broken

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD GET SHOCKED FROM ANY METAL PART OF THE DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS AN OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…"~2,000 mi, complaint #788246
    • "MY FAN DID NOT OPERATE ON THE NORMAL #1 SETTING BUT OK ON THE OTHER SETTINGS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO REPAIR IT I WAS TOLD A BOARD WENT OUT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, THE CAUSE OF THAT WAS FROM CONDENSATION FROM THE AC TUBING DRIPPING ON ANOTHER BOARD AND CAUSED…"~45,150 mi, complaint #1211018
    • "I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JERKED A LITTLE AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND CUT IT OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP, AND THE LIGHT…"~59,950 mi, complaint #1007307
    • "THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY VEHICLE NO LONGER WORKS AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A RECALL FOR THE 2009 FORD ESCAPE BUT NOT THE 2010 AND FORD IS TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $500 AND $600 TO FIX SOMETHING THEY KNOW IF BROKEN. THE ADVISOR EVEN TOLD ME THAT…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1308825
    • "PCM HAS WATER DAMAGE DUE TO PLACEMENT UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD IS OPENED WATER RUNS DOWN DIRECTLY ONTO THE UNIT AND INTO THE WIRING. THE REPEATED WATER EXPOSURE HAS CAUSED THE UNIT TO FAULT. THIS WATER INTRUSION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO FAIL TO START INTER…"~86,760 mi, complaint #1453958
  29. #29

    fuel pump

    4 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1273726
    • "FUEL PUMP CRACKED (PART #PFS534) IN 2010 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2.5L ENGINE SIMILAR TO RECALL ON OTHER FORD ESCAPES WITH 3.0L ENGINE. CRACKED FUEL PUMP CAUSED VAPOR LEAK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULD STILL OPERATE BUT STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK…"~77,000 mi, complaint #1629794
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ABOVE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. AVIS FORD ([REDACTED ADDRESS], SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, [REDACTED PHONE]) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPO…"~114,000 mi, complaint #1551675
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE CONTACT FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL. THE DEALER STA…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1355521
  30. #30

    instrument cluster

    4 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "UNEXPECTED GLARE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BLIND YOU WHILE DRIVING THRU WINDING ROADS IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THE CURVATURE OF THE LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT CORNERS OF THE PANEL NEEDS TO BE MADE OF A NON-GLARE MATERIAL. I AM GOING TO PLACE S…"~1,800 mi, complaint #795311
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS RESET THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE CHECK EN…"~40,000 mi, complaint #957844
    • "I HEARD ALERT CHIME, LOOKED AT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TRACTION CONTROL, WRENCH, BATTERY, ABS, AIRBAG, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALL ON.SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND TEMP GAUGE WERE ALL READING ZERO, FUEL GAUGE APPEARED TO BE WORKING. RADIO VOLUME SPEED COMPENSATION ST…"~57,902 mi, complaint #1191211
    • "1ST OCCURANCE HAPPENED WHEN GOING INTO AN EXIT IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FROM THE HIGHWAY. ALL GADGETS FROZE AND SHUT DOWN. ENGINE KEPT RUNNING BUT STAYED AT 40 MPH NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. 2ND OCCURENCE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IN NJ…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1066464
    • "2010 FORD ESCAPE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL MALFUNCTIONS AND SPEED DIAL FALLS TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL."~152,000 mi, complaint #1564949
  31. #31

    power windows and locks

    3 unsafe, 2 broken

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "IN AUGUST I HAD GONE INTO MY OFFICE AND LOOKED OUT AND MY BACK WINDOW WAS DOWN..I THOUGHT I DIDN'T REMEMBER LOWERING IT. FOUND OUT IT HAD JUST DROPPED ON ITS OWN...NO NOISE FROM THE MOTOR, JUST DROPPED. AUGUST 31ST I PULLED UP WITH FRIENDS TO EAT AND WE GOT…"~68,811 mi, complaint #1105122
    • "WINDOW REGULATOR ON 3 OF 4 WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CABLE BREAKS (LOUD, STARTLING BANG), WINDOW "DROPS" AND CANNOT BE RAISED. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN 2017, ONE OCCURRED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND OCCUPIED IN 2018, AND ONE OCCURRED WHILE…"~78,000 mi, complaint #1579205
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver’s side and passenger’s side windows and the driver’s and passenger’s side rear windows had rolled down while the vehicle was turned off. No warning light was…"~82,703 mi, complaint #2010961
    • "RIGHT REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN AND DOES NOT WORK. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE "CABLE BURNED OUT." A FEW MONTHS LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW, DID THE EXACT SAME THING. VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES. STATIONARY."~89,000 mi, complaint #1237137
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED DOWN WITHOUT THE WINDOW BUTTON BEING PRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR TO MOVE THE WINDOW BACK UP STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIV…"~91,000 mi, complaint #1497016
  32. #32

    door latch and hinge

    3 unsafe, 1 broken

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING THAT THE LIFTGATE WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO FIND THAT THE LIFTGATE WAS HANGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.…"~98,000 mi, complaint #1491002
    • "UNABLE TO CLOSE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR - WON'T LATCH OR CLOSE"~105,200 mi, complaint #1565495
  33. #33

    driveshaft axle cv

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD, 752.2 KM, 4 REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS DEFECTIVE. 2 FRONT SUBFRAME BOLTS MISSING, 2 REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS LOOSE, RESULT REAR WHEELS AND AXLE WERE ABOUT TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY IN IT. THE REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHES TO THE MAIN FRAM…"~752 mi, complaint #794476
    • "THE LEFT FRONT AXLE SEAL BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. *TR"~28,000 mi, complaint #888230
    • "MULTIPLE NOISES STARTED TO OCCUR. THE FIRST WAS A CRACKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, SECOND CAME A CLICKING NOISE WHILE BRAKING AND THEN A HOWLING SOUND. THE CRACKLING NOISE HAS YET TO BE DISCOVERED, THE CLICKING WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ROTORS. THE HOWLING N…"~33,000 mi, complaint #937589
    • "THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS IN NOVEMBER 2014. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE DRIVER-SIDE AXLE SHAFT THAT CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS TO DROP. INITIALLY, WE PERCEIVED THIS ISSUE TO BE RELATED TO COLD WEATHER,…"~64,500 mi, complaint #1170520
  34. #34

    seat mechanism

    3 unsafe, 1 broken

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "ESCAPE WAS IMPACTED FROM BEHIND BY A 2012 FORD F150 AT THAT WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AS THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED ME (THE DRIVER) BACK INTO THE DRIVER SEAT THE SEAT BROKE."~88,000 mi, complaint #1238735
    • "WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, THE SEAT WILL SOMETIME MOVE VERY SLOWLY IN EITHER DIRECTION, OR ONLY ONE WAY, OR OTHER TIME NOT AT ALL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ME, AS IT IMPAIRS MY ABILITY TO DRIVE TH…"~94,177 mi, complaint #1105982
    • "THREAD HOLDING SEAT COVER TOGETHER AND SEATBELT DETERATED CAUSE COVERS TO FALL OFF SEAT AND BELT TO DETACH FROM VEHICLE. *TR"~186,135 mi, complaint #1667237
  35. #35

    engine mounts

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "PURCHASED 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT IN APRIL 2015. (1) VEHICLE HAD SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING. ISSUED FIXED BY DEALER REPLACING BELT TENSIONER BUT NOISE HAS SINCE RETURNED. (2) VEHICLE ALREADY HAD OR DEVELOPED CONSTANT VIBRATION AT IDLE WHEN IN DR…"~48,295 mi, complaint #1202338
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the brakes was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the engine cradle frame was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted.…"~103,000 mi, complaint #1821104
  36. #36

    lighting exterior

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT OPERATE ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON TIRAPELLI FORD ([REDACTED…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1451712
    • "THIS WAS NOT A CAR INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT. I DRIVE A 2010 FORD ESCAPE AND LAST WEEK I NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT, SO I BOUGHT THE BULBS AND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE MY LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM WASN'T BURNT OUT BULBS IT WAS MELTED BULBS AND THE PIECE WHER…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1041727
    • "THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. THE PLASTIC MELTS AND BREAKS THE LIGHT BULBS OUT OF THE SOCKETS.THIS WORRIES ME AS IT SEEMS LIKE A FIRE HAZARD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT."~130,000 mi, complaint #1269794
  37. #37

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "NEW 2010 FORD ESCAPE XLT, 4 CYLINDER, WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER, 2010. DURING LATE OCTOBER, 2010, A NOISE BECAME EVIDENT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A BRIEF RUBBING NOISE. WEATHER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE…"~2,000 mi, complaint #869663
    • "MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE IS MAKING A NOISE THAT STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE TOOLS WERE BEING STORED IN THE BACK AND WHEN I STOPPED, TURNED, OR EVEN BEGAN TO TAKE OFF AGAIN I WOULD HEAR THIS RATTLING SOUND. I HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF 150…"~38,068 mi, complaint #931347
  38. #38

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "SEATBELT WILL NOT UNCLICK ONCE BUCKLED NOW SEAT BELT WILL NOT CLICK OR BUCKLE AT ALL. ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE."~100,000 mi, complaint #1471401
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT TO SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. COVERT FORD ([REDACTED ADDRESS], AUSTIN, TX…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1625427
  39. #39

    alignment and pull

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WA…"~32,000 mi, complaint #1432726
  40. #40

    engine oil consumption

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "CONCERN 25 & 51 - VEHICLE LEAKING OIL AND GREASE FROM ENGINE/TRANSAXLE AREA. *TR"~63,468 mi, complaint #1117534
    • "I NOTICED FROM A GENTLEMAN FROM THE STREET AND TOLD ME AS I WAS PUMPING IT WAS RUNNING OUT ALSO YESTERDAY MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON"~150,000 mi, complaint #1407015
  41. #41

    lighting interior

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "VEHICLE: 2010, FORD ESCAPE, WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SAFETY COMPLAINT: THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION ON THE GEAR SELECTOR FOR MODELS THAT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH FLOOR SHIFTER AND CONSOLE. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT THERE IS NOT AN ILLUMI…"complaint #770421
    • "L.E.D. LITES ARE TOO DIM IN BRIGHT DAY LIGHT TO SEE ,,SAFETY ISSUE ,,MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD TO LOOK REAL CLOSE TO RADIO INFORMATION SCREEN & ODOMETER ,, THIS IS UNSAFE. *TR"complaint #784776
  42. #42

    software or update

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "AS I'M DRIVING THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP GIVING GAS THE WRENCH LIGHT SHOWS UP AND I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF TO GET ANY GAS IT SAYS IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY BUT I FIXED THAT AND IT'S STILL DOING THE SAME THING THE WRENCH POPS UP AND NO GAS PRESSURE AS I'M DRIVING,…"~83,000 mi, complaint #1500659
  43. #43

    sunroof

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE SUN ROOF "EXPLODED" INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED BY THE GLASS DUE THE COVER ON THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO TOOK PICTURES…"~600 mi, complaint #806384
    • "WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, WHEN SHE HEARD A POP. WHEN SHE GOT HOME SHE NOTICED THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED. SHE TOLD ME AND I WENT OUT TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A ROCK OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN OBJECT. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE SUNROOF GLASS JUST FAILED IN AN OUT…"~21,000 mi, complaint #951175
  44. #44

    timing belt or chain

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING CAR AND BARELY HAD ENOUGH RPMS TO GET OFF ROAD. HAD TO PULL BATTERY CABLE OFF TO GET CAR TO MOVE. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES TO GET THE CAR 20 MILES TO HOME THEN TRAILERED TO FORD DEALER. SAID IT WAS A BAD TB. THE CAR HAS ALSO…"~73,000 mi, complaint #989779
  45. #45

    wheel or rim

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "I GOT A FLAT TIRE ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF A RENTED 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE ENCLOSED JACK IS UNABLE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF THE FLAT TIRE AND INSTALLATION OF THE SPARE TIRE. THIS WAS THE CASE EVEN AFTER I PLACED THE JACK ON A 2 INCH…"~4,100 mi, complaint #754010
    • "LOUD NOISE FRONT LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I THINK THAT AT 66 THOUSAND MILES THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR"~66,000 mi, complaint #1070803
  46. #46

    wiper and washer

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ONLY EXHIBITED TWO SPEEDS SETTINGS AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHN…"~3,000 mi, complaint #974689
    • "REAR WIPER FAILS TO OPERATE AT CONSTANT SPEED, OFTEN PREVENTING DRIVER FROM SEEING WHAT IS BEHIND, WHICH CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN. OWNER'S MANUAL (PAGE 66) STATES THAT REAR WIPER HAS A NORMAL SPEED AND AN INTERMITTENT SPEED. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUST…"~4,500 mi, complaint #887329
  47. #47

    adas collision warning

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION!!! DESERVES OFFICIAL RECALL. WHILE TRAVELING IN THE EVENING OF AUG. 24, 2013, ON A DARK AND LONELY STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 10, OUR 2010 FORD ESCAPE UNCONTROLLABLY DECELERATED FROM 60 TO 0 IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WH…"~57,000 mi, complaint #1004754
  48. #48

    brake booster

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving, the brakes have no pressure. When starting the vehicle, the brakes go all the way to the floor. I took my car to several difference garages, and they determined the brake booster was the issue. No repair has been done, but the brakes go all t…"complaint #2028452
  49. #49

    brake pads and rotors

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE BRAKES BEGIN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES THEN IT WILL SLOW DOWN AS I'M TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THEN IT WILL PICK BACKUP WITH SPEED. AFTER WHICH I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL AS IF THE TIRES ARE BURNING.."~120,000 mi, complaint #1601420
  50. #50

    exhaust system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "EXHAUST HOSE UNDER VEHICLE DRIVE SIDE LEAKED CAUSING EXHAUST CREEP INTO CABIN WITH EXCESSIVE STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CABIN BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION."~140,000 mi, complaint #1621622
  51. #51

    fluid leak unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "There is oil leak that cannot be found. I have taken that truck to 3 different mechanics, conducted 3 different diagnostics using the dye and everything and the source of this leak cannot be found and is causing me problems."complaint #2141242
  52. #52

    fuel injector

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND TO CORRECT FUEL SYSTEM MODULE RECALL ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE."complaint #1419287
  53. #53

    heater core and blower

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "S10 DIRECT REPLY-LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR FROM CONGRESSMAN STEARNS ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE HER ORDEAL WHILE DRIVING HER 2010 FORD ESCAPE *TGW CHEMICALS WERE DISCHARGED THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INHALATION OF THE CHEMICALS THE C…"complaint #833162
  54. #54

    hv battery and range

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Electrical Issues overall and Hybrid battery emits dangerous electrical current."complaint #2075953
  55. #55

    parking brake

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "vehicle getting stuck in park, I have press the brakes several times to get it to unlock and switch to drive, or push the emergency brake."complaint #1971597
  56. #56

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WHILE ON A BUSY [REDACTED ADDRESS]., I WAS AT A CENTER TURN LANE AND COMPLETED MY TURN WHEN LIGHT CHANGED, THEN WENT TO MAKE MY RIGHT TURN ON TO THE NEXT ROAD.... WHEN MY CARS STARTED TO SHAKE VERY BADLY AND LOST ALL POWER DOWN TO A CRAWL, AND THEN STALL, WITH…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1105656
  57. #57

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES (NA), SIZE P225/65/R17 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS ALONG THE TREAD. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR WERE THE TIRES REPLA…"~39,022 mi, complaint #1097840
  58. #58

    torque converter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to veer to the right independently. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent me…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1810704
  59. #59

    wheel bearing

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FORM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL AS THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE…"~182,711 mi, complaint #1732618

Recall-sized clusters

These are large batches of near-identical complaints (recall notifications, service campaigns), kept separate from the ranking above so they don't drown out individually-reported problems.

Not matched to any cluster below: every campaign NHTSA has on file for this exact make/model/year is 10E043000, 10V222000, 14V284000, 15E045000, 16V777000. This is a vehicle-wide list, not an attribution - see below for which clusters have a real, complainant-cited match.

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for FORD ESCAPE directly.