Home · 2019 Ford Escape Gas · Complaints

What 563 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape Gas

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (563)Crash / fire / injury (31)Engine (294)Transmission & drivetrain (120)Engine & cooling (88)Electrical system (37)Fuel system (23)Steering (16)Lights (13)Body & structure (11)Tires (11)Airbags (10)

4 of 563 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Dec 16, 2025Electrical systemLightsEngineCrash

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 ODI 11705433

Nov 6, 2025EngineCrash

I have Engine coolant intrusion into the the cylinder heads. White smoke during start up and loss of engine coolant. Also is stuttering during start up with check engine lights..

NHTSA ODI 11697814

Mar 18, 2020Speed controlEngineCrash

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 ODI 11318594

Mar 1, 2020WheelsEngine2 injuries

SINCE BUYING MY ESCAPE BRAND NEW WITH 1 MILE ON IT, IT HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ISSUES, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAN BE GOING 30 MPH OR 70 MPH, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 BAD SMELL FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEEPS IN THROUGH VENTS. PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WALL BLEW WHILE TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. LICENSE PLATE LIGHT OUT AND UNABLE TO REMOVE TO CHANGE. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD CAR SEVERAL TIMES CLAIMING NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. RADIO KEEPS SAYING "UPDATE" DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT'S MY PHONE (MY PHONE HAS NO UPDATES DUE) BRAKES MAKE TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN REVERSE BREAKING. A LITTLE OVER 11,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING BUT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG, ALSO CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START HALF THE TIME. USB FOR PHONE CORD IN FRONT DOES NOT WANT TO STAY CONNECTED, AND BACK PORT FOR CAR CHARGER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED MY DAUGHTER BURNS ON HER HAND. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT AND IT STRANDED HER ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WOULDN'T START, HAD TO SHUT OFF ,TAKE OUT KEY AND LET SIT TO RESTART BUT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. OVERALL THE DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE 2019 ESCAPE IS HIGH. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FURTHER TO INVESTIGATE THESE CLAIMS OF ENGINE SHUTTING OFF AND OTHER ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11315469

Working with the data? Download all 563 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Ford Escape Gas verdict →