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2021 Ford Escape Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
324 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Body & structure problems dominate (28% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Ford Escape HEV SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 17%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Ford Escape Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Body & structure (90) · Fuel system (66) · Brakes (49)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Body & structure
28%90 complaints · 29 in the last 2 years
“The sunroof cover has come off its tracks and has lost tension. It requires a full sunroof cover replacement. Upon searching this issue online, I found it was a common…”
Fuel system
20%66 complaints · 47 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), …”
Brakes
15%49 complaints · 12 in the last 2 years
“When putting the car in reverse the brakes make an awful Screaming noise. It sounds like they are not releasing. Then when you go in drive and want to stop it doesn't …”
Transmission & drivetrain
12%38 complaints · typically near 85k mi · 30 in the last 2 years
“The vehicle stutters on acceleration. This causes issues when at intersections or when merging into traffic. I have since replaced the torque converter that has resolv…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Ford ESCAPE HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Escape Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Ford Escape Hev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.