2019 FORD ESCAPE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
624
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
20
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
The 2019 FORD ESCAPE has received a total of 624 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 9 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), TIRES. 20 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (244 complaints), Power Train (102 complaints), and Engine And Engine Cooling (82 complaints).
Recalls for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
NHTSA has recorded 9 recalls for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE, potentially affecting up to 6,265,028 vehicles.
Recall 22V413000 — POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD
| 2,925,968 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected...
View full details →Recall 22V413000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
| 2,925,968 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected...
View full details →Recall 21V155000 — TIRES
| 15,769 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
View full details →Recall 21V155000 — TIRES
| 15,769 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
View full details →Recall 21V155000 — TIRES
| 15,769 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
View full details →Recall 21V155000 — TIRES
| 15,769 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.
View full details →Recall 26V011000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
| 116,672 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed February 13, 2026....
View full details →Recall 26V011000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
| 116,672 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed February 13, 2026....
View full details →Recall 26V011000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
| 116,672 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed February 13, 2026....
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
624 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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.
The contact owned a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled, and an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate and unexpectedly lunged forward while shifting gears. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
my 2019 ford escape engine has recently taken a big decline due to coolant leaking into the cylinders of the car. i was told this is a common occurrence with 2019 Escapes, so why has it not been situated? it is unsafe and over all inconvenient for the ones who are with out a car now. my car decided in the middle of traveling that it was no longer going to move no matter how hard the gas was pushed, unsafe. the engine is now loud, shaky, and over heats, while idling and driving. i have had this car for a year and a half and every time the check engine light came on and i took it to be diagnosed i was met with another issue that i paid to fix, and still no place fixed the engine. it was not until the car is no longer drivable that i finally got an answer on what has happened to my engine. this car was regularly maintained. my vehicle was inspected by a Ford specialist who said this problem caused my car to now be valued at $500. if this is a known problem with this car why are they still being sold on the market?
my 2019 ford escape engine has recently taken a big decline due to coolant leaking into the cylinders of the car. i was told this is a common occurrence with 2019 Escapes, so why has it not been situated? it is unsafe and over all inconvenient for the ones who are with out a car now. my car decided in the middle of traveling that it was no longer going to move no matter how hard the gas was pushed, unsafe. the engine is now loud, shaky, and over heats, while idling and driving. i have had this car for a year and a half and every time the check engine light came on and i took it to be diagnosed i was met with another issue that i paid to fix, and still no place fixed the engine. it was not until the car is no longer drivable that i finally got an answer on what has happened to my engine. this car was regularly maintained. my vehicle was inspected by a Ford specialist who said this problem caused my car to now be valued at $500. if this is a known problem with this car why are they still being sold on the market?
Safety Rating for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
The 2019 FORD ESCAPE received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
Ford Motor Company has issued 20 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
TSB 21-2077 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2017-2019 Escape/MKC Some 2017-2019 Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) may exhibit a binding/shudder and/or bump/clunk from the rear drive unit (RDU) when turning at low speeds and parking lot maneuvers. This may be due to the software in the powertrain control module (PCM). To correct the condition,...
SSM 48895 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2017-2019 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L engine may exhibit fuse F34 open with an illuminated MIL and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0034, P023A, P0245, P0480, P0481, P0645, P06A0, P06DB, P188D, P02602, and/or P2681 in the powertrain control module (PCM). The vehicle may also exhibit an all-wheel...
TSB-20-2002 — POWER TRAIN
Some 2018-2019 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P051B stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the crankcase pressure sensor. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to...
TSB-20-2002 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Some 2018-2019 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P051B stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the crankcase pressure sensor. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to...
SSM 48335 — TRAILER HITCHES
Some 2017-2019 Escape vehicles may exhibit a 'Trailer Connected' or 'Trailer Disconnected' message in the vehicle's message center with no trailer attached to the vehicle. To correct this condition, reprogram the trailer module (TRM) using the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming use causal part (19H332) and applicable labor...
TSB 19-2265 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Some 2019 Escape and MKC vehicles built on 15-Feb-2019 and through 12-Mar-2019 may exhibit a whistle noise from the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) evaporator core cover area where the evaporator tubes enter the evaporator case in the passenger footwell area. The noise will be most noticeable while transitioning...
TSB 19-2208 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored...
TSB19-2171 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Some 2017-2019 Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 1.5, 2.0L or 2.3L EcoBoost engines may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P04F0 and/or P144C stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to loose or partially connected evaporative emissions (EVAP) vapor lines....
SSM 47937 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SSM 47937 - 2019 MKC, 2018-2019 Escape - 2.0L - Auto Start/Stop - No Auto Restart After An Auto Stop Event With DTC P164C Some 2018-2019 Escape vehicles built on or after 01-Aug-2018 or 2019 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine may exhibit an auto start/stop, no auto restart...
TSB 19-2056 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
Some 2017-2019 Escape vehicles may exhibit a power liftgate that bounces back and/or will not cinch to the fully closed position. This may be due to the adjustment of the striker, latch, liftgate margins, flushness and/or striker wings. To resolve the condition, adjust the striker position or the striker wings.
Showing 10 of 20 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD ESCAPE
- 2014 FORD ESCAPE — 2,591 complaints
- 2015 FORD ESCAPE — 1,199 complaints
- 2016 FORD ESCAPE — 1,147 complaints
- 2017 FORD ESCAPE — 3,052 complaints
- 2018 FORD ESCAPE — 1,910 complaints
- 2019 FORD ESCAPE (current)
- 2020 FORD ESCAPE — 1,870 complaints
- 2021 FORD ESCAPE — 330 complaints
- 2022 FORD ESCAPE — 239 complaints
- 2023 FORD ESCAPE — 116 complaints
- 2024 FORD ESCAPE — 125 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints
- FORD MUSTANG — 11,551 total complaints