Short answer
Among Ford Escape model years through 2024, 2009 and 2012 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2020 has the most (25). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Ford Escape: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2001–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 100
- Fewest recalls
- 2009 and 2012 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2020 (25)
- Most recalled system
- Power train (31)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2017, 2018, 2019 and 7 more years
Ford Escape Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Power train, Seat belts |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 10 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Back over prevention, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 13 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Engine, Equipment |
| 2022 | 21 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Back over prevention |
| 2021 | 21 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2020 | 25 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Power train, Back over prevention |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Equipment, Power train, Tires |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Equipment, Power train |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Power train |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2015 | 9 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2014 | 16 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2013 | 18 | 4 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2012 | 1 | 3 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2011 | 2 | 3 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Steering |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Power train, Steering |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Power train |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Power train, Hybrid propulsion system, Visibility |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Hybrid propulsion system, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2004 | 6 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2003 | 7 | Not rated | Power train, Vehicle speed control, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2002 | 8 | Not rated | Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control |
| 2001 | 13 | Not rated | Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20263 recalls
- 202510 recalls
- 202410 recalls
- 202313 recalls
- 202221 recalls
- 202121 recalls
- 202025 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20184 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20159 recalls
- 201416 recalls
- 201318 recalls
- 20121 recall
- 20112 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20083 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20064 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20046 recalls
- 20037 recalls
- 20028 recalls
- 200113 recalls
Ford Escape: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ford Escape recalls are power train (31), electrical system (28), fuel system, gasoline (22), equipment (18) and structure (14). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 26 model years, and 2017, 2018, 2019 and 7 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Ford Escape Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Ford Escape?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2009 and 2012 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Ford Escape model years have the most recalls?
2020 has the most, with 25 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Escape", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy