2019 Ford Escape Safety Report

2019 Ford Escape Safety Report

503Complaints
3Recalls
★★★★★Safety Rating
85/100Reliability Score
22Crash Reports
3Fire Reports
27Injuries
Most reported components: Engine (176)Power Train (73)Engine And Engine Cooling (63)Unknown Or Other (17)Power Train,Engine (16)Engine And Engine Cooling,Engine (11)Exterior Lighting (9)Tires (9)Unknown Or Other,Engine (7)Steering (7)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Ford Escape

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Ford Escape. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.

2019 Ford Escape Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (3)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsHigh (503)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports25Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubEngineCompare engine issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2022Compare against the 2022 Ford Escape with 186 complaints and 19 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2017Check the 2017 Ford Escape before buying across this generation.

Ford Escape Year-by-Year Comparison

The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Escape years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.

Nearby Ford Escape Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2020 Ford Escape 1386 23 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2018 Ford Escape 1586 4 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2021 Ford Escape 272 19 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2017 Ford Escape 2495 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2022 Ford Escape 186 19 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2016 Ford Escape 947 4 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2019 Ford Escape Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Ford Escape, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.

Engine

176 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine issues Ford only

Power Train

73 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Power Train issues Ford only

Engine And Engine Cooling

63 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Ford only

Unknown Or Other

17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Ford only

Power Train,Engine

16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Power Train,Engine issues Ford only

Engine And Engine Cooling,Engine

11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine And Engine Cooling,Engine issues Ford only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Ford Escape

The 2019 FORD ESCAPE has accumulated 503 complaints and 3 recalls in the NHTSA database. It received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Among the complaints, 22 involved crashes and 3 involved fires. There have been 27 reported injuries and 0 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are engine (176 complaints), power train (73 complaints), engine and engine cooling (63 complaints). Engine and engine cooling issues are frequent, with codes P0304 and P0117 indicating misfires and coolant system problems. These can lead to engine damage and safety concerns. Tires and automatic transmission issues are also common, with recalls for both components. Ensure tires are properly inflated and inspected regularly. Key known issues to be aware of include Engine and engine cooling, Automatic transmission, Tires. Regular maintenance, including checking tires, engine cooling, and automatic transmission, is crucial to avoid safety issues.

Reliability Score

The 2019 Ford Escape receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.

NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2019 Ford Escape

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.

Overall
★★★★★
5/5
Frontal Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Side Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Rollover
★★★★☆
4/5

Known Issues for the 2019 Ford Escape

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Ford Escape:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Engine And Engine Cooling
Common misfires and coolant system issues, leading to potential engine damage.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Automatic Transmission
Recalled for gear position indication issues, affecting safe driving.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Tires
Recalled for potential issues, affecting vehicle stability and safety.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Electrical Equipment
Engine block heater recall, though less frequent, still important for cold weather operation.
Low Common 30k-60k miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2019 Ford Escape:

Engine And Engine Cooling 30% of complaints

Common issues with engine misfires and coolant system problems.

Automatic Transmission 20% of complaints

Recalled for gear position indication issues.

Tires 15% of complaints

Recalled for potential issues affecting vehicle stability.

Electrical Equipment 5% of complaints

Engine block heater recall.

Recall Details for the 2019 Ford Escape

The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Ford Escape by NHTSA:

Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater
Campaign #26V011000 15/01/2026

Summary: 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. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent...

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Campaign #22V413000 10/06/2022

Summary: 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 to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-73...

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Tires
Campaign #21V155000 10/03/2021

Summary: 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.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Ford Escape

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Ford Escape with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes.

Crash Reports: 2
Engine
03/24/2026

Ford at Jim Ellis dealership in [XXX] [XXX] look at my car last Thursday and gave me only one code P0304 which means tune up but texted me that my car need $8000 of labor and $6k of a new engine, without an explanation. Prior too the vin they pulled up showed Cust satisfaction 21N12 said yes a recall when the rep saw it. However, even expired 2022 another paragraph states If exceed mileage 84000...

ODI #11726862
Engine
03/24/2026

We just bought this vehicle 3 weeks ago, paid sales tax and first car payment. The check engine light came on for P0304cyl 4 misfire, notice white smoke blowing from exhaust and low coolant level. Had technician pull plug four and used a boriscope and found coolant leaking into engine. Ford has a known TSB for coolant intrusion on this particular model and vin and manufacturing date. Ford refuses ...

ODI #11726813
Engine
03/22/2026

In June 2025 vehicle had no coolant in tank, refilled and monitored, July 2025 check engine light appeared and code for cylinder 3 misfire, Aug 2025 vehicle went to local certified automotive repair company who began running diagnostics, replaced spark plug and coil #3. After replacement was asked to drive, less than 10 miles check engine came back on with same code. Mechanic kept working on vehi...

ODI #11726228
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine
03/22/2026

I initially replaced the entire Y coolant hose to the coolant system. Six months later I had to replace a secondary coolant hose separate from the initial one. Initially, it cost me about $600 and then $300 for the second incident. Now March 22 I have to replace a coolant bypass valve because it has been failing and my car is overheating again. The HVAC system is not working properly and the car i...

ODI #11726212
Power Train
03/19/2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed or while the vehicle was parked, there was a loud ticking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the flex plate had failed and needed to be replaced, and that additional transmission ...

ODI #11725566
Seat Belts
03/15/2026

Rear right passenger seatbelt came apart at the webbing. When my granddaughter tried to buckle her seatbelt it came apart in her hands. This has been confirmed by the dealer, it appears to have been severed but there has been no accidents.

ODI #11724483
Seat Belts
03/12/2026

Right side rear passenger seat belt malfunction as it won't retract and when pulling it around your body there is no resistance as it just hangs loose.

ODI #11723859
Power Train
03/10/2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, there was an abnormal clanking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the flex plate had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The...

ODI #11723388
Engine
03/07/2026

I am experience coolant intrusion into cylinder 3 causing the check engine light to come on, when.checked on obd2 system shows a misfire on cylinder 3, multiple checks by service centers all diagnose the coolant intrusion defect on the 2.0 ecoboost engine requiring a long block replacement

ODI #11722668
Engine And Engine Cooling
02/24/2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. Th...

ODI #11720222
Suspension,Wheels
02/19/2026

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.

ODI #11719083
Power Train
02/12/2026

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 ...

ODI #11717580
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
02/05/2026

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...

ODI #11715735
Steering,Electrical System
01/29/2026

Electric power steering failed and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The power steering unit failed while driving down a curvy highway in Kenai Burrow, Alaska. I took the vehicle to the local Ford dealer and dropped said vehicle off. The service tech stated that the 2019 Ford escape was prone to having issues with the power steering unit. The vehicle is in the shop at this time...

ODI #11714103
Engine
01/25/2026

Waterpump pulley/ waterpump, yes it's available for inspection. I lost power and a message came up on the screen to shut off the vehicle there was a engine failure , overheating. No, I have not had it confirmed by a dealer yet. No it has not been inspected by any person. I started hearing a noise about a month ago and I was going to make an appointment the same week it happened to break down on me...

ODI #11713249
Engine
01/15/2026

I have a coolant intrusion in my 2019 Ford Escape. It idles roughly, there’s thick sweet smelling white smoke coming from the exhaust and when we refilled the coolant to max and started it once, the coolant level was immediately at the minimum. We have not turned it on or driven it since we found this out. There is a customer satisfaction program for 2019 Ford Escapes for Powertrain Control Module...

ODI #11711177
Engine
01/14/2026

I am submitting this complaint to formally document a known engine defect affecting my 2019 Ford Escape prior to initiating direct contact with Ford Motor Company. My vehicle has recently been diagnosed with a cracked engine block, a defect that is well documented for this model and engine type. I understand that Ford has acknowledged this issue and established a repair or replacement program; ho...

ODI #11710879
Power Train
01/13/2026

My first incident with my 2019 Ford Escape happened when I had my [XXX] in the vehicle with me at a stop sign In November of 2024. As I proceeded to enter the intersection, the vehicle would not accelerate. I was able to reverse enough to get out of the intersection, but was still on the roadway, which is a safety hazard. While I waited for help, I was having to direct traffic around my vehicle, a...

ODI #11710706
Power Train
01/03/2026

The transmission in the vehicle needs replaced. There have been recalls on 2019 ford escapes for the same issue that this vehicle is having.

ODI #11708491
Engine
01/02/2026

Coolant intrusion into the engine potentially causing engine failure. A cracked cylinder head was allowing coolant to leak into one of the 4 cylinders.

ODI #11708329

Showing 20 of 503 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Ford Escape

Has the 2019 FORD ESCAPE been recalled?

Yes, the 2019 FORD ESCAPE has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2019 FORD ESCAPE have?

The 2019 FORD ESCAPE has 503 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 22 involved crashes. 27 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

The 2019 FORD ESCAPE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.

What are the most common problems with the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 FORD ESCAPE involve engine (176 complaints), power train (73 complaints), engine and engine cooling (63 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, power train,engine, engine and engine cooling,engine.

How many crash reports does the 2019 FORD ESCAPE have?

There are 22 crash reports associated with the 2019 FORD ESCAPE out of 503 total complaints (4.4% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2019 FORD ESCAPE have?

There are 3 fire reports for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE out of 503 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE.

How many injuries are reported for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

27 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 FORD ESCAPE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 FORD ESCAPE is proceed with caution. It has 503 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

The components with the most failures on the 2019 FORD ESCAPE are: 1. ENGINE (176 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (73 complaints), 3. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (63 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (17 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (16 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 176 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

Regular maintenance, including checking tires, engine cooling, and automatic transmission, is crucial to avoid safety issues. The 2019 FORD ESCAPE has 503 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).

How reliable is the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

The 2019 FORD ESCAPE receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 503 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 25 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and engine cooling and Automatic transmission.

What are the known issues with the 2019 FORD ESCAPE?

Known issues with the 2019 FORD ESCAPE include: Engine and engine cooling, Automatic transmission, Tires, Electrical equipment. These are based on patterns found across 503 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

What are the most common safety issues with the 2019 Ford Escape?

Engine and engine cooling issues, automatic transmission problems, and tire recalls are the most common.

Are there any recalls for the 2019 Ford Escape?

Yes, recalls have been issued for engine and engine cooling, automatic transmission, and tires.

What should I do if I experience a misfire or check engine light?

Have the vehicle inspected by a professional to diagnose and address the issue promptly.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Regular maintenance, including checking tires, engine cooling, and automatic transmission, is crucial to avoid safety issues.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Ford Escape

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Ford Escape. The data includes 503 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 22 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 27 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

The NHTSA has assigned the 2019 Ford Escape an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.

Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.

Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16