2019 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 588 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 24 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 28 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
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.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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 once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Jun 10, 2022
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.
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.
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresMar 10, 2021
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 21V155000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
384 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Feb 24, 2025
Cracked Flex plate/flywheel repaired under warranty less than two years ago. Flex plate/flywheel again loose and/or cracked requiring hours of labor to replace and out of pocket expenses.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with cruise control activated, the engine started to overheat. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with head gasket failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had failed, causing the engine to fail. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced with an improved part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided due to the mileage. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 12, 2025
Coolant leakage into cylinders and a broken timing belt upon attempting to start and drive the vehicle 10 feet, resulting in the entire engine being considered broken, needing replacement.
Engine, Feb 11, 2025
The engine failed (melted piston) such that I had a sudden lose of power while driving down the expressway. This resulted in my vehicle speed going from 70 MPH to 30 MPH. This resulted in my having to get to the shoulder of the road as quickly as possible to get out of the way of traffic. The vehicle was driven to the dealer (i.e. limp home mode). DTC's P0304 and P0302 were present. The dealer diagnosed the failure of the engine due to a melted piston. This resulted in the vehicle needing a complete engine replacement. I sold the vehicle as is to a scrap yard. The vehicle was running normally and there were no warnings of any kind leading up to the incident.
Engine, Feb 10, 2025
*Error "High Engine Temperature Stop Safely" Known issue - available for inspection *Engine may blow up *not yet *not yet *Yes - see above
Power train, Engine, Feb 9, 2025
My car will not drive. Power train light came on out of no where o was less than a mile from home and car keep going from 40 rpm to 5 rpm and would move hardly at all and then speed up. Car makes noise after turn it off like the csp. I have been told the CSP is not valid for me and this is going to be a very expensive repair up to $15,000. Can not believe Ford is not being held accountable for this
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost automotive power and almost shut off. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that later while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant inside the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Engine, Feb 4, 2025
I have a 2019 Ford Escape Ecoboost, and the engine had to be replaced at 64,000 miles due to an issue with 2017-2019 Ford Escapes, which Ford did not recall. What happens is the engine sucks all of the antifreeze out of its compartment and dumps it onto the engine block, ruining the engine. It's ridiculous that Ford did not recall this issue, as it is terribly costly to replace an engine on a vehicle. What's even more ridiculous is having to replace an engine with so few miles and paying out of pocket when you're still paying for the vehicle. Some have reported having to have their engine replaced at 15,000 on these same vehicles. Ford needs to be held accountable, if not sued over this issue. And, the dealerships are not nice when they have to fix the problem. Worst and most costly experience with a vehicle ever!
Engine, Feb 2, 2025
I brought my car into Ford while under warranty because I was having problems. It was told to me that I needed an engine so ford didn’t contact my warranty company & decided to pay out of there pocket for a short block. The new engine & short block was supposedly put in. Months later I experienced the same problem & brought it back to Ford. Ford told me they don’t have to fix it being that my extended warranty doesn’t cover it.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing the engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.
Engine, Jan 24, 2025
The engine in this vehicle has a known design flaw (see Ford Customer Satisfaction Programs 19B37/21N12) that causes the cylinder head gasket to fail at a location that allows coolant to enter the cylinder. Coolant contains chemicals like ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. While not easily flammable at room temperature, coolant can catch fire if it reaches its autoignition temperature, which can happen when exposed to the extreme heat and pressure inside an engine cylinder during combustion. The gasket failure also exposes the coolant passages within the cylinder head to these extreme temperatures and allows exhaust gases to enter through the failure location. Additionally, the coolant leak will also cause the engine to run at a higher temperature and the increased heat can further elevate the fire risk. Ford admits to this issue and will replace the engine in affected vehicles through Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, however this program conveniently expired in November 2022, before most owners were made aware of the issue. This extremely dangerous defect does not become less dangerous with the passage of time and there should be no time limit on this repair. Either a class action lawsuit or action by the NHTSA will be required to force Ford to make these repairs. My own vehicle has been parked and not driven for well over a year due to this issue. It was replaced with a Chevrolet Traverse and I refuse to sell the defective Ford Escape to an unsuspecting buyer who would unwittingly be putting their family’s lives in danger.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 23, 2025
The 2019 Ford Escape (purchased new in December 2018) was taken to the Nick Mayer Ford (Mayfield Heights, Ohio where it was purchased) service department in August/September 2024 for a computer diagnostic analysis for a previous warranty recall/repair problems regarding short block replacement for coolant intrusion that was not performed/corrected several years prior in 2021 when only the turbocharger was replaced. The problem was excessive smoke being emitted at engine start back in 2021 when the only turbocharger was replaced and the problem reappeared in August 2024. Nick Mayer Ford had the vehicle for two weeks in August/September 2024 and provided neither a computer diagnostic analysis report nor repair of the previous recall/repair issues (2021) including no explanation/resolution of the problem. Currently, due to the previous undiagnosed/unresolved problems, the engine failed at 70,000 miles in December 2024 and the long engine block has to be replaced. The engine warning lamp was on at the time of engine failure. We are still paying on a car loan for the vehicle. References: 1. Ford Help Desk Assistance Claim Case# [XXX] on 12/5/2024 filed with Tanya E. for short block replacement for coolant intrusion. 2. Ohio Attorney General Matter Number [XXX] on 12/6/2024 filed with Ross. 3. Ohio Attorney General Consumer Complaint# [XXX] filed online on 1/3/2025.
Engine, Jan 23, 2025
so its the worst case, there is coolant in multiple cylinders that is why that plug is seized. that coolant leaking in there causes corrosion and essentially welds that plug in place. so i need an engine.
Engine, Jan 22, 2025
Coolant is leaking into engine, engine is needing a complete replacement
Engine, Jan 21, 2025
rough run condition when cold. coolant reservoir almost empty. Block test failed for hydrocarbons in the cooling system indicating a failed cylinder head to block gasket ror cracked head.P0302 misfire for cylinder 2 Issues have been addressed in Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 happened about a week ago in Jan 2025 then the check engine light came on within the week. vehicle odometer is at 82700
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. The contact stated that the failure had increased significantly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was making an abnormally loud knocking sound due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Engine, Jan 16, 2025
flex plate cracked/ broke at 65K miles. common problem with this engine. Ford not covering this repair and there is a Campaign #22N12 that covers this repair on several other vehicles with the same engine but the escape not included?
Engine, Jan 14, 2025
Ford 2.0L Turbo Ecoboost engine coolant infusion issue. The problem is a known issue (TSB 22-2229 for 2.0L). Vehicle is now at the dealership where is was diagnosed after taking in the vehicle for a Check Engine light.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 27, 2024
I haven't had an issue YET but my mother has the same exact vehicle and Ford's well known issue with the coolant leaking and destroying the engine has happened to her. She is now out $8500 for an issue that they KNOW about and should be recalling and fixing. I am submitting a complaint because I am sure I am next.
Engine, Dec 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into cylinder #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The failure mileage was 124,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Dec 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power, with the message “Engine Overheating” displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a cracked engine block that caused coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,758.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle intermittently shuddered and stalled, and the vehicle failed to return to normal operation. The contact waited several minutes for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Engine, Dec 11, 2024
Coolant leak in the engine
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started overheating with the high engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and added coolant to the coolant reservoir and waited for the engine to cool down. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that the coolant reservoir level was low and added coolant. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the same diagnostic result was provided to the contact. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Power train, Engine, Nov 22, 2024
I purchased my 2019 ford escape 1.5 ecoboost almost 3 years ago and now without any common symptoms I have a manufacture fault caused coolant leak into my engine. To keep my vehicle in a safe driving condition I would need a new $10K engine replacement. Ford negligently did not recall the part that caused the issue.