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 and engine cooling
94 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion into the cylinder had caused the engine to fail. 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 NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 58,600.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 11, 2025
The contact's daughter owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, the engine was overheating, and misfiring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into cylinder #4. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe before the vehicle unexpectedly shut off. The contact stated that the vehicle struggled while being restarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact stated that a diagnostic test was performed, and it was discovered that there was coolant entering into the engine, resulting in engine failure. The local dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by mail and the contact recently received a response that the manufacturer was not responsible for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jun 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle jerked, and white smoke was coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with spark plug failure. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and determined that the coolant level was low, and the coolant reservoir was refilled. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir needed to be refilled constantly; however, there were no visible coolant leaks. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and 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 a case was filed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.
Engine and engine cooling, May 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing the engine to fail. 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 NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was running rough, with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that there was a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact stated that when the spark plug was removed, the spark plug fractured, and part of the spark plug was left inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an internal coolant leak and that the short block, along with several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of a possible recall; however, the VIN was not included. 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 11,000.
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power when the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, which caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 43,334.
Engine and engine cooling, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the short block needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact contacted the dealer and scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,301.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was a misfire coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The dealer determined 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 manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,588.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to coolant intrusion. The engine was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate, and the vehicle was running rough. On one occasion during the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. Additionally, on another occasion the engine overheated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic related the failure to an unknown recall and referred the contact to the dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the related recall. The dealer informed the contact that upon test-driving the vehicle, there was smoke coming out from an undisclosed location. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked and attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact became aware of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion inside cylinder #4. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2172 (Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 49,547.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, and the dealer replaced the transmission and the turbo; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto, where it was diagnosed with camshaft failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.