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, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2024
Coolant entered the engine cylinders and the engine failed at 65000 miles. The vehicle is 5 years old. I am now underwater on the vehicle and I see forums where many people have experienced this.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the instrument panel displayed an "Engine System Fault" message, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the coolant level was below the minimal level, with coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. The coolant level was topped off. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated significantly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #4, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating while accelerating, with white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant was present inside the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the EVAP failure message was displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle failed to immediately restart. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the high-pressure fuel pump, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 88,375.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power with the check engine warning light displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence and later driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant was present inside cylinder #2. The contact was advised that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 63,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle began to drive rough and was hesitating. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed a misfire in the cylinder #2 and that the number two spark plug was fractured. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who discovered that coolant was present inside cylinder #2 and informed that the engine short block was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 74,800.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Jan 26, 2024
Coolant intrusion into the engine Ford says known issue with 2019 escape but they are not going to do anything about it till they are made to
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he had been filling the coolant reservoir constantly prior to the engine stalling due to the engine overheating. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove it to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact stated that the dealer replaced the short block under Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2139 - Coolant Intrusion into the Cylinders (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,619.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Engine, Oct 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the engine was replaced. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the oil was changed. The contact's son noticed that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust and noticed that the coolant level was low. The contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact's neighbor informed her that there was white smoke coming from the tail pipe. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the driver's side CV joint was leaking, and the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving the “Transmission Service Now” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the torque converter valve needed to be replaced or the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated there was an unknown substance in the line. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle started to shake and then shut off, and inadvertently manually restarted. The check engine warning light and the coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. A message displayed on the instrument panel “Please Pull Over”. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the failure was a known issue. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the engine overheating warning light illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle had received an oil change and the coolant reservoir was topped off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant leaking into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 86,235.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after attempting to start the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated; however, the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumpstarted, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message displayed on the instrument panel “Engine overheated - Pull Over”. The contact pulled off the road and turned off the vehicle to allow the engine to cool down. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the crank shaft sensor light illuminated and turned off. Additionally, the contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving over 45 MPH, she turned on the air conditioning system and the coolant temperature warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to overheat. The contact pulled off the road and allowed the engine to cool down. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that cylinder #3 had misfired and that the engine block was cracked, and coolant had leaked into the engine block and the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact was able to pull over onto the emergency lane. The high temperature alert message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who declined to service the vehicle and referred him to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed back to the same local dealer who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed due to the engine coolant mixing with the engine oil, and that the camshaft was damaged. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Sep 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clapping sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer in Kansas where the contact was informed that the failure was due to a friction plate issue however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder head and that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving there was an abnormal clapping noise detected with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Legacy Ford (27225 Southwest Fwy, Rosenberg, TX 77471, (281)342-5611) where a diagnostic test and repair was unknown. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Sep 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond and started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that at times she would veer to the side of the road for a moment before resuming normal driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where four spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into the engine and the engine block was cracked. The dealer diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that she needed to pay out-of-pocket for the repair because the failure could not be repaired under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would not assist unless she purchased a used engine as the engine production had been discontinued. The failure mileage was approximately 65,900.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2022
2019 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 27, 2022
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169807-0001.pdf My coolant is leaking into my cylinder. Making my car misfire and have P0301 code. Cylinder and spark plugs have been replaced. But error is still coming and coolant get lower every day. This needs to be recalled as many people are having this issue. Its not our fault and shouldn't have to pay to replace the short block and engine for a car's manufacturing issues. The car doesn't run right and its very pricey to fix.