2019 Ford Escape: Common Problems, Recalls and Vehicle Data

What the public data shows

The 2019 Ford Escape's public record includes three recall campaigns, spread across three separate systems rather than clustered in one: tires (campaign 21V155000, covering over-cured tires that could lose air or shed tread), power train (22V413000, involving a bushing issue that could allow unexpected vehicle movement or rollaway in Park), and equipment (26V011000, an electrical short circuit with a fire risk). No repeat-repair campaigns appear in the data, and there is no open investigation on file for this model year. Complaints filed with NHTSA are heavily weighted toward the engine category, which accounts for 327 of 578 complaints, or 57 percent — a notably concentrated pattern. Drivetrain complaints follow at 115 (20 percent), with the remaining categories, including electrical and other, making up smaller shares. Separately, service bulletins show a similar tilt: of 125 bulletins, 33 concern the electrical system and 27 concern engine and engine cooling. Bulletins are not recalls; they represent guidance Ford gave dealers for addressing reported symptoms, not confirmed defects or safety actions. CarTold has examined a related pattern in more depth in "2017–2019 Ford Escape: Coolant Loss and Rough-Running Complaints," which readers can consult for additional context. As with any model year, the complaint counts here reflect how often owners reported issues to NHTSA, not a measured rate of failure across all vehicles on the road.

582 complaints on file with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped into CarTold's broad component categories.

Most frequently reported, by the specific component NHTSA logged each complaint under (not CarTold's category groupings above):

• ENGINE — 216 complaints (37%)
• POWER TRAIN — 77 complaints (13%)
• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 67 complaints (12%)
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 24 complaints (4%)
• UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 19 complaints (3%)
• TIRES — 11 complaints (2%)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

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 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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

TIRES

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.

NHTSA crash-tests each body-style/drivetrain configuration separately, so ratings can differ by variant — shown as tested, not averaged. See how the 5-star ratings work, including why an overall score isn't the average of the three category scores.