Which Ford Escape years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020 as Escape years to avoid, with 2013 topping the complaint index at 100 and carrying 18 recalls including 1 do-not-drive recall.

Which Subaru Outback years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as Outback years to avoid, with 2019 posting the highest complaint index at 100 out of 1,034 complaints.

Does the Escape or Outback have more complaints?

The Ford Escape has 18,481 total complaints (1,155 per model year) versus the Subaru Outback's 7,647 (478 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Escape or Outback?

The Escape averages 27.7 mpg combined across its model years versus 24.7 mpg combined for the Outback.

What are the top problem areas for each model?

For the Escape, Engine complaints lead at 46% (8,478 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 19%. For the Outback, Electrical System leads at 30% (2,273 complaints), followed by Visibility & Wipers at 26%.

Ford Escape vs Subaru Outback: Which Years to Avoid

Ford Escape years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020; Subaru Outback years to avoid are 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Escape logs 18,481 total complaints across 16 model years (1,155 per year) versus Outback's 7,647 (478 per year), but totals aren't sales-normalized. Escape averages 27.7 mpg combined versus Outback's 24.7 mpg.

Head to head

Ford Escape

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 18,481
Per model year: 1,155
Recall campaigns: 77
Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020
Best years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 27.7
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.4 ★

Subaru Outback

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 7,647
Per model year: 478
Recall campaigns: 49
Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Best years: 2010, 2012, 2014, 2023
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 24.7
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Escape				Outback
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Caution	2,068	3	22	Best	356	18	22
2011	Caution	1,316	2	22	Caution	651	16	22
2012	Good	599	1	23	Best	292	16	22
2013	Avoid	2,749	18	25	Good	297	12	24
2014	Avoid	2,084	16	25	Best	208	10	24
2015	Caution	1,100	9	25	Caution	510	5	25
2016	Good	1,123	4	25	Caution	643	4	25
2017	Avoid	2,684	4	24	Avoid	917	4	25
2018	Caution	1,797	4	24	Avoid	811	3	25
2019	Good	587	3	24	Avoid	1,034	3	25
2020	Avoid	1,599	23	35	Avoid	897	6	27.5
2021	Good	346	19	35	Good	296	4	27.5
2022	Best	231	19	35	Caution	463	4	26
2023	Best	98	11	34.5	Best	89	2	25
2024	Best	76	8	30	Good	102	0	25
2025	Best	24	9	34.5	Good	81	0	25

Complaint Index by year

Ford Escape

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Subaru Outback

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Ford Escape years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2020 as Escape years to avoid, with 2013 topping the complaint index at 100 and carrying 18 recalls including 1 do-not-drive recall.
Which Subaru Outback years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as Outback years to avoid, with 2019 posting the highest complaint index at 100 out of 1,034 complaints.
Does the Escape or Outback have more complaints?: The Ford Escape has 18,481 total complaints (1,155 per model year) versus the Subaru Outback's 7,647 (478 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Escape or Outback?: The Escape averages 27.7 mpg combined across its model years versus 24.7 mpg combined for the Outback.
What are the top problem areas for each model?: For the Escape, Engine complaints lead at 46% (8,478 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 19%. For the Outback, Electrical System leads at 30% (2,273 complaints), followed by Visibility & Wipers at 26%.