YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 891 engine-area complaints for the 2010 Ford Escape, 43% of all 2,068 complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 52,000. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
891
43% of 2,068
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
52,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle surges or lunges forward unexpectedly while the driver's foot is on the brake, sometimes at low speed in a parking lot or at a stop.
  • Engine stalls or loses power while driving, then regains power abruptly after being restarted.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration reported while pulling out of a parking space with the foot off the accelerator.
  • Engine races or jumps during driving, accompanied by a loud noise from the reverse gear.
  • Loss of accelerator response during a turn, with the engine then revving or roaring before response returns.
  • Some of these episodes ended in a crash into another vehicle or fixed object, including one case that also involved a fire.

When 2010 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 21, 2010, latest Oct 26, 2025.

2010 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter3472010 Q32012 Q32014 Q12015 Q32017 Q12018 Q42020 Q32025 Q2
891 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2013 Q3 (347).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010891 (43%)
  2. 2011428 (33%)
  3. 2012128 (21%)
  4. 20131,468 (53%)
  5. 2014902 (43%)
  6. 2015278 (25%)
  7. 2016263 (23%)
  8. 20171,991 (74%)
  9. 20181,438 (80%)
  10. 2019386 (66%)
  11. 2020144 (9%)
  12. 202149 (14%)
  13. 202246 (20%)
  14. 202338 (39%)
  15. 202417 (22%)
  16. 202511 (46%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2010 Ford Escape?
NHTSA lists 891 engine-area complaints for the 2010 Ford Escape, which is 43% of the 2,068 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Ford Escape engine issue?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this specific engine problem area on the 2010 Escape.
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Escape engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 52,000 miles.
Did the 2010 Ford Escape engine problem cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this engine problem area shows 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 5 injuries reported.
What do owners describe happening with the engine?
Owners describe sudden surges or lunges forward, stalling followed by abrupt power return, and unintended acceleration while the foot was off the accelerator.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.