YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Escape Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 507 Fuel System complaints for the 2010 Ford Escape, 25% of all 2,068 complaints that year, with median failure mileage of 56,895. A related recall (16V777000) covers a fuel supply port issue on 2010-2012 Escapes.

Fuel System complaints
507
25% of 2,068
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
56,895 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of acceleration or power at highway speeds, sometimes with a wrench warning light and no throttle response.
  • Fuel odor and visible fuel leaking from under the vehicle during refueling, described as a fire hazard.
  • Purge valve failure allowing raw gas into the evap canister, causing engine surging, hesitation, stalling at idle, and a gas smell with the check engine light on.
  • Capless fuel filler neck and refuel nozzle jamming at the pump, in one case leading to sparks and fire department involvement.
  • Unintended acceleration or vehicle jerking forward while the driver's foot was off the accelerator, in one instance resulting in a crash.

When 2010 Ford Escape fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 8, 2011, latest Sep 11, 2026.

2010 Ford Escape fuel system complaints: complaints filed per quarter1492011 Q42013 Q32015 Q22016 Q42018 Q22019 Q42021 Q32025 Q1
507 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q3 (149).

Fuel System recalls for the 2010 Ford Escape

  1. NHTSA 16V777000Oct 26, 2016Fuel System329,265 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.

Fuel System complaints by Escape model year

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

  1. 2010507 (25%)
  2. 2011284 (22%)
  3. 2012160 (27%)
  4. 2013286 (10%)
  5. 2014137 (7%)
  6. 201557 (5%)
  7. 201670 (6%)
  8. 201795 (4%)
  9. 201854 (3%)
  10. 201924 (4%)
  11. 2020194 (12%)
  12. 202173 (21%)
  13. 202284 (36%)
  14. 20237 (7%)
  15. 20245 (7%)
  16. 20252 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2010 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 507 Fuel System complaints for the 2010 Ford Escape, which is 25% of all 2,068 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Ford Escape fuel system?
Yes. Recall 16V777000, reported October 26, 2016, covers 2010-2012 Ford Escape and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles; Ford replaces the fuel supply module flange with a redesigned fuel supply port at no cost.
At what mileage do 2010 Escape fuel system problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median failure mileage of 56,895 miles for fuel system complaints on the 2010 Escape.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to the fuel system complaints?
NHTSA records show 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries associated with the 507 fuel system complaints for the 2010 Escape.

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.