YearToAvoid

2019 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Engine complaints account for 386 of 587 total complaints (66%) for the 2019 Ford Escape, the largest share of any problem area. NHTSA lists no recall tied to this engine issue. Median mileage at failure is 71,000 miles.

Engine complaints
386
66% of 587
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
71,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or shuts off suddenly while driving at low or highway speeds, sometimes triggering an auto stop-start error message.
  • Coolant intrudes into the cylinder heads, producing white smoke at startup, coolant loss, and stuttering with the check engine light on.
  • Vehicle surges unexpectedly at low speed, in one case leading to a crash into a utility pole.
  • Rough running and misfiring at highway speed accompanied by check engine light and multiple trouble codes, sometimes requiring reprogramming.
  • Complete engine failure reported at low mileage, with dealers stating a full engine replacement was needed.

When 2019 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 7, 2019, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2019 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter482019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
386 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (48).

Engine recalls for the 2019 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 common are engine problems on the 2019 Ford Escape?
Engine complaints make up 386 of the 587 total complaints filed for the 2019 Escape, or 66% of all complaints for the year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Ford Escape engine problems?
NHTSA's data shows no related recall listed for this engine issue on the 2019 Escape.
At what mileage do 2019 Ford Escape engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 71,000 miles.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these engine complaints?
NHTSA records show 4 crashes and 4 injuries among the 386 engine complaints for the 2019 Escape, and no fires.
How does the 2019 Escape compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 66% share for 2019 is lower than 2017 (74%) and 2018 (80%) but higher than 2020 (9%) and most other Escape model years.

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.