The 2013 Ford Escape has more NHTSA complaints than any other Escape model year: 2,755 as of October 24, 2026. The 2017 is almost level at 2,698, and the 2008 has 2,414. Engine complaints, most of them about coolant and overheating, dominate the 2013 and 2017; steering dominates the 2008.
The Escape has drawn 29,385 complaints across the 2001 through 2026 model years. The counts aren't adjusted for how many of each year Ford sold, and owners decide whether to file.
Which Escape years have the most complaints?
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2,755 |
| 2017 | 2,698 |
| 2008 | 2,414 |
| 2010 | 2,124 |
| 2014 | 2,084 |
| 2020 | 1,894 |
| 2009 | 1,845 |
| 2018 | 1,817 |
Eight model years have more than 1,800 complaints each. The 2013 and 2020 each opened a generation and the 2017 was a refresh; all three are in the top six.
What's wrong with the 2017 Escape's engine?
On the 2017, the engine is named in 1,992 of 2,698 complaints, about 74%, the most lopsided of the three years broken down here.
I searched the narratives for repeated words. Of the 2017's 2,698 complaints, 1,550 mention coolant or overheating, and 304 mention a head gasket, the cylinder head or a crack. A smaller group, 262, describe stalling or a loss of power.
RideTruth's recall list for the 2017 has 4 campaigns, and none is filed under the engine, so a coolant repair won't come through a recall. Ask a Ford dealer whether any warranty extension applies to the VIN; those don't show up in recall data. Keyword counts are rough, too: a narrative can match a search without describing the problem.
What's wrong with the 2013 Escape?
The 2013's engine is named in 1,429 of its 2,755 complaints, and the story overlaps with the 2017's: 845 mention coolant or overheating and 669 describe stalling or a loss of power. 318 mention fire, smoke or burning.
Unlike the 2017, the 2013 has a long recall list: 18 campaigns. Only the 2020, with 25, and the 2021 and 2022, with 21 each, have more.
Three are filed under the engine or engine cooling, in 2012 and 2013, and two under fuel lines. Most of the rest cover door latches, air bags, wiring and the transmission, plus a brake pedal, seat recliners, a door structure and an engine block heater.
What went wrong with the 2008 Escape?
Steering. It's named in 1,236 of the 2008's 2,414 complaints, about half.
In the narratives, 876 describe the steering losing its power assist, failing, stiffening or locking, and 302 mention a power steering warning light or message. Campaign 14V284000, filed in May 2014, covers a steering torque sensor in the electric power steering on the 2008 through 2011 Escape. The 2010 shares the theme at a smaller size, with 348 complaints describing the same kind of steering trouble.
Which Escape years have the fewest complaints?
Among years with a real record, the 2022 is lowest at 382, then the 2007 at 393, with the 2004 and 2021 at 496 each. The 2023 through 2026 have 138, 88, 30 and 4 so far, too young to say much.
Which Escape years should you avoid?
The 2013 and 2017, if the complaint record is your guide, then the 2008 and 2010 for steering. The 2014 (2,084) and 2020 (1,894) are next by count; they're worth the same pre-purchase checks, though I haven't broken their complaints down here. On a 2013 or 2017, check the coolant reservoir level cold, ask whether coolant has been topped up repeatedly, and get a cooling-system pressure test before buying. On a 2008 to 2010, confirm campaign 14V284000 was completed and turn the wheel lock to lock during the test drive.
Before you pay, run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. Ford's 2026 recalls so far, including campaigns that still list older Escapes, are in our Ford recall roundup. Once you own one, add it to your RideTruth garage and new campaigns show up there.