Are you planning to purchase a used Ford Escape and you are trying to learn the Ford Escape years to avoid? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be quite a lot to cover on this topic and we are going to elaborate on everything when it comes to the possible problems with this SUV.
- Ford Escape Overview & History
- Ford Escape Generations
- 1st Generation
- 2nd Generation
- 3rd Generation
- 4th Generation
- Final Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Doing the proper research before you buy a car is always a good thing. On the market, there are dozens of brands and hundreds of vehicles. And all of them have problems. Some more and some of them less.
And this is why your mission is to find the ones that have the least problems. Why is this essential? Well, some of them have really expensive problems that will make you regret purchasing the vehicle. Just imagine buying a car with a problematic engine. Having one of these vehicles will be a complete nightmare and you will pay thousands to replace it. This is why we are going to give our best to help you out avoid these situations and not regret them later on.
So, first, we are going to learn what is the Ford Escape and then we will move on to the generations. There are a total of four generations of this model and we are going to cover as much as we can on them in terms of specs, problems, best years, and also the Ford Escape years to avoid. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Ford Escape
So, before we start discussing the generations and the Ford Escape years to avoid for each one of them, let’s take a look at what is the Ford Escape in general. Why is this essential? Well, because there are people who are interested in this model and do not know the core concepts of this vehicle yet.
So, what is the Ford Escape? The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV that is offered specifically for the US market.
This model was basically Ford’s attempt to hop on the crossover bandwagon in the early 2000s and the first generation of the Escape was jointly built with Mazda.
As you probably know, Ford had a long-lasting partnership with Mazda, and these two companies shared a ton of the know-how, as well as components between them. And this is quite noticeable in cars produced till 2008 when these two companies parted their ways.
Nevertheless, even though the Ford-Mazda partnership is not there anymore, the Escape is one of these products that survived and it sells really well in the US market.
And during these long years, there were a total of four different generations released on the market. And frankly, this model sells rather well, with more than 250,000 units annually is one of the best sellers on the market.
What you should know right now is that even though the Escape might have a legendary status, it still has some problems. And also Ford Escape years to avoid. And that’s what we are going to discuss later on.
Ford Escape Generations
Now let’s take a look at the different Ford Escape generations. In the following chapters, we will go through each of these generations and discuss more about them.
First, we will learn the basic specs for each of them. Then we will cover the common problems, reliability, best years, and also the Ford Escape years to avoid.
First Generation Ford Escape 2000 – 2007
The first generation of the Ford Escape was jointly developed with the Japanese carmaker Mazda and was released in 2001 with production ending in 2007.
The model was based on the Ford CD2 platform. Even though the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape shared the platform, the only panels that were completely the same were the floor and the roof. Everything else was totally different.
This was one of the first models that American automakers offered with a unibody platform. Since most of the vehicles produced back in the day implemented a body-on-frame design which was not that well suited for modern times. So, we can say that the Ford Escape was a revolutionary vehicle in a certain sense.
In terms of trim levels, it is worth saying that there were a couple of them. Namely the XLS, XLT, XLT Sport, and Limited. There was also an option between 2WD and 4WD drive trains. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that, in a moment.
Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, it is worth mentioning that there were three engines available. A 2.0L inline-4 engine as well as a 2.3L inline-4 Duratec 23 engine. While the most powerful offering was the Duratec 3.0L V6 engine that produced 200hp.
In terms of transmissions, there was a 5-speed manual and two 4-speed automatics. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a moment.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy was average. The 2.0L managed to get 23 mpg combined, while the 3.0L engine managed to get 18 mpg combined.
The 2.3L with the hybrid had a really good fuel economy of 28 mpg combined. And this is probably the model that you want if you are in search of one of these models. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Safety
Since the model is now 22 years old, we can say that is pretty much outdated for modern standards. It lacks a lot of modern safety equipment and if you are really interested in safety, then going for a newer-generation model might be the way to go. But for its time, the first-generation Escape wasn’t a bad vehicle.
Ford Escape Problems
When it comes to problems, we can say that the 3.0L engine was not particularly good. It had a number of problems reported on carcomplaints.com. In the worst case, engine failures were inevitable. So, you should definitely avoid the 3.0L engine.
Also, many problems with the automatic transmission were reported as well. A ton of failures during the whole production stint. So, you should also be aware of this as well.
And the last big problem is rust issues on the 2005 and 2006 models. Namely, rusting problems on the wheel wells. As well as rust on the shock towers.
In addition to this, a ton of electrical problems were present in the car. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Ford Escape Reliability
When it comes to reliability, we can say that this model is really mediocre. There are engine problems with the 3.0L engine, as well as problems with the automatic transmission during the whole production stint.
Best Year For Ford Escape
When it comes to the best year, it is really hard to name one. Overall, all years have had problems. If you can, go for the 2007 model year, this model year has the least complaints about problems. Still, the automatic transmission can be a problem though. If you can, get a manual transmission with the 2.0L or 2.3L engines.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid
So, what are the Ford Escape years to avoid? Well, you should definitely avoid 2005 to 2006. These models have rust issues. Mechanical problems are fixable, but rust issues are not that easy to repair.
Also, try to avoid the 3.0L engine as well as the automatic transmissions, since these vehicles are the most problematic overall.
Second Generation Ford Escape 2007 – 2012
The second generation of the Ford Escape debuted in 2006 and was released for the 2007 model year. This model was a mild refresh of the existing Escape.
The new generation of the Escape was still based on the CD2 platform that Ford jointly created with Mazda. This model was assembled in Claycomo, Missouri, and was produced until 2012, when it was replaced with the next generation.
This new model implemented a revised front fascia and new design cues to make the Escape more up-to-date with the standards at the time. The main changes happened under the hood, and more on that we are going to cover next before we learn the Ford Escape years to avoid.
Engines & Transmissions
This model included a new engine, the 2.5L that replaced the 2.3L from 2009. This engine produced 171hp and 171lb-ft of torque.
The second optional engine was the 3.0L V6. But this engine was heavily updated in comparison to the previous one and produced 40hp more. This bumped the horsepower numbers to 240hp, and 223lb-ft of torque.
Also, there were new transmissions, a 5-speed manual was the base and there were two automatics. A 4-speed and a 6-speed automatic transmission. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy was also decent. The 2.5L engine was really efficient and able to get about 34 mpg with the hybrid offering. The 3.0L managed to get 19 mpg combined.
Safety
The safety of the new generation was improved and this model was well-equipped with new safety features. Ford improved the model, making it more up-to-date. Still, this model is at least 10 years old, so you cannot expect it to perform as well as the 2022 model.
Ford Escape Problems
The 2008 model had a lot of problems. Namely, the automatic transmission tends to fail on these models similar to the previous generation.
The second biggest problem is the power steering failure that often occurs. There were also rusting issues reported on the 2008 model.
For the 2010 to 2012 model year, throttle body failures were also a common thing. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Ford Escape Reliability
In comparison to the previous generation, this model of the Escape was a big improvement. Still, it was more or less the same car. So, it kept being prone to similar issues as the earlier model.
The transmission is the major headache along with the throttle body failures that often occurred.
Best Year For Ford Escape
When it comes to the best year for Ford Escape, we would say to get the 2012 model year or 2011 if you have the budget. These models have the least reports on problems. Still, be aware of rust problems because these vehicles can rust quite heavily.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid
When it comes to the Ford Escape years to avoid, we will definitely recommend you avoid the 2008 model year. It has major problems with power steering, transmission issues, and also rust problems.
Third Generation Ford Escape 2013 – 2019
Since Ford has dissolved their partnership with Mazda, for the third generation of the Escape they were on their own.
And for this model, Ford decided to borrow a model from the European branch of Ford. Basically, they used the Ford Kuga offered in Europe and sold it here in the US.
And this model was a true change in comparison to the previous generation. It was a completely different and modern vehicle, unlike the previous generation which was based on a 13-year-old platform. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, there were three engines used in this model. A 1.6L inline-4 turbo, a 2.0L inline-4 turbo, and a 2.5L inline-4 Duratec engine.
There were also more advanced transmissions. One 6-speed manual and two 6-speed automatics.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy was also significantly better, the 1.6L turbo achieved similar fuel economy to the hybrid from the previous generation. About 30 mpg, So, this was quite an improvement.
Safety
On the safety tests, this new model also performed really well, it scored 5 stars on most of the NHTSA tests, as well as on the IIHS tests it scored also Good scores. Except for the small overlap frontal offset test.
Ford Escape Problems
Still, problems have followed this generation of the Escape in a similar fashion as the previous generation.
There were problems reported with the 1.6L engine. The engine simply shut down and lost power, this was due to the ignition components. Namely, the ignition coils. The check engine light lighting up was also a common thing.
This engine is also known for drinking a lot of coolant. There are many problems on these engines reported concerning the coolant burning issue.
Power steering failures and transmission failures were also reported. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Ford Escape Reliability
The overall reliability of this model is a bit better in comparison to the previous model. Still, it has a lot of issues with the 1.6L engine. So, beware of this engine and its common problems.
Best Year For Ford Escape
When it comes to the best years, we would say to go after a newer model. 2015 and later model year if you can afford one. The first two model years have a lot of problems reported. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid
When it comes to the Ford Escape years to avoid, we would advise you to avoid 2013 and 2014. These have the most reports for problems.
Also, avoid the 1.6L engine, it is reportedly very prone to drinking coolant. And this is a big problem since the problem is really expensive to fix. So, beware of this problem with this certain engine.
Fourth Generation Ford Escape 2020 – Present
The fourth generation of the Kuga/Escape was welcomed in 2019 and was introduced to the market in 2020.
This model is also based on the European Kuga. But it is quite different in comparison to the previous model.
This model implements a restyled front fascia and looks quite modern and up-to-date. And frankly, when it comes to the vehicles in this segment, I would say that it is one of the best offerings right now if you are after a new model. But what are the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, there are three options available. A 1.5L inline-3 turbocharged engine that is making 181hp and 190lb-ft of torque. A 2.0L inline-4 turbocharged that is making 250hp and 280lb-ft. As well as a 2.5L Duratec Atkinson Cycle engine that runs quite efficiently.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy for the 1.5L is really good. It gets 28 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. While the 2.5L hybrid is making 37 mpg in the city, 44 mpg on the highway, and 41 mpg combined.
Safety
The newest generation of the Escape was tested by the IIHS and the model scored Good scores on most of their tests. The Good score at IIHS is practically the highest score possible. Overall, an improvement compared to the previous generation.
Ford Escape Problems
Overall, there are no major problems reported with this generation of the Escape. The model is still quite new and still very unproven on the roads.
There are only minor issues reported on carcomplaints.com. Which is not quite enough for us to create an opinion on the specific problem. Luckily, there are no coolant leaks in the cylinders reported as of now. But what about the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that in a moment.
Ford Escape Reliability
For now, the reliability of the model is yet to be determined. The model is only two years old and still very unproven on the roads. So, as of now, cannot form an opinion on its overall reliability.
Best Year For Ford Escape
When it comes to the best year for the Ford Escape, we would recommend that you go for a model that is newer. 2021 or 2022 model year to be more precise.
The newer the car, the fewer problems that you will have. The first production years of a certain model can always be more problematic than other model years. So, what are the Ford Escape years to avoid? More on that we will cover next.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid
When it comes to the Ford Escape years to avoid, we would definitely recommend you to avoid the 2020 model year.
First model years are always prone to problems more than the other years that follow. The latest generation is still new and unproven and there might be some hidden issues that are not quite yet known, since there are not many reports on them. Now let’s conclude what we’ve learned.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid: In Conclusion…
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the Ford Escape years to avoid. First, we learned what the Ford Escape is and learned the core concepts of this model, and we know that it belongs in the compact crossover SUV segment.
Then we covered the last four generations of this model. We learned the basic specs, engines and transmissions, fuel economy, common problems, best years, and also the Ford Escape years to avoid for each generation.
Ford Escape Years To Avoid: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
Is A Ford Escape An SUV
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV. This means that it is bigger than a subcompact and smaller than a mid-size SUV.
Where Are Ford Escapes Made
The Ford Escape production changed quite frequently during the years. Nowadays the latest generation of the Escape is produced in Louisville, Kentucky at the Louisville Assembly Plant.
How Reliable Is The Ford Escape
Overall, this problem struggles with reliability. There are some issues that plague the model since the beginning. Namely, engine and transmission problems. So, you need to be really aware of the possible problems and avoid certain engines and transmissions.
Do Ford Escapes Have A Lot Of Problems
Yes, they definitely have certain problems. More precisely, problems with the 3.0L engine in the first generation, the transmission problems that are present for all three first generations. Also, power steering problems are present, as well as coolant burning problems with the 1.6L engine of the third-generation Escape.
What Problems Do Ford Escapes Have
Transmission problems are the most common. More specifically, the automatic transmissions of this model. Also, there are rust issues starting from 2005, there are power steering failures in the second and third generations. Coolant burning problems on the 1.6L engine from the third generation Escape.
What Ford Engines To Avoid
You should avoid the 3.0L engine from the first generation, this engine is rather problematic. As well as the 1.6L engine of the third generation. This engine tends to drink a lot of coolant.
