The Most Common 2019 Ford Escape Problems
If you have a 2019 Ford Escape, you’ll want to be aware of its common powertrain and electrical issues.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Brenna Swanston
The 2019 Ford Escape gets top-notch reliability ratings, but that doesn’t make it immune to common problems like transmission and electrical issues.
The small Escape is one of the most popular crossovers on the market thanks to its nimble frame and affordability. Whether you’re looking for an athletic commuter or a fuel-efficient family car, the Escape is a worthy option—but it’s far from perfect.
If you’re worried about the common problems plaguing the 2019 Ford Escapes, worry no more. We’re here to walk you through issues other Escape drivers have experienced to ease your mind.
The most common 2019 Ford Escape problems
The 2019 Ford Escape is known for being a fun and affordable compact crossover, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. The 2019 Escape has been recalled twice, along with receiving 144 official customer complaints through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
One recall involved a detached shift cable, causing unexpected rollways, even when the car is in park. The second recall was for possible sudden air loss in tires or belt edge separation due to over-cured tires. Both of these issues could very easily cause a dangerous accident.
The customer complaints were much more varied, and most of them involved the powertrain—including the engine—and the electrical components of the vehicle.
Engine
Engine complaints were the most prevalent for the 2019 model, but some issues were worse than others. The most serious issue customers experienced involved their Escape revving, sputtering, or jerking before making a loud noise and losing power. This issue was found to be caused by coolant leaking into the engine leading to overheating, and it required a complete engine replacement.
Other engine-related issues customers complained about involved a faulty head gasket, purge valve issues, trouble accelerating over 60 mph, and problems with the evaporative emission system emitting fuel vapors into the cabin.
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Transmission
Another key part of the 2019 Escape’s powertrain that caused trouble for some drivers is its transmission, largely related to the shift cable recall. In a handful of cases, the Escape failed to shift into the right gear or move forward, or it revved when shifting into park. Several customers noticed grinding sounds or jerking movements, and in extreme cases, the vehicle rolled away on its own.
Since this problem was part of a recall, you should be able to get this fixed at a local Ford dealership.
Electrical system
The electrical system encompasses a wide range of parts, and for the 2019 Ford Escape, customers complained about nearly all of them. Some customers had issues with the Escape spontaneously activating the hazard lights and randomly locking and unlocking, and others experienced more serious electrical issues. Namely, the active safety features got a little too active.
Customers reported their Escape’s driver assistance features—like lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, front camera, ABS, skid control, and cruise control—either sending faulty error messages or braking suddenly. Drivers also experienced the speedometer and other dashboard lights illuminating and going off without cause.
Is the 2019 Ford Escape reliable?
Despite these issues, the 2019 Ford Escape is a great vehicle overall. J.D. Power gave the model an 87/100 rating for quality and reliability and ranked it the number three compact SUV of 2019. RepairPal also gave the 2019 Escape a 4.0/5.0 rating for reliability across all models.
RepairPal reports that the Ford Escape costs an average of $600 per year for repairs across all year models, which is average for the class. However, major repairs aren’t common for the Escape.
MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
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