2021 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

38Engine complaints

11.7%Of all 324 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE:BODY64 · 19.8%

Unspecified / other55 · 17%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE41 · 12.7%

SERVICE BRAKES40 · 12.3%

ENGINE38 · 11.7%

Share of the 324 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“No incident, but complaint regarding Ford's untimely correction of safety recall 22S73, NHTSA Recall 22V859. Recall notice sent in January 2023; thus far Ford (Woody…”NHTSA complaint 11522472 — filed 05/17/2023

“The vehicle still has not been serviced due to the dealerships informing me that they do not have the parts even though I received notice…”NHTSA complaint 11520630 — filed 05/05/2023

“FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL.”NHTSA complaint 11514426 — filed 03/29/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Ford Escape have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2021 Ford Escape: 38 of 324 complaints on file (11.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Ford Escape have in total?

324 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.