Model research hub
Ford Escape
MotorTrend says the current Ford Escape may bow out after the 2026 model year, and that in the 2026 Escape lineup, the hybrid stands out as a smart choice, continuing a reputation it built with its 2020 hybrid review titled 'Why It's the Best Way to Escape.' Car and Driver confirms the Escape Hybrid sees no changes for 2026, which is likely to be its last year on the market. CarWeek says the 2026 Ford Escape Hybrid continues to be a staple in the manufacturer's electrified lineup, offering a balance of urban maneuverability and high-efficiency performance.
Possibly its final model year
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the current Ford Escape may bow out after the 2026 model year, and that in the 2026 Escape lineup, the hybrid stands out as a smart choice.
No changes for what may be its last year
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) confirms the Escape Hybrid sees no changes for 2026, which is likely to be its last year on the market.
Still a staple of Ford's electrified lineup
CarWeek (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Ford Escape Hybrid continues to be a staple in the manufacturer's electrified lineup, offering a balance of urban maneuverability and high-efficiency performance.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Ford Escape being discontinued?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) and Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) both say it may bow out after the 2026 model year.
Is the Ford Escape Hybrid changing for 2026?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says no, it sees no changes for what's likely its last year.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Ford Escape is built around 1.5L EcoBoost, 2.0L EcoBoost, hybrid or plug-in hybrid, rated at 180–250 horsepower across its compact SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 6 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2025 Ford Escape is published to tow is up to 3,500 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2025 Escape.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Ford Escape
The 2025 Escape combines two turbocharged gasoline engines with hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices. Powertrain, AWD and tow ratings are not shared across the entire range.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
7 indexed Ford Escape model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Escape | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Ford Escape | 2025 record → | |
| 2024 Ford Escape | 2024 record → | |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 2023 record → | |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 2021 record → | |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 2020 record → | |
| 2016 Ford Escape | 2016 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Ford Escape.
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company from the 2001 to the 2026 model years across four generations, as Ford's first SUV derived from a car platform. Introduced for model year 2005, the Escape's hybrid electric variant was both Ford's first hybrid-electric vehicle and the first hybrid SUV in the U.S. market by any manufacturer. The Escape was sized between the Ford EcoSport and Ford Edge.
- Safety
- Crash-test results for the Escape have been mixed. In the New Car Assessment Program administered by the US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the car received five out of five stars for driver protection and four out of five stars for passenger protection in a 35 mph (56 km/h) frontal impact. The SUV received five stars for both driver and rear passenger in the side impact test.
Source: Ford Escape (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Ford Escape at a glance
- Production
- 2000–2025 (North America), 2016–2026 (Spain)
- Model years
- 2001–2026 (North America)
- Class
- Compact crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Ford Maverick (Europe)
- Successor
- Ford Territory (Middle East (excluding Israel), Africa, Latin America, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore))
- Also called
- Ford Kuga (2013–present), Ford Maverick (2001–2008), Mazda Tribute (2001–2011), Mercury Mariner (2005–2011)
Ford Escape generations
The Ford Escape has been redesigned in 2008, 2013, 2020, gaps of 7, 5, 7 years, an average of 6.3 years between generations. The current generation (fourth generation) began in 2020.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 2001–2008 | The first generation of Ford Escape was released in the year 2000 for the 2001 model year, jointly developed with Mazda, in which Ford owned a controlling interest. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2008–2013 | The second-generation Ford Escape debuted at the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show. |
| Third generation | n/a | 2013–2020 | The third-generation Escape was first shown at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. |
| Fourth generation | n/a | 2020–present | The fourth-generation Escape debuted on April 2, 2019, and went on sale in the third quarter of 2019 as a 2020 model. |
NHTSA rated the 2024 Ford Escape overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (15 campaigns across the latest model years)
- May 2026, Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Internal:Park Pawl. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of… Consequence: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
- March 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve). Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- December 2025, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Retractor. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened. Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Owners filed 76 complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Ford Escape, most often about electrical system (27), forward collision avoidance (19), lane departure (18).
Year by year
The Ford Escape across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Escape | 26–40 | $1,600–$2,500 | 5 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Ford Escape | 26–40 | $1,550–$2,400 | 6 | 9 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Ford Escape | 26–39 | $1,600–$2,400 | 5 | 8 | 76 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 26–40 | $1,550–$2,400 | 6 | 11 | 95 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Ford Escape | 26–41 | $1,500–$2,400 | 6 | 19 | 228 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 26–41 | $1,500–$2,400 | 6 | 19 | 338 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 26–41 | $1,500–$2,400 | 6 | 23 | 1,519 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Ford Escape | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 6 | 3 | 580 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 6 | 4 | 1,778 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 6 | 4 | 2,666 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Ford Escape | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 5 | 4 | 1,101 | 4 stars |
| 2015 Ford Escape | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 5 | 9 | 1,078 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Ford Escape, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 6 to 5 | Labels: Escape FWD HEV | |||
| 2024 to 2025 | 5 to 6 | 32.5 to 33.0 | first listed: 37 | Labels: Escape FWD PHEV; Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.5L 4-cyl PHEV, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI |
| 2023 to 2024 | 6 to 5 | 33.0 to 32.5 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | Labels: Escape FWD PHEV; Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl PHEV, 2L 4-cyl; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 33.5 to 33.0 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | ||
| 2020 to 2021 | Transmissions: Automatic (S8) | ||||
| 2019 to 2020 | 24.5 to 33.5 | first listed: 37 | Labels: Escape AWD HEV, Escape FWD HEV, Escape FWD PHEV; Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl SIDI, 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid, 2.5L 4-cyl PHEV; Transmissions: Automatic (S8), Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 8-spd; Drives: Part-time 4-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | Labels: Escape FWD FFV; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl FFV; Transmissions: Automatic (S6); Fuels: Gasoline or E85 | |
| 2016 to 2017 | 5 to 6 | Labels: Escape FWD FFV; Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.5L 4-cyl FFV; Fuels: Gasoline or E85 | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI |
Buying used
What the Ford Escape recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | seat belts (rear/other); power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2025 | 9 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); back over prevention (sensing system); electrical system; 5 more | None |
| 2024 | 8 | forward collision avoidance (adaptive cruise control); fuel system, gasoline (fuel injection system); equipment (other); 5 more | None |
| 2023 | 11 | fuel system, gasoline (fuel injection system); engine; electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); 5 more | None |
| 2022 | 19 | service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); electrical system (propulsion system); engine and engine cooling; 8 more | None |
| 2021 | 19 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); electrical system (propulsion system); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); 9 more | None |
| 2020 | 23 | seats (front assembly); air bags (side/window); power train (automatic transmission); 13 more | None |
| 2019 | 3 | tires; power train (automatic transmission); equipment (electrical) | None |
| 2018 | 4 | air bags (side/window); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); power train (automatic transmission); 1 more | None |
| 2017 | 4 | visibility (power window devices and controls); power train (automatic transmission); equipment (electrical) | None |
| 2016 | 4 | air bags (knee bolster); power train (automatic transmission); back over prevention (sensing system); 1 more | None |
| 2015 | 9 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); electrical system (ignition); latches/locks/linkages (doors); 4 more | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 3,687 | 39% | 2017 (1,563) |
| power train | 1,719 | 18% | 2017 (390) |
| engine and engine cooling | 1,041 | 11% | 2017 (507) |
| unknown or other | 1,004 | 11% | 2020 (306) |
| structure | 779 | 8% | 2020 (605) |
| electrical system | 727 | 8% | 2020 (156) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Ford Escape trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | AWD | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180 | 199 | 3,420 | 2,000 | 28 | $31,845 |
| ST-Line | AWD | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180 | 199 | 3,420 | 2,000 | 28 | $32,690 |
| ST-Line Select Hybrid | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 192 | 154 | 3,670 | 1,500 | 39 | $35,385 |
| ST-Line Select | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 250 | 275 | 3,505 | 3,500 | 26 | $36,510 |
| Platinum Hybrid | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 192 | 154 | 3,670 | 1,500 | 39 | $37,710 |
| ST-Line Elite Hybrid | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 192 | 154 | 3,670 | 1,500 | 39 | $38,705 |
| Platinum | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 250 | 275 | 3,505 | 3,500 | 26 | $39,435 |
| ST-Line Elite | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 250 | 275 | 3,505 | 3,500 | 26 | $40,430 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Ford Escape model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180–250 | 3,420–3,670 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.3–15.7 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180–250 | 3,451–3,684 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.3–15.7 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180–250 | 3,291–3,684 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.3–15.7 |
| 2023 | 10 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,291–3,684 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.3–15.7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,302–3,607 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.3–15.7 |
| 2021 | 7 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 163–250 | 3,302–3,607 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.2–15.8 |
| 2020 | 6 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 163–250 | 3,299–3,554 | 1,500–3,500 | 14.2–15.8 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 168–245 | 3,226–3,765 | 1,500–3,500 | 15.7 |
| 2018 | 4 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 168–245 | 3,226–3,765 | 1,500–3,500 | 15.7–16.3 |
| 2017 | 3 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 1.5T / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.0T | 168–245 | 3,526–3,678 | 1,500–3,500 | 15.7 |
| 2016 | 3 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 1.6T / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.0T | 168–240 | 3,526–3,678 | 1,500–3,500 | 15.1 |
| 2015 | 3 | 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 1.6T / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 4-Cyl, EcoBoost, 2.0T | 168–240 | 3,492–3,644 | 1,500–3,500 | 15.1 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Ford Escape.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2022 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2021 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2018 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2017 | 5.7 qt | – | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 5.7 qt | – | – | – | – |
| 2015 | – | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Ford Escape: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Ford Escape : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 9.6).
- 2019 Ford Escape : 3 recalls on file (average across published years is 9.6).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Ford Escape : 19 recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system and electrical system.
- 2021 Ford Escape : 19 recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system and electrical system.
- 2020 Ford Escape : 23 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and powertrain.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | seat belts, powertrain |
| 2025 | 9 | not available | electrical system, backup camera, engine, stability control |
| 2024 | 8 | 76 | electrical system, forward collision system, fuel system, equipment |
| 2023 | 11 | 95 | engine, electrical system, fuel system, forward collision system |
| 2022 | 19 | 228 | fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling, engine |
| 2021 | 19 | 338 | fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling, engine |
| 2020 | 23 | 1519 | electrical system, powertrain, backup camera, fuel system |
| 2019 | 3 | 580 | tires, powertrain, equipment |
| 2018 | 4 | 1778 | airbags, brakes, powertrain, equipment |
| 2017 | 4 | 2666 | visibility/wipers, powertrain, equipment |
| 2016 | 4 | 1101 | airbags, powertrain, backup camera, equipment |
| 2015 | 9 | 1078 | door latches, electrical system, powertrain, seat belts |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Escape model years 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Ford Escape?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026, 2019 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2022, 2021, 2020 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Ford Escape model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Ford Escape has 19 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling; The 2021 Ford Escape has 19 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling; The 2020 Ford Escape has 23 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, powertrain, backup camera. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Ford Escape model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Ford Escape has 2 recalls on file; The 2019 Ford Escape has 3 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 9.6. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Ford Escape by model year?
2026: seat belts, powertrain. 2025: electrical system, backup camera, engine, stability control. 2024: electrical system, forward collision system, fuel system, equipment. 2023: engine, electrical system, fuel system, forward collision system. 2022: fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling, engine. 2021: fuel system, electrical system, engine cooling, engine.
Q05Why do some Ford Escape model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Escape model years 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling.
2022 Ford Escape owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Climate and electrical.
2021 Ford Escape owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Climate and electrical.
2020 Ford Escape owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Transmission and drivetrain and Engine and cooling.
Compared with
Models this Ford Escape is most often compared with.
Nearest Ford models
Other Ford models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Escape come in?
The 2025 Ford Escape (compact SUV) comes in 6 trims: Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, Plug-In Hybrid.
Q02What are the 2025 Escape trims?
The 2025 Ford Escape trims are Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, Plug-In Hybrid, listed from the entry Active up to the top Plug-In Hybrid.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Escape use?
The 2025 Ford Escape is built around 1.5L EcoBoost, 2.0L EcoBoost, hybrid or plug-in hybrid, rated at 180–250 horsepower across its compact SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Escape have?
The 2025 Ford Escape is rated at 180–250 horsepower (1.5L EcoBoost, 2.0L EcoBoost, hybrid or plug-in hybrid).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Escape?
The 2025 Ford Escape is offered with FWD / AWD.