The Lemon Index2025 Ford Escape.
The 2025 Ford Escape is so far one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 31 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 36, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 26 to 40 mpg combined. The best Ford Escape year is 2019.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 31 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Escape year. 2025 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 25K miles on the car (7 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 10
- engine 2026
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- electrical 2026
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
- seat belts 2025
The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
Show all 10 recalls
- body structure 2025
The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
- stability control 2025
The cover for the electric brake booster's ECU may cause the printed circuit board to overheat and result in a loss of vehicle stability control systems (anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and traction cont…
- engine 2025
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
- electrical 2025
The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
- back over prevention 2025
The rearview camera may incorrectly display an inverted image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- electrical 2025
The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving.
- electrical 2024
The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 90 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- After replacement of any TRON module, the gateway module (GWM) and the TRON capable modules…
- Some 2020 Continental, 2020-2024 Edge/Nautilus, 2020-2025…
- At least one of the following
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape Gas SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape Gas SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape HEV SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape HEV SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1600–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2025 Ford Escape reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 2.8× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2025 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 36; 100 is average).
What are the most common 2025 Ford Escape problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (32%), automatic emergency braking (23%) and engine (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2025 Ford Escape have?
10 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Ford Escape get?
26 to 40 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2025 Ford Escape safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2025 Ford Escape have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 10% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2025 Ford Escape cost in fuel a year?
About $1600 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2025 Ford Escape have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Ford Escape year is better than the 2025?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2015 and 2018.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works