Complaint volume
302 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Ford Escape Complaints
302 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Ford Escape, grouped by component category.
302 Total complaints
9 Crash reports
8 Fire reports
5 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are structure, unknown or other, fuel system, gasoline. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 9 crash reports, 8 fire reports, 5 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 69 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 38,675 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to structure, unknown or other, fuel system, gasoline?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Ford Escape?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Ford Escape
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Ford Escape complaints?
9 Crash
8 Fire
5 Injury
0 Fatality
12 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Ford Escape complaint categories?
STRUCTURE 73
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 25
SERVICE BRAKES 23
POWER TRAIN 17
ENGINE 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6
302 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The car has indicated that it was getting hot, vehicle had tossed out some smoke, which raised our concerns due to the recall and there being no remedy. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The retractable panoramic sunroof cover snapped out of it's clips while I was driving and the shade fell over my head. After reading about this online, numerous consumers have had this exact problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | STRUCTURE | My car was inspected two times at the dealership for the door welds possibly cracking. The second time (a year ago) they said that I would need the entire door replaced. When I’m entering and exiting the vehicle the door shuts on me. I also live in a high wind area. The window will not go up or down without the door being open. Every time I call the dealership they forward me to their service manager ‘Jonathan’ and he never answers not returns my calls. I had been dealing with this issue for nearly three years or longer. I’m scared my door is going to fall off while I’m driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SUN ROOF SCREEN STOPED RETRACTING PROPERLY CAUSES THE CLOTH TO BUNCH UP AND AT TIMES DISTRACT THE VIEW WHEN LOOKING IN REAR VIEW MIRROR06 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact called a local dealer who completed the engine control software update; however, the contact asked about the fuel injector and was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact also called the manufacturer and was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while in reverse(R). In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact received recall notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however ,the parts to do the recall repair were not available. The contact stated that the recall fire risk was significantly scary and made the vehicle unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,881. | Crash: No Fire: No | 81,881 |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My fuel lid will not close causing a check engine light. My vehicle has less than 25k miles but outside of the 3 year limit for the warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | There’s an open recall for the fuel injectors for my vehicle. I am currently unable to drive my vehicle because I can not fuel my vehicle. Each time it is fuel the engine light comes on and the vehicle either doesn’t drive or shakes violently and refuses to go. The vehicle isn’t able to pass state inspection as well. My safety is impacted by the vehicle randomly not going/stalling and not able to keep fueled. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received a manufacturer recall in August 2025 for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact had been calling the local dealer for updates on when parts would be available for the recall repair and was informed that there were no updates available from the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The shade on the moonroof came off track and would hang down obscuring rear view from mirror. Vehicle taken to Ford dealer for repair. After $1600 repair, three days later the shade would not close completely and returned to Ford dealer. Still waiting on repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | SUSPENSION | My vehicle only has 36,000 miles on it and I just had to spend $789 to have the rear shocks replaced!! I also purchased the extended warranty plan and this repair wasn't covered. Very disappointing especially with such low mileage. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE,PARKING BRAKE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 to 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light and the charging system service light were illuminated. The message "Vehicle Turning Off to Save Power” was displayed. In addition, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine while the vehicle was slowing down. The contact stated that the parking brake push button failed to function as intended. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to Auto Zone, where the battery was checked, and the battery passed the test. The tow truck driver had difficulty attempting to tow the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart, and the auto brake turned on independently. After a while, the vehicle was towed to the contact's mother's residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending the results of the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue; however, no assistance was offered. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact was the second owner of the vehicle and had not received the recall notification. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 79,000 |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A plastic trim piece in the sunroof fell onto the shade. when the shade was opened it caused the shade to be disconnected from the open/close mechanism and roll back onto its spring loaded roller. the dealer quoted $1800 to fix it. not cover by ford or endurance warranty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | This vehicle! It eats so much gas. Something is wrong. It makes a weird noise and puts itself into modes of sports, ice/snow, eco, slippery all by itself while I am driving. My RPMs will change and car makes a different sound and it is in a different driving mode without being put in it by me. It puts itself in auto mode and shuts off at red lights and starts back up when I put on the gas and this is not a hybrid. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My Ford Escape has an open recall on the fuel injectors. I took my car in once because there was a smell of fumes when using my a/c. When I mentioned the fuel injectors to the dealership, they said they would look at it. The dealership said they couldn't get the smell, but once they popped the hood, they could smell the gas. They fixed them then. Now there is a recall on the recall on the fuel injectors. My car has the smell of fumes again. I think the fumes are making me sick, I can't even use my a/c or heater some days. I can't be driving around with the fumes for my sake or my 2-year old daughter. It can't be safe for her to be in my car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | When putting the car in reverse the brakes make an awful Screaming noise. It sounds like they are not releasing. Then when you go in drive and want to stop it doesn't want to. It is not all the time but more so then not. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The Sunroof Shade curtain will not roll away when I try to open the roof shade. It crumbles up at the back or just doesn't roll up with the track. I have read several online Ford forums and a lot of people have been complaining about this issue. Could someone please look into this and see if this is a manufacturing problem, thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 2021 Ford Escape. In January 2025 the turbo system failed and was replaced by a Ford dealer for about $5,903.85. Around five months later the transmission required repairs for a valve body issue, totaling roughly $3,000 in August. Two months after that repair, Firestone advised that the entire transmission now needs replacement. Each time the problem appeared, the vehicle showed violent slippage while upshifting and downshifting. When coming to a stop, the car would shake violently, slip forward several inches while my foot was still on the brake, and sometimes hesitate or lose power. Recently the vehicle will stop responding to acceleration, then suddenly surge forward without warning. These repeated transmission failures have created serious safety risks and appear consistent with ongoing problems involving the Ford 8F35 transmission used in the 2021 Escape. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | NHTSA Recall 25V467 was issued in July 2025. It has been over 3 months of constant fear for under-hood fire from possible fuel injector crack. My family's safety has been at risk long enough, this needs a permanent fix please! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My engine has been misfiring since I purchased my vehicle from a Ford Dealership in Mooresville, NC. At least, I think it is misfiring. My vehicle did not pass an emissions test and I had it inspected at a Ford Dealership in Statesville, NC. They told me I have a transmission fluid leak. I went to a transmission specialist, and we stood under my car while he showed me that the transmission is not leaking in any way. This when I learned of the fuel injection recall. He wants to help in discerning what the problem actually is, but I need to address the recall issue first. I have to do something, as I need my car for my Uber side job, but I'm being told that I have no option. Please, help. I'll provide any additional information that you may need. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Lots of owners on Facebook page 2020/2021 ford escape discussions talk about our transmissions fluttering when driving straight you can see rpm’s going from one to under one back in a straight road some have had the transitions go out. I took mine to ford at 111000 miles and was told I need to pay $500 to change fluid did that and still doing it they said everything was fine but I should look into a extended warranty because they have had a lot of issues with the transition (was told that by auto nation ford in Corpus Christi tx? We all even have issues with Rear differential going out | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part for the recall repair was not available. The contact had received the recall notification in August; however, parts were still not available. In addition, the contact stated that a friend had the same model vehicle, and the vehicle was already repaired under the recall. The dealer was not contacted about the unrepaired recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REMEDY IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND A FIRE CAN START UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE A CAR THAT I BOUGHT THAT I CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE ANXIETY OF A FIRE. FORD WILL NOT BUYBACK MY VEHICLE, AND THEY ARE IN BREACH OF THEIR WARRANTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I’ve visited both Ourisman Ford of Manassas, VA and Ted Britt Ford of Chantilly, VA regarding this issue and asked when a fix is expected. At both dealerships, I was informed that this is not classified as a recall but rather part of Ford’s Customer Satisfaction Program. However, when I provided the service representative with the official letter from Ford, they were unable to locate either the Manufacturer Recall Number 25S76 or the NHTSA Recall Number 25V467 in their system. I’ve also explained that my vehicle—a 2021 model with fewer than 25,000 miles—is experiencing poor fuel economy, ranging between 23–29 MPG. Additionally, I’ve noticed a troubling performance issue: when accelerating from a complete stop, the car sometimes hesitates, then suddenly lurches forward, occasionally causing the tires to squeal. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |