Head-to-head reliability
FORD Escape vs FORD Mustang
How the FORD Escape and FORD Mustang compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD Escape vs FORD Mustang: The Escape has 7,225 complaints over 10 years (avg 722.5/yr) with engine issues like turbo failures, while the Mustang has 1,048 complaints (avg 104.8/yr) with electrical and throttle problems. The Mustang has fewer reported issues, but both have recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Escape or FORD Mustang more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Escape
The Ford Escape, as a compact SUV, shows a heavy burden of engine-related complaints, with owners reporting turbocharger failures that can contaminate the cabin with coolant, engine misfires, and powertrain issues affecting braking and acceleration. Structural problems like a door check strap detaching also appear. With over 7,000 complaints in a decade, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a service history review.
FORD Mustang
The Ford Mustang, a sports coupe, has fewer complaints overall but still shows notable electrical system issues, including sudden air conditioning failure, and engine problems like a 'dead throttle' where the pedal becomes unresponsive. Powertrain complaints include a shift knob detaching, and there are recalls for engine and transmission components. It's a performance car with some reliability concerns that could affect daily usability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Escape | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,225 | 1,048 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 102 | 64 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 130 | 70 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 722.5 | 104.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 | 36 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
FORD Escape
- 01ENGINE3,190
- 02POWER TRAIN1,098
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING964
- 04STRUCTURE814
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER702
Owners report sudden turbocharger failures that can leak coolant into the HVAC system, causing toxic fumes in the cabin, as well as engine misfires with the check engine light on.
There are reports of powertrain failures that affect the vacuum system, leading to firm brakes and reduced stopping power, and also impacting acceleration.
The driver's side door check strap can detach, making the door difficult to open or close properly, a potential safety and convenience issue.
“On January [Insert Date], 2026, my 2024 Ford Escape suffered a sudden turbocharger failure that saturated the vehicle’s internal HVAC system with toxic ethylene glycol coolant. The vehicle’s ventilation system subsequently pumped these toxic chemical vapors d…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the engine misfired, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts Store, where a handheld diagnostic machine provided informati…”
FORD Mustang
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM225
- 02ENGINE181
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER163
- 04POWER TRAIN162
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION105
The air conditioning can suddenly stop working, and there are complaints about open recalls not being completed in a timely manner, leaving safety issues unresolved.
A 'dead throttle' issue occurs where the gas pedal becomes unresponsive, causing the car to coast to a stop, which is dangerous in traffic. This has happened multiple times for some owners.
The shift knob's plastic piece can detach, and there are recalls for automatic transmission valve body issues that could affect shifting.
“I am extremely disappointed with Ford’s handling of my situation and the lack of customer support for what appears to be a premature major component failure. I own a 2024 Ford Mustang GT with only 56,022 miles. While driving, my air conditioning suddenly stop…”
“I am filing a safety complaint regarding an open manufacturer recall on my vehicle that has not been completed despite being scheduled for repair. On or about 2/16/2026, I scheduled the recall repair with an authorized dealership/service center. The repair wa…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
FORD Escape — 102 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Escape two-wheel drive vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
The risk: Misalignment of the radar module can result in the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) misclassifying an overhead object as an object in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow and/or stop. Other safety systems that depend o…
The fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall i…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Sa…
The risk: During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.
FORD Mustang — 64 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
The risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. F…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Mustang and 2025-2026 Mustang GTD vehicles. During certain cold temperature conditions, the windshield wipers may function only at their high-speed setting and the washing system may fail to function properly.
The risk: Windshield wipers or a washing system that fails to function as intended can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper motor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 9, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in lat…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
Buyer analysis
FORD Escape or FORD Mustang: which should you buy?
The Ford Mustang has far fewer complaints per year (about 105) compared to the Ford Escape (about 723), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Mustang's problems, like the dead throttle, can be serious. In practice, the Escape may require more frequent repairs, but the Mustang's issues could be more concerning for safety.
Key differences
- The Escape has a much higher complaint volume, especially for engine issues like turbo failures and misfires, while the Mustang's complaints are more spread out.
- The Mustang has a specific 'dead throttle' issue that can cause sudden loss of power, which is a serious safety concern.
- The Escape has structural problems like door check strap detachment, which is not reported for the Mustang.
- Both have recalls, but the Escape's recalls cover a wider range of systems including fuel injectors and battery management, while the Mustang's include engine and transmission components.
- Check for any signs of coolant leaks or sweet smell in the cabin, which could indicate a turbocharger failure.
- Test the brakes and acceleration for any hesitation or firmness, as powertrain issues can affect these systems.
- Test the throttle response at various speeds to ensure there's no dead spot or unresponsiveness.
- Check the shift knob for any looseness or detachment, and verify that all recalls have been completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls on both vehicles.
- Have a mechanic inspect the turbocharger and cooling system on the Escape for leaks or damage.
- On the Mustang, test drive at highway speeds to ensure the throttle responds consistently.
- Check the door operation on the Escape for any signs of the check strap issue.
- Verify that the air conditioning works properly on the Mustang, as electrical failures are common.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | FORD Escape | FORD Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 5 |
| 2025 | 24 | 14 |
| 2024 | 76 | 73 |
| 2023 | 94 | 145 |
| 2022 | 226 | 49 |
| 2021 | 330 | 55 |
| 2020 | 1502 | 116 |
| 2019 | 570 | 141 |
| 2018 | 1753 | 186 |
| 2017 | 2647 | 264 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific FORD Escape or FORD Mustang in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Escape vs FORD Mustang
- FORD Escape total complaints
- 7,225
- FORD Mustang total complaints
- 1,048
- FORD Escape total recalls
- 102
- FORD Mustang total recalls
- 64
- FORD Escape avg complaints/year
- 722.5
- FORD Mustang avg complaints/year
- 104.8
- More reliable overall
- FORD Mustang
- FORD Escape top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD Mustang top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM