Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 150 vs FORD Escape
How the FORD F 150 and FORD Escape compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD F 150 vs FORD Escape: The F-150 averages 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls, while the Escape averages 740 complaints per year with 102 recalls. Both have 1 death reported, but the F-150 has more crash-related complaints (330 vs 131). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 150 or FORD Escape more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base, generating about 1,162 complaints per year over the past decade. The most common trouble spots are the power train and electrical system, with many owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window defroster shorts that can shatter glass. With 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, living with an F-150 means staying on top of open recalls and being alert for sudden transmission or electrical symptoms.
FORD Escape
The Ford Escape is a compact SUV with roughly 740 complaints per year, fewer than the F-150 but still significant. Engine problems dominate, including sudden power loss, unintended acceleration, and exhaust fumes in the cabin, while power train complaints often involve high-voltage battery fire risks on hybrid models. With 102 recalls and 131 crash-related complaints, Escape owners should prioritize checking for open engine and fuel-system recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 150 | FORD Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11,621 | 7,397 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 151 | 102 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 330 | 131 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1162.1 | 739.7 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 297 | 163 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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 F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report the transmission stuck in limp mode or 5th gear, often tied to a failed lead frame or output speed sensor. This can cause sudden loss of power and near-collisions, making it a critical safety concern.
The same lead frame issue often appears as an electrical complaint, and some owners report the rear window defroster shorting and causing the back glass to shatter. These faults can disable the truck or create unexpected hazards.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting problems are common, though specific failure patterns are not detailed in the sample. Buyers should test all lights and check for recalls related to lighting.
Engine complaints number 880, but the sample text does not describe specific engine failures. Still, any engine issue in a full-size truck can be costly, so a pre-purchase inspection is wise.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
FORD Escape
- 01ENGINE3,281
- 02POWER TRAIN1,130
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING975
- 04STRUCTURE820
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER722
Owners report sudden loss of power while accelerating, hesitation, and exhaust fumes entering the cabin, sometimes with loud noises from under the hood. These symptoms can leave you stranded or expose occupants to harmful gases.
Hybrid models have been recalled for high-voltage battery fire risk, and some owners report unintended acceleration where brakes do not respond. These are serious safety issues that require immediate attention.
Complaints include the engine revving unexpectedly while parked and loss of power during acceleration, often diagnosed as mechanical faults. Such problems can lead to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, sometimes causing collisions, and liftgate hinge covers flying off in car washes. These structural and control issues affect both safety and durability.
“I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving sudden loss of power while driving in my 2023 Ford Escape. The vehicle has experienced multiple incidents where, while accelerating or pulling into traffic, it suddenly loses power, hesitates, or fails to resp…”
“Purchased brand new 11/2023, immediately started with electrical problems 01/2024, also would put car in reverse and car would cut off, was dropped off at service but never given a reason for the issue or a repair. 01/2025 car had acceleration issues, dropped…”
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 F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
FORD Escape — 102 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed January 9, 2023. Remedy pa…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources s…
The risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023 Escape and Corsair vehic…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Escape, Super Duty F-250, Super Duty F-350, Super Duty F-450, and Super Duty F-550 vehicles equipped with a digital instrument panel cluster. The module may have been improperly soldered, preventing the instrument panel from illuminating. As such,…
The risk: An inoperable instrument panel cannot show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, which may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C2…
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.
Buyer analysis
FORD F 150 or FORD Escape: which should you buy?
The Ford Escape has fewer issues per year (about 740 complaints) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162 complaints). In practice, that means Escape owners may face fewer overall trips to the shop, but the Escape's engine and unintended acceleration complaints can be just as severe. The F-150's higher volume reflects its larger sales base, but its transmission and electrical problems are recurring and well-documented.
Key differences
- The F-150 has about 1,162 complaints per year versus about 740 for the Escape, but the F-150's power train and electrical issues often involve sudden limp mode or shattering rear windows.
- The Escape's top complaint area is the engine, with reports of sudden power loss, unintended acceleration, and exhaust fumes in the cabin, while the F-150's top area is power train with lead frame and transmission failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints; the Escape has 102 recalls and 131 crash-related complaints, so both require recall diligence.
- Escape hybrid models have specific high-voltage battery fire risk recalls, a concern not highlighted in the F-150 sample.
- During a test drive, watch for the transmission suddenly sticking in 5th gear or entering limp mode, especially on 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of shattering or prior replacement, as shorts have caused the back glass to explode outward.
- Test acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds to check for hesitation, sudden power loss, or unintended acceleration, which owners report as recurring.
- Smell for exhaust fumes inside the cabin and listen for loud noises from under the hood, as these can indicate engine and cooling problems.
Before you buy
- Ask the seller for a complete recall history and verify that all open recalls, especially those for power train, engine, and electrical systems, have been repaired.
- Take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks transmission operation, engine performance, and electrical functions.
- During the test drive, deliberately accelerate, brake, and shift through gears to reproduce any limp mode, hesitation, or unintended acceleration symptoms.
- For the F-150, test the rear window defroster and inspect the glass for cracks; for the Escape, check for exhaust smells and listen for engine noises.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to see if the reported issues are more frequent or severe.
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 F 150 | FORD Escape |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 4 |
| 2025 | 345 | 29 |
| 2024 | 638 | 76 |
| 2023 | 1527 | 99 |
| 2022 | 3493 | 234 |
| 2021 | 5349 | 348 |
| 2020 | 44 | 1531 |
| 2019 | 52 | 588 |
| 2018 | 79 | 1801 |
| 2017 | 59 | 2687 |
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 F 150 or FORD Escape in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 150 vs FORD Escape
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- FORD Escape total complaints
- 7,397
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- FORD Escape total recalls
- 102
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- FORD Escape avg complaints/year
- 739.7
- More reliable overall
- FORD Escape
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD Escape top complaint area
- ENGINE