Is the 2001 Ford Escape reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Ford Escape is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Escape?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 29% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Escape have?

15 recalls on file for this model year.

2001 Ford Escape

● Typical for this model

2001 Ford Escape
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 996
Recalls: 15
Investigations: 11
Top problem: Engine and engine cooling

Complaints per year

2001: 996 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2000	5
2001	996
2002	1,027
2003	558
2004	499
2005	1,394
2006	464
2007	254
2008	1,974
2009	1,692
2010	2,070
2011	1,316
2012	602
2013	2,748
2014	2,086
2015	1,083
2016	1,116
2017	2,688
2018	1,806
2019	590
2020	1,600
2021	346
2022	233
2023	99
2024	76
2025	25
2026	3

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

29% · 291 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle was parked inside of carport and without prior warning heard a loud bang. Vehicle caught on fire/exploded and melted to the ground. Dealership was aware of problem.*akbrakes have been squeaking when hot or cold.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-12

Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic

Service brakes

18% · 178 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Electrical system

14% · 143 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and front underhood.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

We bought our 2001 Ford Escape new. On the 8TH of December, 2011 it was parked in our double car attached garage. My son came home around 11:30 p.m. Going through the garage and did not see or smell anything.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-01

During a collision on front part of vehicle caught on fire, causing total loss of vehicle. Also, consumer sustained injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-09

Power train

13% · 131 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and control module (tcm/pcm/tecm).

CRASHINJURY

Vehicle speed control

11% · 108 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cruise control.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Safety timeline

15 recalls · 11 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

R

2000-08-06Vehicle speed control00V210001 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control. The speed control cable can have a cracked or missing speed control cable servo cap locating tab. The locating tab could…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the speed control cables. Vehicles with speed control cables from cavities 3 and 4 will have the cable the speed control servo replaced.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2000-09-06Steering00V223001 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a mis-assembled or incorrectly manufactured nut that attaches the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. The nut…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel retention armature and, if necessary, the steering column to correct this condition.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2000-09-25Wheels00V260001 Vehicle description: some 4X2 sport utility vehicles not equipped with an antilock braking system may have inadvertently been built with 4X4 rear hubs instead of 4X2 hubs. If the incorrect hubs…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear hubs and, if necessary, replace them. Owner notification began September 25, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

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2000-09-27Fuel system, gasoline00V277001 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The o-ring seals in the fuel line connector at the outlet end of the fuel filter were damaged when the line was connected to the filter during vehicle…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel line. Owner notification began September 27, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date…

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2000-12-11Visibility00V387002 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The windshield wiper linkage can disengage due to a broken ball socket.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper module.

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2001-02-21Recall queryClosed 2001-12-21 Gasoline vapor intrusion
I
2001-12-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-09-10 Engine stalling
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2002-09-10Engineering analysisClosed 2004-04-15 Engine stalling
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2003-07-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-12-31 Safety belt buckle failure
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2004-02-02Seat belts03V507000 On certain sport utility vehicles, a post within the safety belt buckle covers could fracture, which could affect latch function, resulting in either a "No latch" Or "Partial latch" Condition. In…

Remedy: Dealers will have the driver and front passenger safety belt buckle cover removed and replaced with a newly designed service buckle cover. Owner notification began on February 2, 2004. Owners…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2004-04-21Power train04V165000 On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines, during deceleration, the engine can stall.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power control module (PCM) with the appropriate calibration. Owner notification began on April 21, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…

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2004-06-24RPClosed 2004-08-31 Engine stalling
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2005-03-31Latches/locks/linkages04V602000 Certain 2004-2005 sport utility vehicles and certain 2001-2003 sport utiity vehicle having rear liftgate components serviced with 2004 equivalent components fail to comply with the requirements of…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear liftgate latch release rod, the release rod attachment clip and the door handle return spring. The recall began on March 31, 2005. Owners should contact Ford at…

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I
2006-10-30Preliminary evaluationClosed 2007-04-17 Engine compartment fire
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2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078…

Remedy: Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during April 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2007-04-23Service brakes, hydraulic07V156000 On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector may have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate. The dealer will also inspect the…

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2009-04-14Defect petitionClosed 2009-04-15 Engine compartment fire
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2009-04-15Recall queryClosed 2010-01-15 Engine compartment fire
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2010-01-14Engineering analysisClosed 2012-02-29 Engine Compartment Fire
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2010-11-18Audit queryClosed 2015-12-28 Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
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2012-06-19Service brakes, hydraulic12V005000 Ford is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999, through July 19, 2002, equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak brake…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and the ABS electrical system will be modified. An interim letter was mailed on January 20, 2012. Due to a parts delay, however, the…

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I
2012-07-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-02-21 Stuck Throttle
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2012-08-03Engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control12V353000 Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Escape vehicles equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control manufactured from October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004.…

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by increasing the engine cover clearance, free of charge. The safety recall began August 3, 2012. Remedy parts are expected to be…

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R

2014-05-30Structure14V165000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 Escape vehicles manufactured October 22, 1999, through January 23, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine,...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S02.

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2015-05-20Suspension15E045000 The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury...

Remedy: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2015-10-23Power train15V606000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2001 Ford Escape — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Engine and engine cooling: 291 reports on file for this year.
Service brakes: 178 reports on file for this year.
Electrical system: 143 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 00V210001 · Vehicle speed control
Recall 00V223001 · Steering
Recall 00V260001 · Wheels
Recall 00V277001 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 00V387002 · Visibility
Recall 03V507000 · Seat belts
Recall 04V165000 · Power train
Recall 04V602000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 07V156000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 12V005000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 12V353000 · Engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control
Recall 14V165000 · Structure
Recall 15E045000 · Suspension
Recall 15V606000 · Power train

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2001 Ford Escape reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Ford Escape is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Escape?: The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 29% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Escape have?: 15 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.