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#BS-2021-FORESC-7581

2021 Ford EscapeProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 485 owners and 19 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
485
Crashes
17
Fires
14
Recalls
19
TSBs
204
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 485 complaints, 17 crashes, 14 fires, and 19 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.3x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

brakes grind when backing up

2 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
2

groans

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

soy wiring being chewed by rodents now no

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

rear hatchback misaligned

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
5

rear struts leaking

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Fuel SystemHIGH

75 owners reported fuel system issues — failures commonly reported around 40K miles.

!Inspect the Structure:bodyMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

39
0–30K
30
30–60K
18
60–90K
13
90–120K
4
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (39 reports) • Median: 40K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Fuel System (75 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Fuel System75 (15%)
Structure:body65 (13%)
Other59 (12%)
Brakes48 (10%)
Engine47 (10%)
Drivetrain43 (9%)
Electrical31 (6%)
Visibility23 (5%)

2021 Ford Escape: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, with 75 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 40K-mile mark.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, with 65 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, with 48 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, with 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

8
21
48
22
94
23
65
24
96
25
174
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Ford Escape. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (19 recalls)

21V625000Dec 2021

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles. The fuel delivery module may leak inside the fuel tank, causing low fuel pressure which could result in an engine stall.

21V869000Dec 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 Escape vehicle equipped with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.

21V922000Aug 2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affect braking performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

22V149000Mar 2022

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Corsair and 2021-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.

22V191000Apr 2022

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.

+ 14 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Ford Escape NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

AQ22002OpenOpened Jun 2022

Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall Sale

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

PE23013ClosedOpened Jul 2023 · closed Jan 2024

Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

The worst model year for the Ford Escape is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2021 Ford Escape vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

485

Class avg

207

2.3x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 485 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 19 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford Escape Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000
View all Ford Escape years →

2021 Ford Escape: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Ford Escape is related to the fuel system, with 75 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2021 Ford Escape has 485 complaints, 17 crash reports, and 14 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.3x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2021 Ford Escape?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Ford Escape problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Ford Escape has 19 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Escape problems start?
Based on 104 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 40,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Ford Escape data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 485 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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