Best Years to Buy a Used Ford Escape
The Ford Escape is a popular used car choice, but certain model years have documented issues worth knowing about — including engine fire risk. Here's a breakdown of the best and worst years to buy.
Known Issues — Ford Escape
- 2013–2014: Engine fire risk — coolant leak onto hot exhaust on 1.6L EcoBoost [High severity]
- 2013–2016: Power steering failure — sudden loss of electric assist [High severity]
- 2013–2016: Transmission hesitation and shudder on 6-speed automatic [Medium severity]
Best Years to Buy
Based on documented issues, the cleanest years for the Ford Escape are: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026. These model years avoid the most common documented failure points and represent the best value for used buyers.
Years to Avoid
Exercise extra caution with model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 due to documented high-severity issues. If buying one of these years, have a pre-purchase inspection done and verify any known repairs have been completed.
- 2013–2014: Engine fire risk
- 2013–2016: Power steering failure
What to Inspect Before Buying
- Run a VIN report (Carfax or AutoCheck) to check for accidents, title issues, and odometer rollbacks
- Ask specifically about Engine fire risk — verify it has been addressed
- Verify all open recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls using the VIN
- Have an independent mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection ($100–$200)
- Ask for service records — consistent maintenance history is the best reliability indicator
Check Repair Costs Before You Buy
See repair cost estimates, known issues, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist for any by model year.
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