2001 Ford Escape reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2001 Ford Escape from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,389
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- 158 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 109 reported crashes · 109 injuries · 5 deaths · 93 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#202
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+1,052
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 1999-2003
+1,139
median 250 complaints in 747 records
Top component share
15%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 215 complaints
What owners report fails — 2001 Ford Escape
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 158
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 78
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 66
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 62
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 57
4 recalls on record for the 2001 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 15V606000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated sh
- NHTSA 14V165000 · 2014 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a cra
- NHTSA 12V005000 · 2012 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT CORROSION CAN DEVELOP IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEADING TO MELTING, SMOKE OR A FIRE.
- NHTSA 12V353000 · 2012 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could c
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2001 Ford Escape
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2001 Ford Escape units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford Escape reliable?
NHTSA has 1,389 consumer complaints on record for the 2001 Ford Escape and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (158 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2001 Ford Escape units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (158), vehicle speed control (78), electrical system (66), power train:automatic transmission (62). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2001 Ford Escape?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2001 Ford Escape. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.