Ford Escape 2001–2007
1st generation · CD2
NHTSA data through 13 August 20267,244 complaints, 5,288 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 5,288
- Median of reported failures
- 100,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Body structure (12.8%)
- Recalls
- 5
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 58,000 and 133,148 miles.
Figure 1 · Ford Escape 2001–2007 · 5,288 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 234 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 186 complaints (3.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 24,545
- 25%
- 58,000
- Median
- 100,000
- 75%
- 133,148
- 90%
- 169,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 200 | 3.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 84 | 1.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 84 | 1.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 72 | 1.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 91 | 1.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 101 | 1.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 93 | 1.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 110 | 2.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 128 | 2.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 128 | 2.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 146 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 118 | 2.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 127 | 2.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 123 | 2.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 155 | 2.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 149 | 2.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 200 | 3.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 189 | 3.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 193 | 3.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 151 | 2.9% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 234 | 4.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 176 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 191 | 3.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 155 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 231 | 4.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 172 | 3.3% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 189 | 3.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 122 | 2.3% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 163 | 3.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 71 | 1.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 152 | 2.9% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 84 | 1.6% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 103 | 1.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 79 | 1.5% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 92 | 1.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 50 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 75 | 1.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 43 | 0.8% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 44 | 0.8% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 34 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 186 | 3.5% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 7,244 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2007 Ford Escape, and 5,288 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 58,000 and 133,148 miles. The median is 100,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (12.8% of complaints, typically around 120,000 miles), the suspension (12.6% of complaints, typically around 120,000 miles), the engine and its cooling system (10.8% of complaints, typically around 58,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2001–2007 Ford Escape last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2001–2007 Ford Escape were filed by 100,000 miles and 90% by 169,000 miles — figures drawn from 5,288 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
186 reports (3.5%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Escape reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2001–2007 Escape: the 3-minute check
Generated from 5,288 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check electrical / cruise control on 2001–2004 cars. Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch mounted in the master cylinder can leak brake fluid onto the switch contacts and ignite, causing an engine-bay fire with the vehicle parked and off. Part of Ford's…
- Check suspension / body structure on 2001–2004 cars. Rear subframe corrodes and can fracture or separate in road-salt states, allowing loss of rear suspension location. Addressed by region-specific inspection/replacement campaigns.
- Check transmission. CD4E 4-speed automatic suffers forward clutch and torque converter failures; a common complaint cluster across the generation.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 58,000 and 133,000 miles, with a median of 100,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Body structure in particular shows a median failure mileage of 120,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Ford Escape 2001–2007
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system780 reports58,00022,000–100,000Engine and its cooling system: 780 reports, median 58,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit412 reports79,00040,000–110,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 412 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline565 reports79,00049,000–116,000Transmission and driveline: 565 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control691 reports85,00051,000–125,000Throttle and speed control: 691 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 125,000 miles.
- Electrical system563 reports90,00045,000–127,000Electrical system: 563 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 127,000 miles.
- Body structure924 reports120,00090,000–150,000Body structure: 924 reports, median 120,000 miles, middle half 90,000 to 150,000 miles.
- Suspension912 reports120,00093,000–150,000Suspension: 912 reports, median 120,000 miles, middle half 93,000 to 150,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 924 | 12.8% | 120,000 | 90,000–150,000 |
| Suspension | 912 | 12.6% | 120,000 | 93,000–150,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 780 | 10.8% | 58,000 | 22,000–100,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 691 | 9.5% | 85,000 | 51,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 565 | 7.8% | 79,000 | 49,000–116,000 |
| Electrical system | 563 | 7.8% | 90,000 | 45,000–127,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 412 | 5.7% | 79,000 | 40,000–110,000 |
| Engine | 320 | 4.4% | 117,000 | 89,000–150,000 |
| Airbag system | 319 | 4.4% | 72,000 | 40,000–113,000 |
| Steering | 287 | 4.0% | 99,000 | 49,000–135,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Ford Escape 2001–2007 · 5,288 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 26% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 43% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 64% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 96%: the remaining 3.5% of reports (186) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
26% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 22,000–100,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 51,000–125,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 49,000–116,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 45,000–127,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — middle half 40,000–110,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Body structure — middle half 90,000–150,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 93,000–150,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
43% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 22,000–100,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 51,000–125,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 49,000–116,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 45,000–127,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — middle half 40,000–110,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Body structure — middle half 90,000–150,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 93,000–150,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
64% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Engine and its cooling system — median 58,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 79,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — median 79,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Body structure — middle half 90,000–150,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 93,000–150,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 51,000–125,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 45,000–127,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 100,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 12.8% of complaints (924 reports, 791 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 120,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 90,000 and 150,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 12.6% of complaints (912 reports, 781 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 120,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 93,000 and 150,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 10.8% of complaints (780 reports, 369 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 58,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 100,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 9.5% of complaints (691 reports, 535 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.8% of complaints (565 reports, 427 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 116,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (563 reports, 388 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 127,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 2,030 complaints — while 2007 drew the fewest at 350. The median year sits at 736.
That makes 2005 an outlier: roughly 2.8 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 7,244 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 411 (5.7%)
- Fires
- 332
- Injury reports
- 236
- Fatality reports
- 18
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Electrical / Cruise Control 2001–2004
Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch mounted in the master cylinder can leak brake fluid onto the switch contacts and ignite, causing an engine-bay fire with the vehicle parked and off. Part of Ford's multi-model speed-control switch recall campaign.
Suspension / Body Structure 2001–2004
Rear subframe corrodes and can fracture or separate in road-salt states, allowing loss of rear suspension location. Addressed by region-specific inspection/replacement campaigns.
Transmission
CD4E 4-speed automatic suffers forward clutch and torque converter failures; a common complaint cluster across the generation.
Engine
3.0L Duratec V6 intake manifold and coolant crossover leaks leading to overheating.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,389 | 637 |
| 2002 | 1,397 | 890 |
| 2003 | 736 | 589 |
| 2004 | 715 | 610 |
| 2005 | 2,030 | 1,747 |
| 2006 | 627 | 529 |
| 2007 | 350 | 286 |
Recalls (5) — is your car included?
Oct 2015 · 2001–2007 · Power TrainIf the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the…
The defect. 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. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
What can happen. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the
The free fix. 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Oct 2014 · 2005–2007 · Hybrid Propulsion SystemIf the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
What can happen. If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
May 2014 · 2001–2004 · StructureA separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the…
The defect. 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, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
What can happen. A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Aug 2012 · 2001–2004 · Vehicle Speed ControlA stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle…
The defect. 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. Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. This risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used.
What can happen. A stuck throttle may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The free fix. 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 available in mid-August 2012. Until then dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Jun 2012 · 2001–2002 · Service Brakes, HydraulicCorrosion can develop in the electrical connector leading to melting, smoke or a fire.
The defect. 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 fluid. If brake fluid leaks from the cap, it could come in contact with the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector.
What can happen. Corrosion can develop in the electrical connector leading to melting, smoke or a fire.
The free fix. 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 remedy may not be available currently. If parts are not available, Ford will instruct owners to park their vehicles outside until such time as parts become available. Owners may contact the Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. This recall campaign is related to 07v-156.
What owners reported
My Ford Escape does not shift right anymore and it will not stay in park i have to have a brick put in front of it because my emergency brake does not even work. I received a recall letter but i cannot find my letter anymore. I was hit by a vehicle and i cannot walk and my son had clean the house so i have lost my…
2001 · 25 miles · Electronic stability control (esc)
For a few months now, my 2001 v6 automatic Ford Escape has had a problem trying to shift into the last gear at 45-50 MPH. The vehicle's RPM's will be near 3000 for a good 30 seconds before it finally engages into the next gear. The problem is definitely worse on colder days, but it is still certainly noticeable on…
2001 · 60 miles · Transmission and driveline
There were numerous problems. The EGR sensor (dpfe) was replaced along with the sop driver side outer belt molding, fuel pump, sway bar links and iac. *Bf there was a loud noise coming from the driver's side window, water leaked around the tailgate window, the vehicle was hard to start, the iac was sticking, the…
2001 · 92 miles · Throttle and speed control
Built from 5,288 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page