The last few years have been a rollercoaster for the Ford Escape in terms of perceived reliability. The 2021 Escape was dubbed one of the vehicles you should avoid by Consumer Reports, but the crossover turned things around with the 2023 Escape Hybrid, landing itself on the publication’s list of recommended vehicles. However, things aren’t looking so hot for the 2025 Escape Hybrid in the latest reliability study, where it was named one of the least reliable vehicles on the list.
CR called out the 2025 Escape Hybrid as one of the most disappointing vehicles in its 2024 reliability rankings. The crossover earned just 21 points on a 100-point scale, outperforming just four other vehicles – the Rivian R1T with 20 points, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon with 15 points each, and the Ford F-150 Hybrid, which earned just seven points.
In order to determine reliability, CR examines 20 potential problem areas, which range from minor inconveniences like squeaky brakes and broken interior trim pieces, to crippling problems like out-of-warranty engine, transmission, and battery problems in EVs. Vehicles included in its list must have at least two model years of data, which CR gathers from 300,000 members and then grants a predicted reliability score on a 100-point scale.
As for the Ford Escape Hybrid, the publication indicated that while the crossover performed well in its road test, it disappointed in predicted reliability and predicted owner satisfaction. Specifically, CR noted that the model tends to have issues pertaining to its hybrid battery, brakes, electrical accessories, engine electrical systems, in-car electronics, noises, and leaks. Notably, these issues mirror those of the F-150 Hybrid, indicating a pattern of less-than-ideal perceived reliability in the current generation of Ford’s hybrid models.
For reference, the Ford brand as a whole ranked smack dab in the middle of 21 rivals when it came to 2024 predicted reliability ratings, earning 44 points.
Comments
The Escape is such a lousy vehicle, being way overpriced and underequipped with a crappy interior and too-small size, and now this. But, since the new Equinox is also a turd, without a hybrid version and just “meh” otherwise, it might still do OK. IF they discounted Escapes properly….speaking of which, why are all the decent discounts west of the Mississippi?
We have a 2020 Escape (along with it’s chasis mate, a 2021 Bronco Sport Outerbanks) and don’t find any of your complaint valid, the price for the SE was competive and the size is just right. My only complant is the number of recalls, otherwisw it’s been trouble free.
Escapes are often significantly discounted. Their hybrids are not discounted as much since they sell much quicker I assume. They are a decent size, have you ever sat in the back seat? Plenty of room, more than a maverick or bronco sport.
Stacking it up against the competition, it needs an $8-10K discount and those I see mainly in Texas. Here, on the East Coast, maybe $5K if I look far and wide. That’s not competitive. I’m only looking at ICEs as I do not want a hybrid.
I have a 2021 Ford Escape hybrid and I believe it to be one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. That includes two Lexus’ (2000 Lexus RX300 and a 2018 Lexus ES300h hybrid), and two Toyota Prius’. The Escape has over 30,000 miles and has only been in for routine service (oil change) and two recalls which never caused any problem. Not sure why the 2021 received those ratings… I suspect sour grapes because it wasn’t a Rolls Royce or petty complainers about nothing really consequential. Have subsequently bought a Ford Ranger pickup which I also find very satisfying to drive. I’ve owned over 20 different vehicles in my driving lifetime (mostly foreign), so am not without knowledge nor experience with quality vehicles.
My daughter has a Escape hybrid and loves the gas mileage but overall hates the car. We are Ford people but she says she will never buy another Ford. I have had many Fords through the years and never had a serious problem.
Possédant un Ford Kuga hybride depuis septembre, finition Active x,
Europe, il donne toute satisfaction avec un carburant à 70 centimes d’euro le litre !
But no specifics were documented. Our ’21 Escape Hybrid has been reliable and yielding 47.8mpg over 35,000 miles. Before that, our 2018 C-Max Hybrid was flawless at48+mpg over 42,000 miles. I see many of them went high miles before being listed for sale.
Consumer Reports is the last place I look for any type of reliability ratings. They take last place in my list of ranking reporting, especially now since reading the 2025 Escape Hybrid’s “disappointed in predicted reliability and predicted owner satisfaction”. How does that even fit into a current model that is barely in the marketplace. I have a 2024 Escape eCVT AWD Hybrid and all in all it is a fine vehicle up to this point. As far as predicting how it will hold up … I fail to understand how that is even possible.
It is by far the most reliable and unbiased source that has never steered me wrong.
We have owned 4 Escapes, all with the 2.0 Liter Ecoboost and never had a engine or transmission issue. They are very quick with that engine and handle well. The interior has improved since the 2023 re-fresh with the 13.2 inch screen and sync 4. They also dropped the price 2 to 3K for the 2025 model year, giving them more value. Great small SUV.
Most sold are the 1.5L versions and those reader negative comments probably are mostly based on that engine. It’s now undercontented and still overpriced.
I have a 2020 Escape Hybrid & my only problem was with the undersize 12 Volt battery which I replaced with an AGM battery & Ford paid me back for it. I had a 2016 Escape 2.0 Turbo which had some unknown electrical drain so when the dealer was diagnosing the problem I saw the 2020 Hybrid on the lot & decided to make a trade, this one is the best vehicle I have ever had.
We’ve owned three Escapes over the last ten years. Two were 2.0 four cylinder cars and we bought a 2023 ST-Line Premium, 2WD, 1.5 Three Cylinder EcoBoost earlier this year.
I’m 6’5” and I have no complaints about interior space front or back seats.
The 2023 redesign is great, this 1.5 turbo engine isn’t related to the earlier problem prone three cylinder engine.
My wife has owned Honda Accords since 1994 and came out of a 2017 Accord to this ST-Line and prefers it totally to the Accord.
The ST-Line is a joy to drive. It handles great and returns great fuel mileage.
The previous Escapes had well over 130,000 miles when sold and the only repairs we experienced were for wear items like brakes, tires, etc.
All in all… our Fords (Expeditions, Escapes, Mustangs and an F-150 have been very dependable vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles and that is probably attributable to maintenance “by the book”.
I subscribe to a couple Escape owners forums and I DO see a prevalence of problems with the 4G hybrid cars.
I tend to acquire my information on reliability issues from forums and it’s easy to filter out the idiots from knowledgeable owners…
Unlike Consumer Reports…
Because the reliability grading on vehicles at CR are unfiltered responses from everyone on both sides of the intelligence Bell Curve…
I’ve read the dumb ass whining in NHTSA owner comments enough over the last 40-50 years to realize that not every complaint is warranted or being lodged by the “sharpest knife in the drawer “.
Here’s the low down on Consumer Reports.
“Consumer Reports gathers vehicle information primarily from their own extensive road tests conducted at their testing facility, combined with data from annual surveys sent to their members regarding reliability and owner satisfaction, which includes details about problems experienced with their cars across various trouble areas; they also incorporate safety ratings from organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into their assessments.”
Putting the Escape on a pedestal when it was a lousy design from the start (a lifted Focus hatch, basically) doesn’t help Ford when it’s unknowingly headed down the drain hole, fast. My 2017 Fusion is the best built car I’ve ever owned, but I’m forced to continue my extended warranty ad infinitum because of the real possibility of engine failure. I’d consider another Ford, but they have NOTHING, ICE-wise, on their sketch pads. CR has NEVER steered me wrong, in 50 years, so stuff that one…
I am consumer reports subscriber for 25 years. For all this time I got only one survey. At that time I rated my Acura MDX very low for numerous transmission , drivetrain and climate control problems. Looks like it didn’t play well with CR, which rated MDX at that time as a best and reliable SUV. They never send me surveys again. I am considering CR data is very questionable.
I trust CR about as much as I trust my local tax appraiser. Their studies are not based on actual sample size testing. Their polling is as accurate as the presidential election polls. A few disgruntled owners can raise a stink that overshadows thousands of perfectly satisfied owners who remain silent.
I’ve had many brands of vehicles. Many of the so called ‘ultra-reliable’ Japanese brands had faults of their own. And recently, some of the highly touted Toyotas, Lexus’, and Hondas are having some serious problems. A huge reason for more complaints is the complexity of all vehicles as buyers demand more and more technology and capability at their fingertips. If we were to go back to basic dashboards with climate controls, windshield wipers, and a replaceable radio, I guarantee today’s car and truck complaints would be cut in half.
I have never trusted Consumer Reports as a car reference magazine.
They are extremely biased and erratic in their reporting and the use of owner surveys provides statistically invalid results. There is a lack of controls on who responds, the number of respondents and the accuracy of the defective survey results. They ignore NHTSA data and never reflect the reported government defects and recalls. In particular they failed to report on the serious safety defects in Toyota and Lexus vehicles including Toyotas conviction of lying to the public with regard to sudden acceleration deaths and the millions of V-6 engine failures they refused to warranty.
Our 24 Hybrid Platinum has been great both behind the wheel and behind the motorhome. Pleasantly surprised with ride quality
I have a 2021 F-150 King Ranch Hybrid that I used Ford’s Build-Your-Own system to add every option available to make it the best vehicle to tow a 32′ Travel trailer. My wife and I have owned many excellent vehicles that I bought new including Infiniti I-30T, 1975 Chevy Monza V-8, 2000 Chevy Tahoe Z71, 2005 Infiniti G30, 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2006 Mustang GT Convertible and a 2015 F-350 Deisel most of which we have put over 100,000 miles on most of them. My 2021 F-150 is the best of all of them. I have over 49,000 miles on it and any problems I have had with it have been minor ones that were covered by warranty or recalls.
Almost every I drive my F-150 Hybrid without pulling my RV, I get over 25 mpg.
I bought a 2023 now have 48,500 miles on it runs good it’s a hybrid I put 480 miles a day on it 5 days a week just oil changes and air filter I have own escapes 2018 s model put 349,900 miles only or changes and air filters before alternator went out 2019 s model 203, 676 miles before it got totaled I hope the 2023 hybrid gets 350,000 miles 2.5 motor is Ford s best motor my first Ford was 1969 mach 1 I was 16 years old but now Ford is building eco boost junk