After previously being named as one of the “vehicles to avoid,” late last year, the 2025 Ford Escape flipped the script and landed on the list of Consumer Reports recommended vehicles. The popular crossover is still considered one of the highest-rated vehicles on the market in terms of quality, and was even recognized as the top-ranked compact SUV on the market by another third party evaluation – the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS).
The 2025 Ford Escape stood on top of the Compact SUV segment in this year’s IQS study. It beat the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Rogue for the honors, and was one of four Blue Oval models that landed on top of their respective segments, joining the Ford F-150, the Ford Mustang, and the Ford Super Duty as best in class.
As a reminder, the 2025 IQS surveyed 92,694 purchasers and lessees of new 2025 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership. The study presents questions pertaining to infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; climate; and unspecified (unique to repair).
For context, overall, Ford ranked below average in terms of problems reported per 100 vehicles. The average was 192 problems, and Ford owners reported 193 problems per 100 vehicles. For comparison, Lexus owners reported the fewest problems (166), followed by Nissan (169) and Hyundai (173). Jaguar (175) slotted in fourth, followed by Ford’s crosstown rival Chevy (178) in fifth.
“Customers expect new vehicles to make their lives easier, more fun, or both right from the first mile,” said Josh Halliburton, executive director of quality at Ford Motor Company. “Four segment-topping finishers and overall improving vehicle quality scores for most nameplates show that while we have to remain laser-focused on earning the trust of our customers, we’re headed in the right direction.”
He added, “We are making progress improving quality, but we know quality is a marathon, not a sprint – and we’ll keep working to deliver even better-quality vehicles for customers.”
Comments
Initial quality has nothing to do with sturdiness. This survey has always meant next to nothing and still does.
So of course Ford would cancel the Escape. Continuing to exit most lines of vehicles that non-truckers want. No more Focus. No more Fusion. No more Edge. No more Escape. Ford is exiting every vehicle line that offers any chance of entry-level purchasers coming to Ford. So sad.
As long as Farley and Billy are in charge, it’s all about Mustangs and pickups (especially Raptors and Tremors) and nothing else. Ford is heading down the toidy and no one pays attention, or cares, it seems, inside the exec quarters. All of these vehicle obsessions won’t sell in a recession and then they’re in for it, big time.
Yes and no. You’re correct that initial quality doesn’t measure durability of the product overall, but incorrect regarding its usefulness. Auto companies (like every other industry) needs to know that it’s manufacturing process can produce a defect-free product. It’s an important metric that makes up the so-called “Perfect Order” KPI.
Found a ’25 Escape Hybrid ST-Line Select with the Tech Pack 2 in Vapor Blue Metallic on my dealers lot and Monday I give him my ’22 Escape Platinum Hybrid in Star White as a trade in. Just made it under the wire to get the extra $3,000 off. Too many white, black and gray cars out there. Store parking lots are a sea of bland. The Tech Pack 2 takes it up to the equivalent of my Platinum and beyond. Now I’ll also have the Surround Camera and some other newer features too, like wireless charging and wireless Android and black vinyl and cloth seats wth red stitching. I had both in 2021 and this last week researched a lot of comparable models in other brands and both times felt that for the money I got the best selection of features that are all very functional without having to buy an option that I didn’t want like a top end Rav 4 for a little more and waste over $1500 on a standard Moon Roof that I’ll never use. Had one on a Subaru we had owned. Used it once for a half hour and never again after, too hot in the summer and useless with snow on it. For my ’22 that I picked up at the last week of ’21, I’m getting $22,518 trade in. So after all blood sucking other fees and 8% tax I had to come up with $15,495 for the new one. Happy with the whole deal that added up to $38,013 total.Buying without the trade would have been $40, 080 plus 8% tax of $3206.
You forgot to mention that Ford also discontinued the Fiesta, Taurus, Flex, CMax, EcoSport, and Transit Connect. Add these models to the Focus, Fusion, Edge, and [soon-to-be] Escape. As a result, Ford’s offerings for potential new vehicle buyers are ignoring large segments of these markets. This also results in huge lost sales from repeat buyers.
I own a 2024 Escape Platinum 2.0 Eco-boost. It has been trouble-free for just about a year. Now nothing is perfect, and I finally found a fault – not a problem, just a fault – and silly it is, folks.
I saw that the bright trim strip along the outside bottom of the driver’s door window was loose. I pushed it back into place. Next day, same thing, so I got on my hands and knees and looked up – there is supposed to be a screw holding it down on the edge by the B pillar. It was missing – perhaps it fell out. I had to go into my garage and find a small sheet-metal screw to replace the missing screw; my little hex-head screw and a copper washer saved the day.
Oh the humanity! Ford forgot, or perhaps didn’t tighten a 3 cent screw. I’ll forever say my Escape was not perfect. Consumer Reports can now de-rate it because it’s not Honda or Toyota, and say that it had a fault, equivalent in their mind to a Nissan with a CVT that fail constantly.
Happy for the excitement in your life. I was thinking it was rather boring. LOL.
Ford does not care. They only want the immediate large profits from trucks.
Hope you’re enjoying your absurd $45K Escape that’s now worth half.
why does ford mortor not wake and bring back the crown vic or tarus in a awd sedan many folks still love the sedans //////
See my reply to Gord above.
In NYC they’re more and more Escapes used as taxis. That says a lot about durability.
Also says a lot about purchase discounts and, if used, resale values.
I work for a Ford dealer and there no way a vehicle can go from “avoid” to “recommended” between two model years. Nothing really changed on the Escape between 2024 and 2025.
We’re mixing up CR and JDP here. JDP is saying that it’s tops in (meaningless) initial quality. CR rates the hybrid as an “avoid” but the gas version “average”.
Want new Ford Edge next year. Perfect size, price point, and utility. But nope, Ford says go to GM for like vehicle, Edge got da boot.
Found a ’25 Escape Hybrid ST-Line Select with the Tech Pack 2 in Vapor Blue Metallic on my dealers lot and Monday I give him my ’22 Escape Platinum Hybrid in Star White as a trade in. Just made it under the wire to get the extra $3,000 off. Too many white, black and gray cars out there. Store parking lots are a sea of bland. The Tech Pack 2 takes it up to the equivalent of my Platinum and beyond. Now I’ll also have the Surround Camera and some other newer features too, like wireless charging and wireless Android and black vinyl and cloth seats wth red stitching. I had both in 2021 and this last week researched a lot of comparable models in other brands and both times felt that for the money I got the best selection of features that are all very functional without having to buy an option that I didn’t want like a top end Rav 4 for a little more and waste over $1500 on a standard Moon Roof that I’ll never use. Had one on a Subaru we had owned. Used it once for a half hour and never again after, too hot in the summer and useless with snow on it. For my ’22 that I picked up at the last week of ’21, I’m getting $22,518 trade in. So after all blood sucking other fees and 8% tax I had to come up with $15,495 for the new one. Happy with the whole deal that added up to $38,013