2019 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 293owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $8,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
384 of the 588 complaints on this car are about the engine. 293 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Escape.
Tick what matches of 293 reports
Overheating on other Escape years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the coolant hose or reservoir (23 reports), the head gasket (21 reports) and the water pump (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
All 3 recalls on the 2019 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Escape
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 27, 2024.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 21, 2013.
Engine stalling. Closed aug 31, 2004.
Engine stalling. Closed apr 15, 2004, led to recall 04V-165.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 10, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.
What owners paid
51 of the 293 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 51,000 and 86,896 miles, from the 159 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 12 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Ford Escape that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or runs rough condition with or without an ...
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
Certain 2017-2019 Model Year Fusion and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 1.5L GTDI Engine - Powertrain Control Module Programming - Some of the affected vehicles may exhibit collant intrusion into the cylinder bores.
Certain 2017-2019 Model Year Fusion and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 1.5L GTDI Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming. Some of the affected vehicles may exhibit coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores.
8 more on the 2019 Ford Escape page.
What owners wrote
“Engine light came on but did not stay on. Vehicle ran rough on and off. Took to dealer and am told coolant is leaking into the cylinders and a new engine is needed. Opened a case with Ford and they won't cover it in full. Car has 54,000 miles on it and we have had it 6 years and 3 months (purchased new).”
Filed Mar 18, 2025 · 54,000 miles
“Leaking coolant to the inside of the motor. Currently at 64000 miles. Motor was repaired once before for same issue at 33000 miles with previous owner. I purchased this from a ford dealer as a certified pre owned. I was unaware of the issue with this motor. As I can find online here this year make and model with this motor has this issue as an ongoing problem with ford.”
Filed Jul 7, 2024 · 64,000 miles
“At less than 50k miles and 5 years old, the car started not turning on, driving shaky and having warnings of faulty engine services and engine lights coming on the dash. Turns out coolant is leaking into engine and was told the whole engine needed replacing.”
Filed Jun 11, 2024 · 50,000 miles
“Coolant entered the engine cylinders and the engine failed at 65000 miles. The vehicle is 5 years old. I am now underwater on the vehicle and I see forums where many people have experienced this.”
Filed Apr 2, 2024 · 65,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 293 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Check engine light or misfire 256 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 126 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 66 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 27 reports