Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Ford Escape
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Ford Escape has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,319 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 4 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V777000 Fuel Delivery Module may Crack and cause Fuel Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15E045000 Front Wheel Bearing has Wrong Dimensions NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V284000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 412 complaints
- Power Train 268 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 253 complaints
- Engine 248 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 245 complaints
- Electrical System 117 complaints
Of the 1,319 complaints on file, 38 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 1,319 complaints, owners report 38 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Ford Escape has significant reliability concerns, mainly related to steering and powertrain systems, reflected in multiple recalls and high complaint counts. Repairs may be costly and frequent, making ownership relatively expensive over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $700–$1,200 | very common |
| powertrain | 70,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$2,500 | common |
| fuel system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Coolant system maintenance
- Tire rotation and balancing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Unresponsive gear shifts
- Fuel odors near vehicle
- Sudden loss of power
- Noise during steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Ford Escape at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.