Ford’s compact crossover SUV, dubbed the Escape, entered the competitive market of family SUVs in 2000. The first generation was jointly developed with Mazda and had a lot in common with a truck in terms of the layout.

Later on, Ford tamed the Escape into a smaller, more family-friendly daily-driver with some notable off-road capabilities.

If you’re in the market for a used Ford Escape, it’s critical to make sure you avoid problematic years to get the best out of your buck. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the Ford Escape throughout the years, their problems, and their qualities.

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What Are Some Qualities That Make The Ford Escape Worthwhile?

The Front View Of A 2021 Ford Escape PHEV
Via Ford

As a reliable SUV, the Ford Escape provides a smooth ride with some without completely throwing out the idea of off-roading. With its 4WD and slippery mode, Ford makes it easy to drive on all kinds of roads. From icy/rainy roads to snow and sand, the Escape offers impressive traction and driver control with adjustable transmission shift to create a firm grip on uneven surfaces.

In terms of longevity, the Ford Escape offers an estimated 130,000 to 25000 miles of reliable service, which is average for a compact SUV. That translates to 10 to 20 years of use, driving 12,000 miles per year.

Though it differs from one model year to another, the average cost of ownership for a Ford Escape sits at somewhere between $550 to $600, according to Repair Pal.

So long as you know what issues these cars may have and your expectations, you can have an easier time choosing which specific model feature you will need and whether you want to choose between a new and a used Ford Escape.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The 2021 Ford Escape PHEV

Years To Avoid When Looking For A Ford Escape

Ford Escape PHEV
Via cnet.com

The Ford Escape has had many ups and downs. When buying preowned, buyers should steer away from some model years in particular due to their costly problems.

The Car Complaints website ranks the 2014 Escape as the worst of the bunch due to over 200 filed complaints pertaining to vital areas going out of use in relatively low mileages.

The most recurring pattern among the complaints concerns the transmission in the 2014 Escape. Many owners complained about transmission failure at mileages as low as 83,000. Furthermore, owners had to spend $4,100 on average to replace the transmission with a new one.

The 2008 Ford Escape has a higher number of registered complaints, but the issues seem to be relatively less expensive-to-fix compared to the 2014. Nonetheless, they’re pretty bad.

The largest number of complaints dealt with the steering and transmission, both of which could cause major damage and/or issues. Other issues reported that year included: issues with the engine, interior accessories, the AC system, and body paint.

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The Best Years For The Ford Escape

Completely redesigned new 2020 Escape best offers four new propulsion choices – including two all-new hybrids; standard hybrid targets best-in-class EPA-estimated range of more than 550 miles; plug-in hybrid targets a best-in-class EPA-estimated pure-electric range of 30+ miles
via Ford

Now that we have talked about the worst years, it won’t hurt to tell you what year models reigned over the rest.

The 2012 Ford Escape was the last of the old body style produced. Also, it has the least number of complaints, and there are also very few issues reported regarding transmission and other critical parts.

In 2005, Ford was doing a perfect job designing the Ford Escape. This model was rated as one of the safest and one of the best in both Europe and the U.S.

Another one of the best models was the 2011 Ford Escape. With some few changes to the exterior of the body style, the most significant changes came with its build, including improvements to the transmission and the engine. This model caught a lot of attention when it first came out and proved that Ford still had it going.

RELATED: Ford Recalls Thousands Of Fusions & Escapes

Other Common Issues With The Ford Escape

Ford Escape Titanium
Via Ford

There have been several reports about noisy brakes, though these were reported more in 2016 and 2017 models. In some cases, the brake squeal was so bad that Ford took the initiative and started to replace some worn-out parts or even the entire system altogether on some models.

From the 2012 and 2013 models of the Ford Escape, there were a few cases of faulty engines. In severe cases, the engine caught on fire, sometimes even while driving. This was a significant issue that caused a Ford to recall certain models and fix the issue free of charge.

Final Verdict: Avoid Problematic Years And You’re Good To Go

Red 2014 Ford Escape on the beach
Via Ford

The Ford Escape is one of the best-selling SUVs on the North American Market. It has the looks of an SUV but can provide a smooth ride, just like a car. Though it is a hot seller and has a stylish look, it has had its fair share of issues here and there, which becomes overly essential when buying preowned. Finding out about these critical issues is key to finding a reliable model.