2011 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

248Engine complaints

18.9%Of all 1,312 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING404 · 30.8%

POWER TRAIN263 · 20%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM253 · 19.3%

ENGINE248 · 18.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL244 · 18.6%

Share of the 1,312 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“I WAS EXITING OFF I-295 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I PUSHED…”NHTSA complaint 10514395 — filed 05/30/2013

“THIS VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER UNEXPECTEDLY TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH WHILE EITHER DECELERATING FROM FREEWAY SPEEDS (FIRST TIME) AND WHILE CRUISING AT 65 MPH…”NHTSA complaint 10514267 — filed 05/30/2013

“TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, HEARD A NOISE AND LOST ALL BUT LIMP HOME MODE POWER. NO SHOULDER ON THE ROAD AND CREATED A DANGEROUS LANE…”NHTSA complaint 10513466 — filed 05/24/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Ford Escape have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Ford Escape: 248 of 1,312 complaints on file (18.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Ford Escape have in total?

1,312 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 38 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 38 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.