There are 258 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2001 Ford Escape in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 258 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH , MY CAR STARTED SHAKING ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY , MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE THE MMUFFLER WAS FALLING OFF. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD , SHUT THE CAR OFF. OPEN THE HOOD TO FIND THE COIL LAYING ON THE MOTOR AND THE SPARK PLUG NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. CALLED A FRIEND WHO'S A MECHANIC , HE WENT N GOT A NEW SPARK PLUG , PUT IT IN AND THE CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. BECAUSE YESTERDAY COMING OFF THE PARKWAY THE CAR STARTED SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE AND MAKING NOISE LIKE THE MUFFLER CAME OFF.SO I PULLED INTO A WALMART PARKING LOT ONLY TO FIND THAT IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN ... THE SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE TWICE NOW IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. NOW THE SPARK PLUG WILL NOT GO BACK IN. WHEN WE WENT TO GET ANOTHER SPARK PLUG THE MAN AT THE PARTS STORE SAID THUS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS. THAT IS NOT EXCEPTABLE!! I HAVE TO LOSE A DAY OF WORK TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANICS SHOP. MY DAUGHTERS AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM YOU NEED TO FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT
MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WITHOUT RUNNING HARD AND TICKING ONCE I GET SET PAST 3RD GEAR IT WILL RUN OKAY I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT WILL NOT STAY AND PARK IT ROLLS SO I HAVE TO PUT A BRICK UNDER THE WHEELS I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT I HAVE MISPLACED IT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT I HAD EVERYTHING WAS PLACED AND BOXES AND STUFF AND I CANNOT FIND IT IF SOMEBODY CAN PLEASE CONTACT ME BACK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I CAN GET IT FIXED AND START DRIVING MY ESCAPE AGAIN IT SHIFTS HARD IT CLUNKS AND IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE PARKING SPOT IT'S STILL ROLLS I HAVE A BRICK UNDERNEATH IT SO IT DOESN'T ROLL AND HIT SOMEBODY ELSE IF SOMEBODY COULD CONTACT ME ON THIS PLACE THANK YOU.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 14V165000 (STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTAL PARKING SPACE, A SECURITY GUARD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER MAKING A SECOND ROUND, THE GUARD INFORMED THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP IN WRITING, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN:07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND :12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESS WAY THE CAR ENGINE WAS STUCK ACCELERATING UNTIL IT THREW A ROD AND THE ENGINE QUIT AFTER THAT. WAS DRIVING 60 UNTIL THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING
IN 2001 FORD ESCAPES A MISFIRE OCCURS AND CAUSE THE FUEL MILEAGE TO DECREASE. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER AT IDLE WHEN IT IS COLD. AFTER CHECKING MESSAGE BOARDS IT APPEARS THAT MORE THAN A HANDFUL ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND DESPITE CHANGING ANY PARTS ACCEPT THE CONNECTORS AND PCM THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. THE NUMBER OF CARS EFFECTED BY THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A COINCIDENCE AND SHOULD BE LISTED AS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
STUTTERING AND STALLING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON ONE OCCASION TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/24/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, A LOW POP WAS HEARD. BLACK SMOKE ROLLED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 06/25/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AFTER DRIVING FOR APPX 19 MILES, STOPPED AT MY DESTINATION AND PUT CAR IN PARK. ENGINE STARTED RACING TO APPX 3000-4000 RPM. TAPPED GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE IT STOP, WHICH I COULDN'T (IT CONTINUED TO RACE FOR A FEW MOMENTS). AT THIS POINT I JUST TURNED IGNITION OFF. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. *TR
THE CAR WAS PARKED AT A SHOPPING MALL, THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND IT WENT INTO FLAMES BURNED ENTIRE ENGINE, INSIDE FRON T,CAR , DASHBOARD, TIRES ETC.HOOD... *TR
AFTER STOPPING TO POSSIBLY TAKE A LEFT TURN, I REALIZED I NEEDED TO GO ONE MORE BLOCK SO I PRESSED THE GAS TO CONTINUE FORWARD. HOWEVER RIGHT AS I DID THAT THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE INSTEAD. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE RED LIGHT. THE STREET WAS CLEAR IN FRONT OF US AND I HAD A FULL LONG BLOCK TO TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION. I CALMLY SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I STARTED WORRYING AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PARK (WHICH NORMALLY ISN'T POSSIBLE). ALL THE WHILE THE VEHICLE SPED UP. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE FOR ALMOST THE WHOLE BLOCK AND WASN'T SLOWING THE VEHICLE AT ALL. I DECIDED THAT SINCE THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING, THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE MY FOOT TO GET UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND LIFT IT UP (BECAUSE IT FELT FROM THE FULL ACCELERATION LIKE IT WAS STUCK ON THE FLOOR). HOWEVER, THE PEDAL EASILY CAME OFF THE FLOOR BUT WOULD FLOP BACK DOWN AS SOON AS I MOVED MY FOOT OUT FROM UNDER IT. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT STUCK BY A FOREIGN OBJECT OR FLOOR MAT THOUGH. HAD TO AVOID A PEDESTRIAN THAT WAS CROSSING THE STREET AND THE ROAD AHEAD WAS OBSCURED BECAUSE IT WENT DOWN A STEEP HILL SO I CHOSE TO TURN RIGHT. THE CAR ENDED UP HITTING THE CURB, HITTING 2 SMALL TREES. AND FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE ALSO HITTING A PARKED CAR. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO "REV" AT HIGH SPEEDS, EVEN UPSIDE DOWN, FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT FINALLY CUT OFF. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY LUCKY TO SURVIVE THIS INCIDENT AND TO NOT HAVE INJURED ANY OTHERS IN THE AREA. POSSIBLY PART OF : NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V210001 FOR STUCK THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ
2001 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING IT THE NIGHT, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. HER DAUGHTER BURNED HER HAND, AS SHE WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. *JB
IGNITION COILS DEFECT- CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL AND GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES GETS HARD TO ACCELERATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATES. *TR
MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE 3.0L V6, HAS AN ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM, AND AN REALLY BAD EMISIONS SYSTEM FAILURE. THE EXHAUST FUMES HAVE BEEN BACKING UP INTO THE VEHICLE FOR A LONG TIME NOW. MY HAIR FELL OUT, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT UNDER THE STATE AND FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY, SOME COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. HOWEVER THE DEALER WON'T HONOR IT, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 80,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT 60,000 MILES. I AM NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE STALLING HAS CAUSED THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO FAIL OR THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE STALLING.THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE 3 TIMES. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL GOING APPROX 45 MPH THE ENGINE ON MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE SHUT DOWN. COMPLETE POWER TO MY CAR WAS LOST. THE ODOMETER EVEN LOST THE MILES DRIVEN AND WAS REPLACED BY DASHES MOMENTARILY. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. AFTER I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURNED KEY OFF. I WAITED APPROX 5 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND CAR STARTED SMOOTHLY AS USUAL. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I DON'T SEEM TO BE THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
HAVE AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE MOTOR REEVES. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CRUISE IS SET, AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S IN PARK. NEVER KNOW WHAT MAKES IT HAPPEN OR WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. DO HAVE WITNESSES AT THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. HAPPENED TO BE AT THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT, PULLED UP AND STOPPED, ONLY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. WHICH THE PARAMEDICS HAPPENED TO HEAR IT AND GOT VERY CONCERNED. ALTHOUGH IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE SEVERAL TIMES, THE EMT'S STRONGLY URGED US TO REPORT THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE SAW BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 06/02/10. *LJ ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPDATED 09/28/10
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.