2021 Ford Escape Hev: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
335 NHTSA owner complaints · 0 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2020 and 2021 Escape hybrid, AVOID verdicts at 47 on 287 and 335 complaints; buy a 2022, which scores 79 on 66 complaints, or a 2023 to 2025, which score 91, 92 and 92 on low evidence. Structure is the top component in both bad years, 105 on the 2020 car and 91 on the 2021, and no campaign in that category explains it. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 335 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Hybrid or petrol? The same nameplate, both records, side by side, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 335 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 67.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
When I lock my car, whether from my phone, keys, or lock button inside car, the car will lock except the passenger side door which remains unlocked. So when the car is supposed to be locked and secured, anyone who wants can gain access in my car whenever they want. The car alarm will go off. But the door still opens. I believe this is a safety concern for my family and I while being in the vehicle and also a threat t…
The ulpostery covering the sunroof fails to retract all the way causing a sag in the fabric blocking the view from the rearview mirror. Dealership states not covered under warranty
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the vehicle turned off, the exterior and interior lights failed to turn off as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Recalls: 0 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 40 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,550
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Structure91 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Unknown Or Other58 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes49 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Fuel System43 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Gasoline43 complaints · typical job: Fuel delivery and emissions repair (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,360
- Power Train41 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Ford Escape Hev years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Escape Hev?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Structure (91 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Ford Escape Hev a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 47/100, computed from 335 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Ford Escape Hev's most common problem?
91 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Ford Escape Hev sit in the Structure group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is body, subframe or corrosion repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,070–$2,920 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Ford Escape Hev cost to run per year?
About $4,193 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $20,965 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Ford Escape Hev really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 335 complaints, 0 recalls on record
- 335 NHTSA complaints on record (67.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (12.1/yr)
- 0 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems