2019 Ford Escape Problems – Watch Out For Delayed Shifting! 

The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV sold by Ford from the 2000 model year until the present. Sold over four generations, this car has been an extremely popular car model on the market. Even with the 2019 Ford Escape problems, this vehicle still has high safety ratings, consumer reviews, and awards.

The 2019 Ford Escape is part of the third generation which spanned from 2013 until the 2019 model year. Ford of Europe rebadged the third generation alongside the Ford Kuga, released to the North American markets for the 2013 year. 

Let’s go over the most common 2019 Ford Escape problems in each category regarding the transmission, engine, electrical system, interior accessories, and windows/windshield to get an idea of this vehicle’s reliability and safety. 

2019 Ford Escape Problems – Transmission

• Delayed Shifting

If your transmission takes a while to go into the proper gear, your transmission liquid could be too low. Low fluid levels could be due to a transmission fluid leak, fluid contamination, or water intrusion. Make sure you stay up to date with your transmission fluid level’s routine maintenance to prevent the 2019 Ford Escape problems.

• Replacing your transmission fluid is typically between $80 and $250 at most dealerships, service centers, or independent mechanics in your area.

• Slipping Transmission

Transmission slipping can be caused by low transmission fluid, contamination of the transmission fluid, or lack of routine maintenance. Slipping can also be due to internal wear and tear on transmission parts. If your engine is revving highly along with the slipping transmission, this is a sign that you have worn-out clutches. Damaged clutches are a direct cause and symptom of 2019 Ford Escape problems.

• Replacing transmission clutches typically costs between $800 and $1,500, with the average price coming to $1,150. 

• Burning Smell From Under the Hood 

A burning smell is usually caused by a fluid leak in the transmission or a burning clutch. If you can diagnose the fluid leak, you might save the transmission from any further damage. In addition, a buzzing sound can also be an indicator of a bad internal sealing surface, a bad valve seal, or low transmission fluid.

• Replacing your transmission valve seal costs around $100 for the part on average, with the labor adding around 4 hours of work, and between $320-$400 to the total procedure price. However, fixing the valve guide seals can help prevent the 2019 Ford Escape problems from worsening. 

• Grinding Gears

One of the main 2019 Ford Escape problems is the gears grinding when you try to shift. When your transmission grinds, this is directly related to the clutch not releasing, the shift synchronizer rings, or the shifter having an adjustment problem. If your transmission fluid and oil are too low, contaminated, or full of debris, this can also cause a problem in manual cars. 

• Replacing your transmission synchronizer is between $300 and $450 to pull out and reinstall the mechanism. 

• Clutch Pedal Grabs Too High or Too Low

If your clutch pedal is engaging very low, this is usually an issue with the linkage or the hydraulic system. To fix this issue, a simple adjustment or bleeding of the system could solve the problem. If the clutch pedal is grabbing very high, this could be due to a worn clutch disc, worn pressure plate, and other 2019 Ford Escape problems. 

• The average cost for a hydraulic clutch system bleed is usually between $43 and $55 for this procedure. 

2019 Ford Escape Problems – Engine

• Fuel Sensor FAilure

Fixing the engine stalling and shutting down involves replacing the fuel sensor, repairing the main wiring harness, replacing the electronic throttle body, and replacing the coolant bypass valve before 50,000 miles. 

• The typical Ford Escape engine replacement cost for these parts comes to just below $600.

• Air Cooler Malfunctioning

Fixing the engine stalling in the 2019 Escape is one of the most severe 2019 Ford Escape problems, with owners having to pay upward of $5,500 to replace the air cooler and the engine at around 34,000 miles. Along with the early onset of the engine concerns in this model year, owners complain about the car stopping while driving, the car burns oil very quickly, and the engine constantly misfires. 

• CAM Sensor Issues

One of the main 2019 Ford Escape problems focuses on the failure of the CAM sensor, costing around $370 to replace the necessary solenoids and CAM sensors at around 61,000 miles. Owners complain of rough idle, jerking, and unintended acceleration before replacing the faulty parts. 

• Accelerator Pedal Sticking

The gas pedal is a key part of your engine system. The accelerator, also known as the pedal, is the mechanism that controls and siphons the correct amount of gas being fed to the engine to alter the speed of the vehicle. If the pedal is sticking, this can lead to unintended acceleration when the driver wants to slow down the vehicle.

• Replacing the accelerator pedal position sensor costs between $130 and $200, with the labor between 70 and $90 for between 1 hour and 1.5 hours of work. 

• Engine Failure

Similar to the previous year of the Ford Escape, one of the most severe 2019 Ford Escape problems deals with the engine failing. The EcoBoost motor suffers from a mechanical failure that can lead to the coolant bypass and complete shutdown while driving. 

Owners state that this issue in the engine comes on suddenly without any warning, such as performance issues or warning lights, creating an unsafe driving situation. This engine failure can often leave drivers stranded on the side of the road since the engine failure has no warning before failing. 

Once the motor fails, the driver will have to pay for a new engine, used engine, or engine rebuild. Although the engine rebuild is cheaper, it might not be as long-lasting as a new or used engine. 

• The average price of an engine rebuild or new engine for this specific kind of car ranges between $2,100 and $6,000. 

• • A typical engine rebuild is between $2,500 and $4,000 in both parts and labor costs, with this type of repair often including replacing bearings and seals. 
  • Most shops take between 10 and 20 hours to complete the engine rebuild, with the hourly rate often between $50 and $100 depending on the type of car and the location of the shop. In this case, drivers can expect to add between $500 and $2,000 for the labor price for an engine rebuild.  

2019 Ford Escape Problems – Interior Accessories 

• Horn Not Working Properly

One of the main 2019 Ford EScape problems in the interior accessories category is the horn not working properly and not being loud enough to alert other drivers to a sudden driving change.

• Replacing the horn in your car costs between $141 and $158, with the labor between $66 and $83 for one hour of work. 

• Power Tailgate Not Latching 

The second 2019 Ford Escape problem in the interior accessories category focuses on the power tailgate not securing shut, meaning the valuables in the trunk of the car could inadvertently fall out if the door opens while driving.

• The average cost for a liftgate pulldown motor replacement is between $569 and $900, with the labor between $81 and $102 for 1 to 1.5 hours of work. 

2019 Ford Escape Problems – Electrical

• Faulty Safety Systems

Many of the severe 2019 Ford Escape problems focus around the safety and secondary safety systems designed to keep the driver and passengers safe in the event of a crash. Most of the problems focus on traction control, hill start assist, or other safety measures that turn off while driving.

Some drivers report that the 2019 Ford Escape will come to a complete stop without warning due to the forward-collision warning system malfunction, causing the ABS not to work correctly, the traction not to grip the road, and other performance issues while on slippery surfaces.

Typically, fixing these safety systems are software issues, although some owners also report they need to pay to replace the safety sensors. 

• Typical repair costs for rear radar sensors used with blind-spot monitoring and traffic alert systems range between $800 and $2,050, while the front radar sensors cost between $900 and $1,300 to fix the 2019 Ford Escape problems. 
  • Since the engine control module is the ‘computer’ of your car, replacing this part can sometimes be required for fixing the safety issues. The average cost for an engine control module replacement is between $928 and $1,006, with the labor between $80 and $100 for one hour of work and the parts at around $900. 

2019 Ford Escape Problems – Windows

• Windshield Cracking

One of the main 2019 Ford Escape problems focuses on the windows potentially cracking, with the problem limiting visibility and leading to costly and unnecessary repairs. Although sometimes the issue can be just a chip on the windshield, if chips are not addressed, they can turn into long cracks that can be quite expensive to fix. 

If you let the windshield chip grow into a crack, you can be spending more money to fix the chip in the long run – the average cost to repair your windshield is between $200-$1000. 

• There are a few factors that determine if you need to replace or repair your existing windshield. If your windshield chip is less than ⅜ of an inch in diameter, you can usually repair the chip yourself or bring it to a mechanic. If you have multiple chips or a crack, you should visit a mechanic or auto body shop to repair the crack completely. 
• If the repairmen see the windshield chip has spread and the windshield is no longer sound, they will recommend a full replacement. The windshield replacement cost is generally between $100-$400, with the average cost being between $210-$230. The average price of replacing a rear windshield is between $200-$450.

2019 Ford Escape Recall

Due to the 2019 Ford Escape problems, a recall was announced in 2020 regarding certain Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, and Edge cars. 

• The affected vehicles suffer from a poor electrical connection, meaning the rear backup camera could intermittently cut out or show a distorted image, leading to reversing in tight spaces. 

Another recall announced regarding the 2019 Ford Escape focuses on the powertrain, driveline, and driveshaft components. This recall was announced in 2021 and focused on the Edge, Nautilus, Corsair, and Ford Bronco Sport. 

• The affected vehicles suffer from an inadequate amount of lubricant that can cause the rear-drive axle’s seizure. 

Lastly, the final recall deals with the seats, front assembly, and recliner mechanisms in the 2018-2020 Ford F-150, 2019-2020 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, and 2019-2020 Escape cars. 

• The affected vehicles all contain rear outboard seats and a manual seat back recliner mechanism that lets the driver change their seat’s position and angle.
  • The recliner mechanisms could be missing an important part that aids in the seatback strength, resulting in a loose seat back that can make it unsafe to drive or sit for long periods.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, recognizing and being aware of the most common 2019 Ford Escape problems can help you keep repair and replacement costs as low as possible. By noticing the transmission issues, electrical concerns, engine malfunctions, windshield durability issues, and other categories of concern, you can keep the problems from worsening over time. 

Drivers should be aware of delayed shifting, a slipping transmission, burning smell, and the clutch pedal malfunction in their transmissions. In the engine category, drivers need to keep an eye out for fuel sensor failure, CAM sensor issues, and engine failure. Regarding the interior accessories, drivers should keep an eye on their horn and the liftgate latch not secured properly.

Lastly, car owners of the Ford Escape should be aware of the faulty safety systems and the windshield cracking in their vehicle after minimal use.