ProblemsByVin FORD / ENGINE

279 model-year entries · 2005–2024

Ford engine problems

21,455 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Ford vehicles for engine issues. 30 active recall campaigns. See engine across all makes →

Complaints

21,455

Recalls

Year-models

279

Avg fix

$3,100

116crashes

449fires

177injuries

3fatalities

Editorial perspective by Mark Driver · Founder, ProblemsByVin

I've had plenty of Ford in the bay over the years, and the engine complaints on these don't surprise me. 21,455 on the NHTSA record across 279 model-year entries (2005–2024) is not a fluke. The complaints are spread across the lineup — no single model is doing all the work. That tells you it's an engineering or supplier pattern, not a one-off bad year. 3 fatality reports on file with NHTSA tied to this category on Ford vehicles. That elevates this from nuisance to safety-critical. Repair exposure averages $3,100, which is meaningful money outside warranty. Across the 13,055 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 71,255 miles. Budget for a real pre-purchase inspection — compression and leakdown test, not just a code scan. Both are cheap and tell you what is left in the engine.

Worst-affected Ford model-years for engine Top 25 by complaint volume

2017 Ford Escape

1,665 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2018 Ford Escape

1,203 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2013 Ford Escape

1,035 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$3,100 moderate

2017 Ford Edge

759 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2014 Ford Escape

660 complaints · ~$3,100 severe

2018 Ford Ecosport

529 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2018 Ford Edge

491 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2016 Ford Fusion

446 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2017 Ford Fusion

417 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2018 Ford F-150

363 complaints · 1 recall · ~$3,100 moderate

2019 Ford Ecosport

337 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2016 Ford Explorer

336 complaints · 1 recall · ~$3,100 moderate

2016 Ford Edge

326 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2013 Ford Fusion

314 complaints · 1 recall · ~$3,100 severe

2019 Ford Escape

304 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2010 Ford Fusion

282 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2020 Ford Ecosport

274 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2011 Ford F-150

271 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2012 Ford F-150

264 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2013 Ford F-150

254 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2017 Ford F-150

250 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2018 Ford Focus

245 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2015 Ford Fusion

243 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

2017 Ford Explorer

216 complaints · 1 recall · ~$3,100 severe

2018 Ford Fusion

210 complaints · ~$3,100 moderate

Active recalls — Ford engine 12 on file

severe NHTSA 26V343000 May 27, 2026 2026 Ford Explorer

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles

A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S35. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026.

severe NHTSA 26V205000 March 31, 2026 2026 Ford Mustang

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles

An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.

severe NHTSA 26V122000 March 3, 2026 2025 Ford Mustang

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles

An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 20, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

severe NHTSA 25V828000 December 1, 2025 2026 Ford Mustang

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.

severe NHTSA 25V793000 November 17, 2025 2021 Ford E-350

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles that received an incomplete software update under recall 20V795

Direct contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger.

Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 22, 2025.

severe NHTSA 25V628000 September 19, 2025 2020 Ford Expedition

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles

A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numbers for this recall are 22S36 and 22S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 23, 2025.

severe NHTSA 25V344000 June 13, 2025 2025 Ford Explorer

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Transit, F-150, and Explorer vehicles

A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the connecting rods and replace the engine long block assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S55.

severe NHTSA 25V372000 June 3, 2025 2025 Ford Escape

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles

An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.

severe NHTSA 25V345000 May 23, 2025 2023 Ford Escape

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S54.

severe NHTSA 25V198000 March 28, 2025 2025 Ford Expedition

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3

A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S30.

severe NHTSA 24V851000 December 20, 2024 2025 Ford F-150

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S70.

severe NHTSA 24V635000 August 23, 2024 2022 Ford Edge

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.

Common questions

How many Ford engine complaints are on file with NHTSA?

21,455 complaints across 279 model-year entries from 2005 to 2024. 30 active recall campaigns cover engine issues across the Ford lineup.

Which Ford model has the most engine complaints?

The 2017 Ford Escape leads with 1,665 complaints in this category. Next: 2018 Escape (1,203) and 2013 Escape (1,035).

What does it cost to fix Ford engine problems?

Independent shops average $3,100 for engine repairs across the Ford lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.

Are there Ford engine recalls?

Yes — 12 active recall campaigns cover engine on Ford vehicles. Recall fixes are free regardless of mileage or warranty status. The list below shows current campaigns with their NHTSA numbers.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Editorial commentary written by Mark Driver, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin and not affiliated with Ford. Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record. Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.