Total Complaints
5 filings
FORD ESCAPE · model year
2000 FORD ESCAPE
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000FORDESCAPE carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 ESCAPE is air bags:frontal with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages (1) and power train:driveline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 8 investigation files overlapping the 2000 ESCAPE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20181130STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 6 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE VEHICLE SAFELY INTO THE PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PREFERRED FORD (1401 S BEACON BLVD, GRAND HAVEN, MI 49417, (616) 842-0600) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 123,000
20151027ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN FAN FOR CLIMATE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AT WHATEVER SPEED VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FIX COST JUST UNDER $800.00 !
Mileage: 55,000
20090616POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V382000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE), WHICH APPLIED ONLY TO THE FORD HYBRID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
Mileage: 76,000
20080908LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ONCE IT IS CLOSED. THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONTACT HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR EMERGENCY. FORD WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V602000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,500.
Mileage: 64,500
20080507CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT THEN STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND HER FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS WERE DAMAGED. SHE WAS UNSURE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS THE INCORRECT SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,536 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Mileage: 33,000
Compare 2000FORDESCAPE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE23013Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
PE18007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power
DP15001Defect PetitionClosed
Loss of power steering while driving
PE13003Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
DP12006Defect PetitionClosed
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2000 FORD ESCAPE have?▼
The 2000 FORD ESCAPE has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 FORD ESCAPE?▼
The most-complained component for the 2000 FORD ESCAPE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE.
Is the 2000 FORD ESCAPE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.