2021 Ford Escape vs 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Ford Escape | 2021 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 343 | 513 |
| Recall campaigns | 19 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 203 | 180 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–41 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 39,000 mi | 31,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 43 | 219 |
| Structure | 92 | 51 |
| Service Brakes | 40 | 66 |
| Engine | 43 | 45 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 27 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 31 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 44 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 42 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 18 | 19 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 13 | 33 |
| Shifting problems | 6 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 25 |
2021 Ford Escape
2021 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Ford Escape vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.