Last updated: 2026-07-26
Buick Envision vs Ford Escape: Reliability Compared
Buick Envision
Ford Escape
Choosing between the Buick Envision and the Ford Escape? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Buick Envision currently leads with an average score of 77/100 compared to 68/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Buick Envision and Ford Escape Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Envision is more reliable than the Ford Escape, scoring 77/100 vs 68/100.
The Buick Envision outshines the Ford Escape in terms of reliability with a higher average reliability score of 77/100 compared to the Escape's 68/100. The Envision has significantly fewer recalls, with just 6 over nine years, while the Escape has 86 over eight years. Additionally, the Envision has a lower owner complaints rate of 4.9 per 10,000 sold versus the Escape's 9.6, and slightly lower estimated annual repair costs at $573 compared to $600 for the Escape. These factors, combined with fewer common issues reported, make the Envision a more reliable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Envision has 80 fewer total recalls
- 2Buick Envision costs $27 less per year to repair
- 3Buick Envision scores 9 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Buick Envision vs Ford Escape: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Envision | Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 77/100 | 68/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 6 | 86 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 4.9 | 9.6 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $573/yr | $600/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 7 (1 tied) | 0 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Envision and Ford Escape?
The Ford Escape exhibits a significantly higher volume of complaints, totaling 4,296, with particular issues in the engine and power train categories, which together account for 1,759 complaints and include 17 crash-linked incidents. In contrast, the Buick Envision has a much lower complaint count of 131, with its most reported issues in the electrical system and power train, including only one crash-linked power train complaint. Notably, the Ford Escape's problems are more severe in terms of crash-linked incidents, especially in the power train and unknown or other categories, with 14 and 11 crash-linked complaints respectively. The Buick Envision's main safety concern lies in the air bags category, with three crash-linked complaints, highlighting a specific safety issue absent in the Ford Escape's problem profile.
| Component | Buick Envision | Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 2.6Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.6Very Low | 1.4Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.9Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.4Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.5Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Envision or Ford Escape?
How Does Buick Envision vs Ford Escape Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Envision | Ford Escape | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 77/1001R / 0C | 77/1001R / 2C | Tie |
| 2025 | 82/1000R / 7C | 74/10010R / 16C | Buick Envision |
| 2024 | 76/1001R / 10C | 75/10010R / 76C | Buick Envision |
| 2023 | 76/1001R / 22C | 72/10013R / 107C | Buick Envision |
| 2022 | 75/1001R / 23C | 62/10020R / 325C | Buick Envision |
| 2020 | 78/1000R / 10C | 52/10025R / 1667C | Buick Envision |
| 2019 | 78/1000R / 23C | 69/1003R / 506C | Buick Envision |
| 2018 | 78/1000R / 13C | 60/1004R / 1597C | Buick Envision |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Buick Envision scored 82/100 and the 2026 Ford Escape scored 77/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Buick Envision vs the Ford Escape?
Buick Envision vs Ford Escape: Common Questions
- Is the Buick Envision more reliable than the Ford Escape?
- Based on our data, the Buick Envision is more reliable with an average score of 77/100 compared to 68/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Buick Envision or the Ford Escape?
- The Ford Escape has more recalls (86) compared to the Buick Envision (6). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Envision or the Ford Escape?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Buick Envision has a lower complaint rate at 4.9 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 9.6 for the Ford Escape. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Envision or the Ford Escape?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Buick Envision is cheaper to maintain at $573/year versus $600/year for the Ford Escape.
- Is the Buick Envision or Ford Escape safer?
- Both the Buick Envision and Ford Escape received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Buick Envision and Ford Escape? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue