Last updated: 2026-05-15
Ford Escape vs Hyundai Tucson: Reliability Compared
Ford Escape
Hyundai Tucson
Choosing between the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Tucson? 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 compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Hyundai Tucson currently leads with an average score of 73/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Tucson is more reliable than the Ford Escape, scoring 73/100 vs 66/100.
The Hyundai Tucson demonstrates stronger reliability with an average score of 73/100 compared to the Ford Escape's 66/100. Over the past nine years, the Tucson has had 23 recalls, significantly fewer than the Escape's 86 recalls in eight years. With a lower owner complaint rate of 8.9 per 10,000 units and an estimated annual repair cost of $426, the Tucson is more cost-effective and dependable than the Escape, which has a higher complaint rate of 9.6 and a repair cost of $600. If reliability and lower maintenance costs are priorities, the Hyundai Tucson is the superior choice.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Tucson costs $174 less per year to repair
- 2Hyundai Tucson has 63 fewer total recalls
- 3Hyundai Tucson scores 7 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Ford Escape vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Escape | Hyundai Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 73/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 86 | 23 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $600/yr | $426/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 11% | 10% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson?
The Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Ford Escape showing a significantly higher total number of complaints. Engine issues are prominent for both models, but the Ford Escape leads with 1,152 complaints compared to the Tucson's 397, although both have a similar number of crash-linked complaints in this category. The Tucson's service brakes and forward collision avoidance systems have a higher proportion of crash-linked incidents, with 15 and 12 respectively, suggesting potential safety concerns. Meanwhile, the Ford Escape shows a notable issue with its structure, gathering 693 complaints, indicating a unique area of concern not shared by the Tucson.
| Component | Ford Escape | Hyundai Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 2.6Low | 1.9Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.4Low | 1.3Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.8Very Low | 1Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 1.1Low |
| STRUCTURE | 1.5Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 1.1Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.9Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Escape or Hyundai Tucson?
How Does Ford Escape vs Hyundai Tucson Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Escape | Hyundai Tucson | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74/10010R / 16C | 75/1006R / 251C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2024 | 75/10010R / 76C | 77/1004R / 87C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2023 | 72/10013R / 107C | 75/1002R / 142C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2022 | 62/10020R / 325C | 66/1003R / 433C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2020 | 52/10025R / 1667C | 73/1001R / 153C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2019 | 69/1003R / 506C | 68/1001R / 349C | Ford Escape |
| 2018 | 60/1004R / 1597C | 68/1001R / 362C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2026(predicted) | 67/100(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | Hyundai Tucson |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Escape scored 75/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Tucson scored 77/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Ford Escape vs the Hyundai Tucson?
Ford Escape vs Hyundai Tucson: Common Questions
- Is the Ford Escape more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?
- Based on our data, the Hyundai Tucson is more reliable with an average score of 73/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Ford Escape or the Hyundai Tucson?
- The Ford Escape has more recalls (86) compared to the Hyundai Tucson (23). 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 Ford Escape or the Hyundai Tucson?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Tucson has a lower complaint rate at 8.9 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 Ford Escape or the Hyundai Tucson?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Tucson is cheaper to maintain at $426/year versus $600/year for the Ford Escape.
- Is the Ford Escape or Hyundai Tucson safer?
- Both the Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson 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 Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson? 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