The last of the 1.6L EcoBoost years — fine as a 2.5L, a gamble as a turbo.

Every 2013-2019 Escape falls under recall 22V-413: the bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach, which may prevent the car from shifting into the gear you selected — or let it roll after you put it in 'Park.' Ford's fix (their number 22S43) replaces the under-hood bushing and adds a protective cap, free. This is the one gen-3 safety recall that touches this car directly; confirm it shows completed by VIN.

On 2.0L cars, recall 26V-011 (Ford 26S01) covers an engine block heater that can crack and short-circuit when plugged in — a fire risk. Owners are told not to plug in the block heater until the fix (a free replacement, or a threaded plug that removes the heater cord). If the car lives in a cold-weather state and has the block-heater cord, verify this was addressed.

A gen-3 teardown flags the predictable aging points: the AWD transfer case can fail internally (a wheel-bearing-like howl that turns into clicking — the whole unit must be replaced, since Ford's rebuild kits lack the internal parts and a fluid change won't cure it); the four ignition coils are best replaced as a set; the EVAP purge solenoid causes hard starts and rough idle; and the blower-motor resistor fails (air only on high). None are catastrophic, but budget for them on a higher-mileage car and listen for a transfer-case howl on an AWD test drive.