Precision data for Ford Escape owners
Check a Ford Escape vehicle's history, specs, mileage records, accident history, title status, recalls, and more using the VIN.
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The Escape has been one of Ford's best-selling SUVs since 2001, and since the 2013 model year it has shared its design with the European Ford Kuga. With so many sold — many as rental and lease vehicles — the used market spans every condition. A VIN check on a used Escape, Escape Hybrid, or Plug-In Hybrid brings together the accident, ownership, mileage, and recall history that a clean-looking SUV won't reveal on its own.
What you can check
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code that serves as your Ford Escape's fingerprint. Checking your VIN provides crucial information about:
Your Escape's VIN can be located in several places:
Escape VINs start with 1FM, Ford's manufacturer code for US-built SUVs. The 10th character encodes the model year and the 11th the assembly plant — the Escape is built at Louisville Assembly in Kentucky. The decoded VIN also confirms the engine and drivetrain, so you can check that a vehicle matches its listing.
Every Ford Escape carries a unique 17-character VIN. Here's what each part of the number means — select any section to see the details for your Ford Escape.
Characters 1–3
The first three characters identify who built the vehicle and where.
Characters 4–8
Characters 4–8 hold manufacturer-specific details about the vehicle itself.
Character 9
The 9th character helps confirm the VIN is valid.
Character 10
The 10th character indicates the vehicle's model year.
Character 11
The 11th character identifies the factory where the vehicle was assembled.
Characters 12–17
The last six characters are usually the vehicle's unique serial number.
Our comprehensive Ford Escape VIN check provides:
The Escape's popularity and EcoBoost engines bring a few well-documented issues worth checking:
To decode each character of the number, use our free VIN decoder, and for the full history run a VIN check. The Escape's European twin is the Ford Kuga, and its off-road-styled sibling is the Ford Bronco Sport. Every model is listed on our Ford VIN check page.
Enter your Ford Escape VIN above to access your comprehensive vehicle report.
Get your comprehensive vehicle history report in minutes with these simple steps.
Simply enter the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from your car.
Our system instantly searches our database for vehicle history records.
View complete vehicle history including accidents, title status, and more.
Is the Ford Escape the same as the Ford Kuga?
Since the 2013 model year, yes — the Escape and Kuga share the same platform and body, with market-specific engines and equipment. The first-generation Kuga (2008–2012) was a Europe-only design.
Which Escape engines have overheating problems?
The issues center on the 1.5- and 1.6-liter EcoBoost engines of roughly 2013–2019. The 1.6-liter was the subject of an overheating-related recall, so check that any recall work was completed and look for signs of coolant loss.
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