2026 Ford Escape Safety Rating
Small SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Ford Escape is not yet ranked. Our required evidence is complete for 4 of 4 primary tests and 4 of 4 selected occupant-protection details, and no result for the combined pedestrian front crash prevention protocol. Missing results are shown as missing, never assumed.
Reported so far: Small overlap front Good; Moderate overlap front (updated test) Good; Side (updated test) Marginal; Headlights Acceptable; Seat belt reminders Good; Latch ease of use Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
- Rating applies to 2022-26 models built after May 2022
Headlights: baseline Acceptable
- Acceptable β Trim level(s): Platinum trim, ST-Line Elite trim
Vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention 2.0: baseline Marginal
- Marginal β standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. Rating applies to all 2023-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (51 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2022-26 models built after May 2022
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Headlights
Β· Trim level(s): Platinum trim, ST-Line Elite trim
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Rating applies to all 2023-26 models Β· standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2023-26 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 FORD ESCAPE GAS SUV N/A AWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Small overlap front: Driver-side
Tested vehicle: 2020 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2022 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2022-26 models built after May 2022
Side: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2021 Ford Escape S 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 42 per million registered vehicle-years | Small SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Ford Escape 4WD (2020) driver death rate | 43 (95% CI 1β85) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 42.6. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
Compared with other small SUVs
Closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Subaru Forester | #1 of 28 | TSP+ | $29,995 | 94.3 | |
| 2026 Kia EV6 | #23 of 28 | β | $37,900 | 70.6 | |
| 2027 Honda CR V | #24 of 28 | β | $30,920 | 66.6 | |
| 2026 Chevrolet Trax | #25 of 28 | β | $21,700 | 66.2 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Ford Escape belongs to the Small SUVs class. This class has a driver death rate near the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Ford Escape has no IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the 2026 award cycle. That can mean a result below the award threshold in one test, or tests IIHS has not completed. Absence of an award is not evidence that the vehicle is unsafe.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Ford Escape earned 4 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Ford or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
International crash-test results
Sold as Ford Kuga in Europe. Same platform and body structure as the US Escape.
Euro NCAP and ANCAP results are provided for reference. Because market versions can differ in structure and equipment, they are not factored into the US score.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Ford Escape
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
Questions about the 2026 Ford Escape
Is the 2026 Ford Escape a safe car?
IIHS has published 4 of the 4 primary tests and 4 of the 4 occupant-protection details for the 2026 Ford Escape. Available results are shown below. Only current models with all required results enter the ranking.
What is the 2026 Ford Escape IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Marginal; headlights = Acceptable; seat belt reminders = Good; latch ease of use = Good.
Is the 2026 Ford Escape an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
No. The 2026 Ford Escape does not hold an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for the 2026 model year, which can reflect a result below Good in a qualifying test or tests that IIHS has not yet completed.
What is the 2026 Ford Escape NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 FORD ESCAPE GAS SUV N/A AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5, side 5, rollover 4). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Ford Escape compare with other small SUVs?
The class leader is the 2026 Subaru Forester at 94.3/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.