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The Ford Escape has been on the market since 2001. People often call it one of the best small SUVs partly because of its long history on the market. However, despite still being popular, Ford hasn’t done the best job of updating the vehicle in recent years. Because of this, many consider the 2024 Ford Escape to be a bit on the dull side of the spectrum. Unfortunately, the 2023 Ford Escape and other recent models have the same reputation among buyers.

So, is it time for Ford to discontinue the long-running SUV and replace it with something fresh?

The 2024 Ford Escape has a new look, but is it enough?

A red 2022 Ford Escape
2022 Ford Escape | Ford

Ford deserves respect for the updates on the 2024 Ford Escape. The small SUV has an updated front fascia, which includes a new light bar and grille. The rear of the vehicle has some small changes, and, unfortunately, the side of the SUV remains unchanged. It looks pretty good, but it’s certainly not enough to compete with some of the more modern options that occupy the lists of the best small SUVs. In fact, many would call the 2024 model a bit dull.

On top of the stuck-in-the-past look, the 2024 Ford Escape, like the previous model, doesn’t have great hope for reliability. In fact, it’s predicted to be less reliable than most new cars. This prediction partly exists because the 2023 Escape was such a problematic vehicle. The same is true for most recent models of the popular Ford.

The 2023 Ford Escape is not one of the best small SUVs

The Ford Escape is often called one of the best small SUVs
2022 Ford Escape | Ford

The 2023 Ford Escape is a popular model, but it’s hard to call it one of the best small SUVs. This is because that particular model has a ton of problems. According to Kelley Blue Book, it has three. One of the most significant 2023 Escape problems is that some models had a cracked fuel injector, which could be a fire hazard. This issue had an impact on 521,746 models and existed on models dating back to 2020.

Another recall for the 2023 Ford Escape came from faulty instrument panels. Though not nearly as bad as cracked fuel injectors, this issue could have resulted in accidents. This caused the instrument panel to stop working, and it sometimes happened while people were driving. According to Ford, the issue arose due to the module not being soldered properly.

Is time to discontinue the Escape?

So, is it time for Ford to discontinue the Escape? It’s easy to say yes based on recent models because they aren’t up to par with modern options. Instead, they seem like regular old Ford models. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a good old Ford, many buyers want something more innovative. However, sales are still reasonably high for the SUV, which means it may have a few years left. Still, they are are far cry from the glory days.

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