2015 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2015 Ford Escape
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2015 Chevrolet
Equinox
3/10
A budget crossover with a genuinely dangerous engine problem that GM never properly fixed under warranty.
VS
2015 Ford
Escape
5/10
The 2015 Escape is only worth owning if it has the boring naturally-aspirated 2.5L; the 1.6L EcoBoost is a known coolant-into-cylinder time bomb and the 2.0L isn't much safer.
Milo scores the 2015 Ford Escape higher — 5/10 against 3/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Equinox |
Ford Escape |
| Known failure points | 6 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 679 | 1057 |
| Safety recalls | 2 | 9 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 28 | 45 |
| Cheap to own | 25 | 40 |
| Fun factor | 25 | 55 |
| Holds value | 35 | 35 |
| Enthusiast cred | 10 | 20 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2015 Chevrolet Equinox
2.4L Ecotec (LAF/LEA) excessive oil consumption from piston ring design, leading to low oil pressure and potential engine seizure
$3,500–$6,50060k–100k mi
2015 Ford Escape
2.0L EcoBoost coolant loss — long block replacement program (Ford CSP 21N03) for coolant intrusion into cylinders
$0–$9,00050k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2015 Chevrolet Equinox
A 2015 Equinox LTZ or LT with the 3.6L V6 (LFX) and AWD, with full documented oil-change history — this engine sidesteps the entire 2.4L oil consumption saga.
✅ 2015 Ford Escape
2015 Escape SE or Titanium with the 2.5L iVCT (VIN 8th digit '7'), FWD, one owner, complete service records showing regular transmission fluid changes, and every recall closed. Titanium adds the panoramic roof, heated leather, and better audio for peanuts on the used market.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.