Ford Escape will not be able to be bought in these six US states from 2026
Published on Jun 27, 2025 at 10:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The forthcoming 2026 Ford Escape will reportedly not be sold in six US states due to emission regulations.
Ford launched the SUV back in 2001, and it’s now in its fourth generation.
Over the past couple of years, there were rumors and speculation that the nameplate would be retired.
However, now a new report claims that a 2026 Ford Escape model is in the works, but it won’t be coming to six US states.
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Which states won’t be getting the 2026 Ford Escape?
Across the US, different states have different regulations when it comes to emission levels.
This means that some cars may be acceptable in some states and not in others.
According to a new report in Ford Authority, the upcoming 2026 Ford Escape will be one such vehicle.
The report claims that the 2026 Ford Escape will be produced exclusively with ‘the non-California emissions system’.
This means the car won’t be sold in six states: California, Vermont, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon. It also won’t be allowed to be registered in those states.
Basically, anyone wanting to own a Ford Escape who lives in one of the places mentioned above will only be able to do so by buying one that is from 2025 or earlier.
The report also suggests that the Ford Escape may still be headed for retirement in the not-so-distant future.
Ford Authority cited a report from earlier this year that suggested production of the Escape at Ford’s Louisville plant would wind down at the end of the year, as the factory undergoes a retooling to equip it for the production of electric vehicles instead.
The marque will reportedly champion the Ford Bronco Sport as its key compact crossover when the Escape is no longer in production.
As yet, Ford hasn’t commented on the claims made in the report.
It’s not the first car to face a ban
Although the 2026 Ford Escape will be banned in a handful of states, there are some cars that can’t be sold anywhere on US soil.
The 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP670 SV – hailed as the ‘greatest supercar ever made’ – is completely outlawed in the US due to failing to meet U.S. Department of Transportation or Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 was also similarly banned from being imported into any state due to the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 – a law brought in to clamp down on ‘grey market’ imports.
However, as of January last year, as the car is now more than 25 years old, imports are permitted.
The long-forgotten 1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T muscle car was also hit with a United States ban – this time because it was too fast.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
