NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The center display screen may flip or invert when you shift into reverse, causing the rearview camera image to display upside down or backwards.
What the fix does
This page covers 22 recalls, 337 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2022 Ford Escape.
26–40 mpg combined
5.9–9 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2022 Ford Escape draws the most complaints around engine and fuel system behavior. Owners frequently report excessive fuel consumption and engine shuddering or hesitation when pressing the accelerator, often without any warning light. The fuel system complaints overlap with these engine symptoms, suggesting many owners are experiencing the same underlying drivability issue from two angles. Brake complaints rank third, with owners describing concerns about braking performance at various speeds. A recurring secondary theme involves water intrusion into the cabin, particularly on the front floor, which owners connect to air conditioning drainage. A smaller but notable cluster involves the infotainment screen going blank, with some owners reporting the problem returning even after dealer visits.
337
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
7
With Injuries
By System
The 2022 Ford Escape has 22 recalls, the most serious being multiple fire risks: cracked fuel injectors on 1.5L models can leak fuel onto hot engine components, and on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, high-voltage battery cell defects can cause an internal short circuit leading to fire or a sudden loss of drive power.
The fire risks on 2.5L hybrid models go further: an engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor near hot exhaust components. Prior repair attempts for some of these issues did not fully resolve the problem. The optional engine block heater can also crack, leak coolant, and short circuit when plugged in. On the drivetrain side, a software fault in the hybrid powertrain control module can shift the transmission into neutral without warning, cutting drive power. Rear brake linings on some vehicles may require more pedal force and extend stopping distances. Visibility concerns include a wiper motor that can fail, a rearview camera that may show a blank or flipped image in reverse, and liftgate hinge covers that can detach and become road debris. A missing airbag warning label rounds out the list.
At a glance
What can fail
The center display screen may flip or invert when you shift into reverse, causing the rearview camera image to display upside down or backwards.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Ford will send you a letter with instructions for a software or hardware update to correct the display orientation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper motor may fail, causing the windshield wipers to stop working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front wiper motors and replace them if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing defect in one or more high voltage battery cells may cause an internal short circuit, leading to battery failure in certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrids.
What the fix does
Ford is developing a repair. Until completed, use only Auto EV mode and charge the battery to a maximum of 80% capacity.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and can detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the hinge covers and reinstall or replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing flaw in high voltage battery cells may cause an internal short circuit, leading to battery failure in certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles.
What the fix does
Ford will perform a repair to address the battery defect. Until repair is available, operate only in Auto EV mode and limit maximum battery charge as instructed by Ford.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant. When plugged in, the leaked coolant may cause an electrical short circuit.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the block heater at no cost, or install a blanking plug and remove the heater cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector in the 1.5L engine may crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will update engine control software and replace the fuel rail assembly and fuel injector.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Incorrect prior repairs to 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines may allow engine oil and fuel vapor to leak into the engine compartment, where they can accumulate near hot surfaces and ignition sources, risking engine compartment fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost to reprogram engine controls and prevent the failure.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment on vehicles previously repaired under recalls 22V-859 or 24V-187.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no charge to prevent fuel injector cracking.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, resulting in loss of drive power.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing defect in one or more high voltage battery cells may cause an internal short circuit, leading to battery failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the battery energy control module software and replace the high voltage battery pack as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software may unexpectedly shift the vehicle into neutral, causing loss of driving power.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain vehicles with 1.5L EcoBoost engines, a fuel injector may crack, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealer will update engine control software to detect leaks, install a drain tube, and provide 15-year/240,000 km warranty for injector replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector may crack, causing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will update engine software to detect fuel injector leaks and install a drain tube.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine oil and fuel vapor may leak into the engine compartment when the engine fails, accumulating near hot components and creating a fire risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023 models or update powertrain software in others. Engine replacement occurs if connecting rod bearing failure is detected.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector can crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Engine control software will be updated to detect fuel injector leaks, and a drain tube will be installed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor into the engine compartment, where they may accumulate near hot engine or exhaust components and ignite.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the under-engine shield and active grille shutter to prevent oil and fuel vapor accumulation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine oil separator housing can crack, causing oil to leak from the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or leaks and replace it and seals if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high voltage battery may fail suddenly, causing the vehicle to lose drive power without warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high voltage battery at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can reduce braking performance and fail to meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front brake pads at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
