This page covers 17 recalls, 111 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 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
Electrical complaints dominate what 2023 Ford Escape owners report, with the system drawing roughly three times as many reports as any other. Owners frequently describe warning lights illuminating while driving, battery warnings, check engine lights, and master warning indicators appearing together, sometimes accompanied by infotainment screens going blank or cutting out entirely. Engine-related complaints make up the second-largest group, with owners reporting unexpected shutdowns and failure-to-start situations. The powertrain category adds a smaller but notable cluster of reports, including at least one account of the vehicle accelerating without additional throttle input at low speed, resulting in contact with a stationary object. The blank or unresponsive infotainment screen shows up across multiple electrical reports, sometimes as a standalone symptom and sometimes alongside the warning light combinations.
111
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Ford Escape has 17 recalls, the most serious being several overlapping fire risks: engine oil and fuel vapor can ignite after engine failure on hybrid models, fuel injectors can crack and leak near hot components, and the high-voltage battery on plug-in hybrid trims can short internally and catch fire or cut drive power.
On plug-in hybrid models, prior repair attempts for the engine fire risk did not fully resolve the issue, and a separate battery cell defect adds further fire and power-loss exposure. Factory-installed block heaters on 1.5L and 2.0L engines can overheat while plugged in and start a fire when parked. A cylinder head defect on some engines lets oil leak onto hot surfaces, again raising fire and power-loss risks.
On the driver assistance side, a misaligned cruise control radar module on certain two-wheel-drive models can trigger hard, unexpected braking, and related systems including automatic emergency braking may not work correctly. The rearview camera can freeze or go blank when reversing. The digital instrument cluster may fail to illuminate, leaving the driver without a speedometer or warning lights. Liftgate hinge covers can detach and become road debris, and the airbag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
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.
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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 →
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
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
The cylinder head may have been manufactured improperly, causing the plugs to fail. Engine oil could leak, resulting in power loss to the wheels.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership for cylinder head inspection and replacement if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cylinder head may have been made incorrectly, causing ball plugs to fail and leak oil.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can overheat when the vehicle is parked with the heater plugged in.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if needed. Alternatively, 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
The engine block heater can overheat when plugged in on certain vehicles with 1.5L or 2.0L engines equipped with a factory-installed block heater.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the block heater element and inspect or replace the electrical cord if needed.
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 image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
What the fix does
The accessory protocol interface module software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge.
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
Fuel injectors may lack O-ring support discs, allowing fuel to leak from the injector assembly.
What the fix does
Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cruise control radar module may be misaligned from the factory, causing adaptive cruise control to falsely detect obstacles and brake suddenly. Other driver assistance systems like pre-collision assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking may also malfunction.
What the fix does
A Ford dealership will realign the cruise control module radar to correct the misalignment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cruise control radar module is misaligned, which can prevent adaptive cruise control from working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will adjust the radar module angle at no cost to restore proper function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel cluster module may be improperly soldered, causing the display to not light up.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel at no cost.
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.
