CarRecallWatchThe 2023 Ford Escape has 11 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA, including 2 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injury.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (41 reports).
2023 Ford Escape recalls
Engine Oil Leak Can Cause Power Loss and Fire
A manufacturing problem in the cylinder head may cause the engine's ball plugs to fail, leading to an oil leak.
Block Heater May Overheat and Cause a Fire
The engine block heater on certain vehicles with a 1.5L or 2.0L engine may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Engine Failure Can Release Oil and Fuel, Risking Engine Fire
Some 2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair, and 2022-2023 Ford Maverick vehicles with 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines were repaired incorrectly under an earlier recall.
Rearview Camera May Freeze or Go Blank in Reverse
A software error in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) can cause the rearview camera image to lag, freeze, or fail to display when the vehicle is in reverse.
High-Voltage Battery Can Short Circuit, Causing Power Loss or Fire
A manufacturing defect in one or more high-voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Missing Air Bag Warning Label on Dashboard
Some vehicles may have a missing air bag warning label on the dashboard.
Fuel Injectors May Leak Fuel, Creating Fire Risk
Some fuel injectors may have been built without the O-ring support discs that help seal them.
Adaptive Cruise Control May Brake or Stop Unexpectedly
The radar module that powers adaptive cruise control may have been installed out of alignment at the factory.
Instrument panel may go dark, hiding speed and warning lights
The digital instrument panel cluster in these vehicles may have been improperly soldered, which can keep the instrument panel from lighting up.
Engine failure can cause compartment fire
Certain hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines may fail, releasing engine oil and fuel vapor into the engine compartment.
Fuel injector can crack and leak, creating fire risk
A fuel injector on this vehicle's 1.5L engine may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Most common 2023 Ford Escape problems
Problem areas named in the 102 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Engine | 28 |
| Power Train | 25 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Lane Departure | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
What owners report
I was driving to work and the transmission faltered, grinded, tried to shift, and I thought the vehicle was going to crash. There were cars around me, and I was going about 30 to 35 miles per hour. I was able to pull over and turned off the car. I then drove it to an auto shop and the mechanic stated that it is the transmission. My Ford Escape 2023 has 68,000 miles. It has stalled twice on the road at a stop light/stop sign since August 2026 also. I no longer trust that the vehicle is safe.
The transmission failed while driving around XXX near the Legends in [XXX]. Restarting from a stop the transmission clunked and after parking it would no longer go in reverse. Safety was a concern because the incident happened in a heavy traffic area. There were no other warnings from the car itself. The day before it had a little difficulty starting but it worked fine once driving began. In retrospect, that may have been a sign. Now, the company Kansas Municipal Utilities has had three Escapes from the fleet have failed transmissions for the same reason, loose pins, over just a month, that it seems like a larger issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the transmission was unable to be shifted in reverse(R). An unknown warning light flashed briefly. The contact stated that after the transmission was shifted in reverse to reverse out of the driveway, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
While driving, multiple unrelated warning lights and warning messages appeared on the dashboard. Odometer changed to display dashes instead of mileage. Speedometer got stuck displaying an incorrect value (such as '0' when the vehicle was in motion, or '59' when the vehicle was as a complete stop). Warning messages displayed while vehicle was in motion included "Park brake fault Service now", "Pre-Collision Assist not available", "Service AdvanceTrac", "Cross-Traffic System fault", and several more. Ford mobile app connected to the car reported 26 different errors. Safety was at risk due to speedometer displaying incorrect values and safety features going offline. Symptoms would come and go
About a month ago, my vehicles dash lit up and the car told me to shut it off. I had it towed to the dealership who then completed module updates and said I was all set. 20 minutes after picking it up, all of the lights came back on the dash and I brought it back. They again completed some kind of update with little to no information on what they did or the steps they took. Once again, I picked up my vehicle and immediately had a lit up dash. It was brought back and they had my car for 2 weeks before installing a new module. After picking up my car, I again dealt with lights on my dash, but this time one in particular. I had a notice to âService Advancetracâ and a notification on my Ford
2023 Ford Escape questions
Does the 2023 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for the 2023 Ford Escape: Engine Oil Leak Can Cause Power Loss and Fire; Block Heater May Overheat and Cause a Fire; Engine Failure Can Release Oil and Fuel, Risking Engine Fire; Rearview Camera May Freeze or Go Blank in Reverse; High-Voltage Battery Can Short Circuit, Causing Power Loss or Fire. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Ford Escape?
Based on 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (41), Engine (28), Power Train (25).
How do I check if a recall on my 2023 Ford Escape has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.