2021 Ford Escape PHEV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV, and owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Traction battery (electrical system)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the…
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 33,955 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Power train lost during driving, suddenly the car lost the power and a light in the dashboard start blinking, it recovers after a few times turning it on and off, seems to be triggered by brake pedal”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 24, 2026 · Power train
“NOV 20, 2025 Manufacturer Recall Number25SC4 NHTSA Recall Number25V789 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary this has been 9 months and still no remedy. this doesnt seem tim”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2026 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Ford Escape (Escape AWD, Escape AWD HEV, Escape FWD, Escape FWD HEV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–41 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 23–44 / 31–38 |
| Fuel | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 3/4 cyl, 1.5/2/2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 8-spd |
Compare Ford Escape PHEV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape PHEV model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Escape PHEV | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 Ford Escape PHEV | 1 | 22 |
| 2022 Ford Escape PHEV | 2 | 78 |
| 2023 Ford Escape PHEV | 2 | 11 |
| 2024 Ford Escape PHEV | 2 | 7 |
| 2025 Ford Escape PHEV | 1 | 4 |
| 2026 Ford Escape PHEV | 1 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2021 Ford Escape PHEV
How do I know if my 2021 Ford Escape PHEV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 25V789000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.