2023 Ford Escape Recalls, Complaints & Specs
11 safety recalls list the 2023 Ford Escape, and owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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11 safety recalls for the 2023 Ford Escape
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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Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
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Engine block heater (equipment) and electrical system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a…
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Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will update the powertrain control module…
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Software (back over prevention)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the…
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different…
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Management system/energy control module (bms/becm) (electrical system)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair 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: Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of…
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Labels (equipment)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
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Injectors (fuel system)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
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Adaptive cruise control (forward collision avoidance)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Escape two-wheel drive vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Remedy: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S39.
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Instrument cluster/panel (electrical system)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Escape, Super Duty F-250, Super Duty F-350, Super Duty F-450, and Super Duty F-550 vehicles equipped with a digital instrument panel cluster. The module may have been improperly soldered, preventing the instrument panel from illuminating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
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Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023…
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Fuel injection system (fuel system)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed…
100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2023 Ford Escape have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,068 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 40 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 unkno”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Power train
“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 va”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 25, 2026 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2023 Ford Escape (Escape AWD, Escape AWD HEV, Escape FWD, Escape FWD HEV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–40 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 23–42 / 31–37 |
| 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 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Ford Escape | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 Ford Escape | 13 | 996 |
| 2002 Ford Escape | 8 | 1,027 |
| 2003 Ford Escape | 7 | 558 |
| 2004 Ford Escape | 6 | 499 |
| 2005 Ford Escape | 4 | 1,394 |
| 2006 Ford Escape | 3 | 464 |
| 2007 Ford Escape | 2 | 254 |
| 2008 Ford Escape | 3 | 1,974 |
| 2009 Ford Escape | 1 | 1,693 |
| 2010 Ford Escape | 3 | 2,070 |
| 2011 Ford Escape | 2 | 1,316 |
| 2012 Ford Escape | 1 | 603 |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 18 | 2,750 |
| 2014 Ford Escape | 16 | 2,088 |
| 2015 Ford Escape | 9 | 1,109 |
| 2016 Ford Escape | 4 | 1,144 |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 4 | 2,694 |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 4 | 1,810 |
| 2019 Ford Escape | 3 | 592 |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 23 | 1,604 |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 19 | 349 |
| 2022 Ford Escape | 19 | 234 |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 11 | 100 |
| 2024 Ford Escape | 8 | 76 |
| 2025 Ford Escape | 9 | 24 |
| 2026 Ford Escape | 2 | 3 |
Checking a specific 2023 Ford Escape
How do I know if my 2023 Ford Escape 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. 11 campaigns currently list the 2023 Ford Escape; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 22V859000).
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
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 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.