KnownCarProblems2023 Ford Escape Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Escape, most often about the electrical (41% of complaints, typically around 15,500 miles). It is 23rd of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints and has 11 recalls.
Most common 2023 Ford Escape problems
Electrical
41 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the RPM was not increasing on the gauge on the instrument cluster. There was no warning illuminated. The contact stated that the…
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "blind spot detection system fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the trailer tow wiring harness (part…
Engine
32 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine and the front driverâs side tire. In addition, the instrument panel was occasionally turned off independently. Additionally, during rainy weather driving the brakes were making…
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated after the engine overheated and shifted into "limp mode". The contact stated that during the failure, the message "engine overheated" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed…
Transmission
23 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the "wrench icon" was illuminated and the message "service gear shifter" and the vehicle began to rapidly reduce speed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway road and the vehicle stalled.…
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was instructed to bring the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not…
Driver assistance
15 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, warnings, automatic emergency braking.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's door window would not completely roll up and close. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front driver's side door window motor, and the vehicle was repaired but failure reoccurred. Additionally, while operating the…
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "blind spot detection system fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the trailer tow wiring harness (part…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 9%Fuel system
7 complaints · 7%Speed control
7 complaints · 7%Body and structure
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2023 Ford Escape recalls
Engine
Risk: An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 recall is 25s61.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed june 9, 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s52.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 27, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s54.
Full defect summary
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 ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Backup camera: software
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on june 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on october 8, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s49.
Full defect summary
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 rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Electrical: management system/energy control module (bms/becm)
Risk: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 30, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24s79.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Fuel system: injectors
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 number for this recall is 24s54.
Full defect summary
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.
Driver assistance: adaptive cruise control
Risk: Misalignment of the radar module can result in the adaptive cruise control (acc) misclassifying an overhead object as an object in the vehicle's path, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow and/or stop. Other safety systems that depend on the radar model (pre-collision assist, forward collision warning, and auto emergency braking) could have diminished or lost function. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An inoperable instrument panel cannot show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 for this recall is 23c25.
Full defect summary
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 requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 101, "control and displays."
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 escape and corsair vehicles. For the other vehicles, dealers will update the powertrain control module software. If a connecting rod bearing failure is detected, dealers will replace the engine long-block. All inspections and repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on june 14, 2024. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
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 components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Fuel system: fuel injection system
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 january 9, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 1st quarter of 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed february 28, 2023. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s73. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 22v-191. Vehicles previously remedied under 22v-191 will need to have the new remedy p
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2023 Ford Escape
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Ford Escape?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (41 complaints, typically around 15,500 miles); engine (32 complaints, typically around 5,000 miles); transmission (23 complaints, typically around 33,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
- 11 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 3, 2025 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2023 a bad year for the Ford Escape?
- It is 23rd of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints, with 100 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.