Reliable Auto DB

2023 Ford Escape reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Ford Escape holds 96 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 Escape years on this site. NHTSA has 11 recalls on file, including Engine, Electrical system, and Back-over prevention, software.

2020 Ford Escape SEL
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

96

Per year

20

Recalls

11

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (39 of 96), then Engine (28) and Powertrain (20). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 19,280 miles, and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 35,338 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Escape has 231 complaints, 33 per year, and the 2024 has 76 complaints, 25 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Ford Escape. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (11)

Recall Engine 2025-06-03 · NHTSA campaign 25V372000
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.
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 recall is 25S61.
Vehicles affected 404
Recall Electrical system 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V343000
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.
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 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.
Vehicles affected 6,781
Recall Engine 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V345000
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.
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 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.
Vehicles affected 1,809
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-05-09 · NHTSA campaign 25V315000
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.
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 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.
Vehicles affected 1,076,138
Recall electrical system, propulsion system, traction battery, battery management system 2024-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 24V954000
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.
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 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.
Vehicles affected 20,484
Recall Labels 2024-11-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000
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."
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.
Vehicles affected 27,678
Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection, injectors 2024-08-23 · NHTSA campaign 24V634000
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.
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 number for this recall is 24S54.
Vehicles affected 24
Recall forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control 2024-06-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V440000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 209
Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2023-07-21 · NHTSA campaign 23V506000
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."
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 for this recall is 23C25.
Vehicles affected 38,695
Recall Engine 2023-05-26 · NHTSA campaign 23V380000
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.
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 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. Ford's number for this recall is 23S27. This recall expands and replaces recall number 22V-484. Vehicles previously repaired under 22V-484 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Vehicles affected 125,322
Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection 2022-11-18 · NHTSA campaign 22V859000
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.
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 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 performed.
Vehicles affected 521,746

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (96 total)

Electrical system
39
Engine
28
Powertrain
20
Forward collision avoidance
10
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Speed control
7
Lane departure
6
Engine and engine cooling
4
Service brakes
4
Structure
4
Back-over prevention
3
Exterior lighting
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Air bags
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Visibility
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Of the 25 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 19,280 miles. The middle half fall between 8,000 and 35,338 miles.

Complaints filed per year

82023242024282025362026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Ford issued notice 25SC4 then issued another one, 26N15 about the risk of fire with the high voltage battery in my car. These notices state a potential for a short circuit in the battery which they say could result in…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-09-20
  • "**On August 19, 2026, while driving my 2023 Ford Escape on Interstate 57 (I-57), with approximately 35,575 miles on the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpectedly. I immediately attempted to apply the…"
    Powertrain, Speed control, Service brakes · filed 2026-08-21
  • "My 2023 Ford Escape (with fewer than 50,000 miles) began experiencing significant mechanical issues. I noticed exhaust fumes entering the cabin that passengers and I would inhale, loud noises from under the hood, and…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-07-02
  • "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…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-06-30
  • "The car started and when I went to put it in gear, turns off. Park brake limited function appeared on the dash . The car would not let me put it in gear without turning off. A month prior my dash with the speedometer…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-06-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Ford Escape HEV SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Escape HEV SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Escape PHEV SUV FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Escape SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Escape SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Escape all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Escape all-wheel drive 1.5L, 3-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 26 32 28 MPG $2300
Escape all-wheel drive hybrid 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Part-time four-wheel drive 42 36 39 MPG $1650
Escape front-wheel drive 1.5L, 3-cyl Automatic 8-speed Front-wheel drive 27 34 30 MPG $2150
Escape front-wheel drive hybrid 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 42 36 39 MPG $1650
Escape front-wheel drive plug-in hybrid 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 42 37 40 MPG / 520 mi range $1600

Specs and fitment

4th generation, 2020–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 (1.5L EcoBoost); 5W-30 (2.0L EcoBoost); 0W-20 (2.5L hybrid/PHEV) synthetic , 5.4 qt capacity
Tire size 225/65R17 (S/SE) to 225/55R19 (Titanium)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 24V-954 covers certain 2020-2024 Escape vehicles, together with 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsairs, for a manufacturing defect in one or more high-voltage battery cells that may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power and can also increase the risk of a fire. Owners are advised not to charge the battery until the remedy has been completed; dealers perform a battery energy control module software update and replace the high-voltage battery pack as necessary, free of charge. The campaign covers 20,484 vehicles.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Ford Escape Next year 2024 Ford Escape See every Ford Escape model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Ford Escape reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Ford Escape holds 96 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 Escape years on this site. NHTSA has 11 recalls on file, including Engine, Electrical system, and Back-over prevention, software.

What are common problems with a 2023 Ford Escape?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (39 of 96), then Engine (28) and Powertrain (20). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 19,280 miles, and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 35,338 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2023 Ford Escape more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Escape has 231 complaints, 33 per year, and the 2024 has 76 complaints, 25 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Ford Escape been recalled?

The 2023 Ford Escape has 11 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Ford Escape?

Owners have filed 96 complaints about the 2023 Ford Escape with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Ford Escape get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Ford Escape is 33.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford Escape?

2008-2012 is the 2nd generation, 2013-2019 is the 3rd generation, and 2020-onward is the 4th generation.

Should I avoid charging my Ford Escape's high-voltage battery?

If your 2020-2024 Escape is covered by recall 24V-954, Ford advises not charging the high-voltage battery until the recall remedy has been completed.