2023 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 13 NHTSA recalls and 138 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
38/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2023 Ford Escape
The 2023 Ford Escape shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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13
NHTSA Recalls
13 recalls on record
138
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
4
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2023 Ford Escape (13)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
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…
🔧 Engine
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
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…
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
An inoperable instrument panel cannot show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, which may increase the risk of a crash.
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….
🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
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…
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…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System: Injectors
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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…
🔧 Equipment: Other: Labels
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.
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…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery: Management System/Energy Control Module (bms/Becm)
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.
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…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Electrical System
An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
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…
🔧 Engine
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
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…
Showing 10 of 13 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2023 Ford Escape
Based on 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2023 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford Escape VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2017, 2018, 2020 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2023 Ford Escape
Is the 2023 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 Ford Escape has 13 recall campaigns and 138 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
The 2023 Ford Escape has 13 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2023 Ford Escape are: Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2023 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2023 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 13 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2017, 2018, 2020.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.