Engine
Free remedy
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.
Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2023 Ford EscapeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 102 owner complaints for the 2023 Ford Escape. Most complaints involve electrical system (41) and engine (28). The EPA rates it 26–40 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Combined MPG
26–40mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
11campaigns
Latest Jun 2025
Owner complaints
102
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$1,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
Safety recalls
11 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN
Electrical system
Free remedy
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
Free remedy
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.
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
Owner complaints by component
102 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 2023 – Oct 2026
- Electrical system41
- Engine28
- Power train25
- Forward collision avoidance11
- Lane departure7
- Vehicle speed control7
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Structure5
- Service brakes4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
By model year
Complaints for each Escape model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,027 |
| 2002 | 1,070 |
| 2003 | 598 |
| 2004 | 499 |
| 2005 | 1,584 |
| 2006 | 720 |
| 2007 | 393 |
| 2008 | 2,417 |
| 2009 | 1,693 |
| 2010 | 2,130 |
| 2011 | 1,319 |
| 2012 | 604 |
| 2013 | 2,757 |
| 2014 | 2,089 |
| 2015 | 1,135 |
| 2016 | 1,178 |
| 2017 | 2,701 |
| 2018 | 1,823 |
| 2019 | 599 |
| 2020 | 1,548 |
| 2021 | 353 |
| 2022 | 238 |
| 2023 | 102 |
| 2024 | 77 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 3 |
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Deaths reported
- 0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
What owners report most
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component
Electrical system
41 reports2 fires
“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 value (such as '0' when the vehicle was in motion, or '59' when the vehicle was as a complete stop). Warning messages displayed while vehicle was in motion included "Park brake fault Service now", "Pre-Collision Assist not available", "Service AdvanceTrac", "Cross-Traffic System fault", and several more. Ford mobile app connected to the car reported 26 different errors. Safety was at risk due to speedometer displaying incorrect values and safety features going offline. Symptoms would come and go without driver intervention. After turning off the vehicle, vehicle failed to start entirely and had to be towed to the dealer. Dealer found the "whole FD-CAN network will not communicate" and traced the issue to an intermittent open circuit in the Power Steering Control Module. Additional photo + video evidence available upon request.”
Engine
28 reports2 fires
“[Recurring No-Start Issue with Multiple Warning Alerts – Safety Concern] I am reporting a recurring vehicle issue involving failure to start, which I believe may pose a safety risk. The issue has occurred five times: August 11, 2023 April 12, 2025 June 13, 2025 December 12, 2025 April 1, 2026 During these incidents, the vehicle failed to start and displayed multiple warning messages on the dashboard. On some occasions, the vehicle only started after several hours. The vehicle becomes completely inoperable when this issue occurs. After the third occurrence, I brought the vehicle to an authorized service center. However, the issue was not resolved and has continued to occur. This repeated failure raises serious concerns about vehicle reliability and safety, as the vehicle may become inoperable without warning. I have attached documentation, including repair records and photos of the dashboard warnings. I am submitting this report so that this issue can be properly investigated.”
Power train
25 reports
“I was driving to work and the transmission faltered, grinded, tried to shift, and I thought the vehicle was going to crash. There were cars around me, and I was going about 30 to 35 miles per hour. I was able to pull over and turned off the car. I then drove it to an auto shop and the mechanic stated that it is the transmission. My Ford Escape 2023 has 68,000 miles. It has stalled twice on the road at a stop light/stop sign since August 2026 also. I no longer trust that the vehicle is safe.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
Engines, transmissions & drive
6 versions rated by the EPA
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · 1.5L 3-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Transmissions
- Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic 8-spd
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- EV range
- 520 mi (EPA)
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
EPA fuel economy by version
City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape FWD PHEV Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 42 | 37 | 40 | $1,600 | 52 |
| Escape AWD HEV Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 42 | 36 | 39 | $1,650 | 225 |
| Escape FWD HEV Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 42 | 36 | 39 | $1,650 | 225 |
| Escape FWD Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 34 | 30 | $2,150 | 299 |
| Escape AWD Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 32 | 28 | $2,300 | 317 |
| Escape AWD Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,450 | 340 |
- 40mpg comb.
- 39mpg comb.
- 39mpg comb.
- 30mpg comb.
- 28mpg comb.
- 26mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5Ford Escape SUV AWD
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 17.4%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford Escape SUV FWD
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 16.9%
Maintenance basics
General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
2023 Escape questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
11 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
What are the most common 2023 Ford Escape problems?
Owners filed 102 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (41), engine (28), power train (25). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2023 Ford Escape get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Ford Escape at 26–40 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
How safe is the 2023 Ford Escape?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2023 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall.
Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026