2023 Ford Escape: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2023 Ford Escape: 11 recalls, 100 owner complaints and up to 30 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #22V859000 · 2022 · 521,746 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engines. A fuel injector May crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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.…
Engine Vehicle recall #23V380000 · 2023 · 125,322 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The 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…
Electrical Vehicle recall #23V506000 · 2023 · 38,695 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: An inoperable instrument panel cannot show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2023.
Forward collision avoidance Vehicle recall #24V440000 · 2024 · 209 vehicles
What's wrong: The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #24V634000 · 2024 · 24 vehicles
What's wrong: The fuel injectors May have been assembled without o-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #24V852000 · 2024 · 27,678 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #24V954000 · 2024 · 20,484 vehicles
What's wrong: A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells May result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V315000 · 2025 · 1,076,138 vehicles
What's wrong: A software error May cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Why it matters: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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…
Engine Vehicle recall #25V345000 · 2025 · 1,809 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The 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.
Equipment, Electrical Vehicle recall #25V343000 · 2025 · 6,781 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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…
Engine Vehicle recall #25V372000 · 2025 · 404 vehicles
What's wrong: The cylinder head May have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (41): the most common themes are electrical failure (19), warning light on (15), stalls / loses power (8).
- Engine (28): the most common themes are warning light on (11), stalls / loses power (8), overheating (8).
- Transmission & drivetrain (23): the most common themes are warning light on (14), hard / delayed shifting (9).
- Forward collision avoidance (11): the most common themes are warning light on (4).
The 2023 Ford Escape has 100 owner complaints, ranking #23 of 27 Escape model years for complaints (well below the 1016 average). Complaints peaked in 2026 (40 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 21,193 miles. Neighboring years: 2022 (234 complaints, 19 recalls), 2024 (76 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 34 | 30 | Regular |
| 1.5 L 3-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 32 | 28 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2023 Ford Escape.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2023 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2023 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2023 Ford Escape problems?
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (41), engine (28), transmission & drivetrain (23).
What gas mileage does the 2023 Ford Escape get?
EPA ratings run up to 30 mpg combined (1.5 L, Automatic 8-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2023 Ford Escape repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.