Worst 2023 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2023 Ford Escape.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 30 | — | 2 | 18,849 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 26 | — | 2 | 6,200 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 16 | — | — | 42,680 mi | |
| Fuel System | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Backup Camera | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Dynamic Brake Support/Brake Assist | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Steering Assist | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
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Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2023 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2023 Ford Escape
11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,819,290 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
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.
+ 1 more recalls
Other Ford Escape Years
2023 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2023 Ford Escape reliable?
What are common problems with the 2023 Ford Escape?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2023 Ford Escape?
How safe is the 2023 Ford Escape?
Does the 2023 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2023 Ford Escape?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2023 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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