2023 Ford Escape PHEV Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#3 most-complained of 6 Escape PHEV years
The 2023 Ford Escape PHEV has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 3rd worst among 6 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It has 11 complaints, 2 recalls, and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2023 Ford Escape PHEV problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System8 (73%)
- Other2 (18%)
- Fuel System1 (9%)
What owners report
- Instrument cluster screens intermittently go black after a related recall repair was performed.
- High-voltage battery charges only to a partial level, such as around 20%, with no warning light illuminated.
- Owners waiting on recall parts report the manufacturer has taken longer than a reasonable amount of time to complete the repair.
- A restricted fuel vapor tube between the fuel tank pressure sensor and the fuel tank triggered a Service Engine Soon warning and raised fire concerns.
- Some owners report unrelated electrical quirks, such as door locks engaging on their own after receiving a battery recall notice.
2023 Ford Escape PHEV recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V091000Feb 17, 2026Electrical System25,237 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Risk: 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: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V789000Nov 14, 2025Electrical System20,558 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Risk: 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: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V954 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 18, 2025.
2023 compared with other Escape PHEV years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Ford Escape PHEV reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2023 Escape PHEV a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, which puts it in the Caution range relative to other Escape PHEV years.
- What is the main problem area for the 2023 Ford Escape PHEV?
- Electrical System complaints account for 8 of 11 total complaints (73%), with a median mileage at failure of 18,000 miles.
- Does the 2023 Ford Escape PHEV have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls, both involving the Electrical System and a manufacturing defect in the high-voltage battery cells that can cause an internal issue; neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2023 Escape PHEV compare to other years?
- It's worse than the 2024 model (Complaint Index 20, verdict Best) but better than 2021 and 2022, which both carry Avoid verdicts with Complaint Indexes of 80 and 100.