2023 Ford Escape Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2023 Ford Escape has a Complaint Index of 5, the second-lowest among 21 model years, but 11 recall campaigns cap its verdict at Caution. NHTSA lists 98 complaints, mostly tied to the Electrical System and Engine.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 5/100
- #20 of 21 Escape years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 98
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 34.5
- 34.5 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2023 Ford Escape problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System41 (42%)
- Engine38 (39%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (21%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (12%)
- Other9 (9%)
- Fuel System7 (7%)
- Lane Departure7 (7%)
- Structure & Body7 (7%)
- Brakes4 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some vehicles caught fire under the hood shortly after a burning smell was noticed, in one case just two weeks after purchase.
- Owners report the engine triggering an overheat warning and dropping into limp mode while merging or passing, even with coolant at the correct level.
- The infotainment screen has gone black while the radio kept playing, and the trunk has opened on its own while driving at various speeds.
- Some owners noticed no interior lights coming on after the vehicle sat idle for about two days, despite the vehicle having a standard 12-volt system.
- A fuel system issue caused a recurring check-engine light tied to the EVAP system that a dealer could not fully resolve.
- One owner reported the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly at low speed while parking, resulting in a collision with a structure.
2023 Ford Escape recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V372000Jun 3, 2025Engine404 vehicles
Engine
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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.
- NHTSA 25V343000May 23, 2025Electrical System6,781 vehicles
Electrical system
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.
Risk: 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 heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.
- NHTSA 25V345000May 23, 2025Engine1,809 vehicles
Engine
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.
Risk: 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 will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S54.
2023 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 34.5 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 34.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,900
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2023 compared with other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Ford Escape reliable?
- NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 5, ranked 20th out of 21 model years, indicating relatively few complaints compared to other Escape years. However, its verdict is capped at Caution because of 11 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
- What problems does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, with 41 complaints (42% share) including infotainment blackouts and unexpected trunk openings. Engine complaints (38, 39% share) include overheating warnings and limp-mode activation, sometimes near a median mileage of 5,000.
- Does the 2023 Ford Escape have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2023 Escape, covering issues like a defective cylinder head, high-voltage battery cells, fuel injector O-rings, and a misaligned cruise control radar module.
- How does the 2023 Escape compare to other years?
- The 2023 Escape's Complaint Index of 5 is much lower than years like 2017 (100) or 2020 (95), which are rated Avoid. Still, its 11 recalls keep it at Caution rather than a Good or Best verdict.
- Are there fire risks with the 2023 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA lists 3 fire incidents for the 2023 Escape, including one that occurred just two weeks after purchase, with the Electrical System showing 2 of those fire reports.