YearToAvoid

2023 Ford Escape Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Ford Escape, 21% of all 98 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 24,250. No related recalls have been issued for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
21% of 98
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
24,250 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a power train warning light and 'low engine coolant' message appearing together with a warning chime while driving at highway speeds.
  • Some describe the transmission entering limp mode after an overheat warning, with the dealer unable to duplicate the failure.
  • Others report sudden failure to accelerate when pressing the pedal, with the RPM gauge not responding, described as intermittent but recurring.
  • Some describe unexpected downshifting at various speeds with no warning light illuminated.
  • A few report complete transmission failure, including metal fragments found in the transmission fluid and a case where the vehicle would not move in drive or reverse, requiring a rebuild or tow.
  • One owner reported the transmission failing at 24,250 miles with jerking followed by a sudden loss of pulling power.

When 2023 Ford Escape transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 29, 2023, latest Sep 24, 2026.

2023 Ford Escape transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2023Mar 2024Jun 2024Mar 2025Nov 2025Jan 2026May 2026Aug 2026
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2026 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2023 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005117 (8%)
  2. 200680 (17%)
  3. 200744 (17%)
  4. 2008329 (17%)
  5. 2009301 (18%)
  6. 2010508 (25%)
  7. 2011268 (20%)
  8. 201266 (11%)
  9. 2013401 (15%)
  10. 2014481 (23%)
  11. 2015286 (26%)
  12. 2016320 (28%)
  13. 2017390 (15%)
  14. 2018271 (15%)
  15. 2019125 (21%)
  16. 2020239 (15%)
  17. 202143 (12%)
  18. 202231 (13%)
  19. 202321 (21%)
  20. 20242 (3%)
  21. 20253 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Ford Escape, which is 21% of the 98 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2023 Ford Escape?
No. NHTSA does not list any related recalls tied to this problem area for the 2023 Ford Escape.
At what mileage do 2023 Ford Escape transmission problems occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 24,250 miles.
Do these transmission complaints involve crashes or fires?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 fires and 0 injuries linked to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Ford Escape.
How does the 2023 Escape compare to other model years for this issue?
The 21% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain in 2023 is similar to several other Escape model years, such as 2010 at 25% and 2019 at 21%, based on NHTSA complaint data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.