2023 Ford Escape
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2023 Ford Escape is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 465 on record.
2023 Ford Escape at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
2023 Ford Escape recalls 11
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
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 notif…
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 eng…
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. Owner…
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.
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 safet…
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.
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. Owners may conta…
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."
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.
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.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.
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.
Fix: Dealers will adjust the angle of the radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S39.
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 D…
Fix: Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C25.
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.
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 powertr…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
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. Own…
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
2023 Ford Escape common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
2023 Ford Escape safety ratings
Rollover risk: 17.4% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2023 Ford Escape SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
2023 Ford Escape MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 2023 Ford Escape costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2023 Ford Escape — ranges cover the 6 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 191
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 191.
For 20222026 vehicles equipped with a 8F35 transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer reported transmission concern…
Bulletin SSM 55221 · Power Train, Electrical System · Oct 20262023-2026 Escape and 2025-2026 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may require removal of the turbocharger wastegate control actuator linkage for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-04 Fuel Charging and Controls - Tur…
Bulletin SSM 55211 · Engine, Fuel/propulsion System · Oct 2026This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. S…
Bulletin TSB 26-2428 · Power Train, Electrical System, Fuel/propulsion System · Sep 2026This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. S…
Bulletin TSB 26-2428 · Power Train, Electrical System, Fuel/propulsion System · Sep 2026This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model sta…
Bulletin TSB 26-2092 V2 · Structure · Sep 2026Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail
Bulletin TCU-26.2.12.2.2 Mach E, F · Electrical System · Sep 2026Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements
Bulletin ECG-26.2.12.3 Bronco,Esca · Electrical System · Sep 2026Some 2023-2025 Escape vehicles built on or before 16-Sep-2024 equipped with 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an "Engine Coolant Over-Temperature" warning message displayed in the IPC and an illuminated MIL with DTCs P1285 and/or P1299 stored in the powertrain…
Bulletin SSM 55142 · Power Train, Electrical System, Engine · Sep 2026For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is completely detached from the seat cover and W7153…
Bulletin SSM 55100 · Seats · Aug 2026Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) while the charging system is operat…
Bulletin SSM 55031 · Electrical System, Fuel/propulsion System · Jul 2026Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ESCAPE FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 9
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2023 Ford Escape. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
High Voltage
Issue: On certain vehicles, the software update installed by a Ford dealer during recall 24S79 (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-781) may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required. On certain vehicles, a problem inside the high-voltage battery could cause a short circuit. If this happens, there could be a loss of power to the wheels and/or the high-voltage batt…
Transport Canada #2026070 · Feb 2026High Voltage
This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2026-070. Issue: On certain vehicles, the software update installed by a Ford dealer during recall 24S79 (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-781) may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required. On certain vehicles, a problem inside the high-voltage battery could cause a short circuit. If this happens, there c…
Transport Canada #2025628 · Nov 2025Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles, the cylinder head may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the cylinder head plug(s) could fail. If this happens, engine oil could leak and cause a loss of power to the wheels. Note: This recall only affects certain vehicles equipped with a 1.5 L engine. This recall could also affect certain cylinder heads sold at dealerships as a replac…
Transport Canada #2025306 · Jun 2025Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine block heater could overheat when the block heater is plugged in. Note: This recall only affects certain vehicles equipped with a 1.5 L or 2.0 L engine and a factory-installed block heater. Safety Risk: An engine block heater and/or wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk…
Transport Canada #2025281 · May 2025Visual System
Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display or to freeze when the transmission is shifted into reverse. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notif…
Transport Canada #2025260 · May 2025High Voltage
Issue: On certain vehicles, a problem inside the high-voltage battery could cause a short circuit. If this happens, there could be a loss of power to the wheels and/or the high-voltage battery could overheat. Note: This recall only affects certain plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) equipped with a 2.5 L engine. Safety Risk: A loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a…
Transport Canada #2024781 · Dec 2024Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Ford Escape
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company from the 2001 to the 2026 model years across four generations, as Ford's first SUV derived from a car platform.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
2023 Ford Escape vehicles on record
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0GN3PUB08162
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0JZ7PUA30321
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9MN6PUA72637
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0GN3PUA43815
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9GN2PUA09904
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0MN2PUB20601
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9FN6PUA26691
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0GN9PUB23040
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9MZ2PUA57698
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0MZ5RUA04539
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9NA9PUA14484
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0GN2PUA95694
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0GZ5PUB00051
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9PZ8PUA83377
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9JZ0PUA89635
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0MN4PUB15819
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0E11PUB09049
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9PZ7PUB01464
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0E19PUA64202
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9MZ8PUA23426
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU0E1XPUB22947
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9MZ5PUA58389
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9GN4PUA88492
2023 Ford Escape1FMCU9GN9PUB27139