Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that AAA was notified and was able to jumpstart the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that a message indicating to turn off the voltage to save power or restart vehicle appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed to drive the vehicle more and the battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact then stated that the front passenger's side window inadvertently rolled down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the glider and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V149000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System). …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that on several occasions, the electrical system had malfunctioned causing the vehicle to inadvertently shut off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the 12-volt battery was faulty. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V869000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated; however, there was no vehicle or object nearby. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who changed the Forward Collision Avoidance System sensitivity however the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 500.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer reset the check engine warning light. The contact stated that the following day after the reset, the check engine warning light illuminated a second time. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V869000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message that the vehicle had lost power was displayed. The contact disconnected the Hybrid setting and indicated the loss of power with the Hybrid battery. The failure was self-corrected; however, the failure still occurred intermittently. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V869000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System) and 22V149000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer confirmed the VIN was not included in the recalls. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being Emissions tested, the contact was informed that the OBD Port was inoperable, and the emissions test could to be performed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed OBD Port. The contact was informed that the OBD Port needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall or warranty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed, and the case was denied. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,702.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to enter the vehicle there was unknown noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was unable to start and was only accessible using the key fob. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with no failure; however, the dealer jumpstarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,860.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact was informed at a State Inspection that the gateway module had failed and needed to be replaced to complete the State Inspection. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the module smart data link was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 22N15. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied reimbursement for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was inspected, it failed the emissions inspection. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the communication module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact became aware of customer satisfaction 22n15 as a probable cause for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the next morning the vehicle lost electrical power and failed to start. The contact could only open the door by using the key manually. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 14,000.
I was leaving work and my 2021 Ford Escape hybrid started but then a triangle warning light came on, a "stop safely now" warning appeared and the car shut off. There were no problems prior to this event. I had the vehicle towed to a Ford dealership in February where they replaced the 12v battery and the machine needed to diagnose the electrical issue was down. Yesterday I finally got news that it was firing code P0DE6 and the hybrid battery needs replaced as well. There have been several recalls related to hybrid batteries with these same warning indicators, however my car's VIN was not included in the recall. Could the recall be extended to include other vehicles that this is happening to? It seems as if there are many more out there than what the recall covered and it's a much bigger issue than Ford may realize. …
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Escape Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid, 18% of the model year's 124 complaints. The component named most often is propulsion system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 44% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.