Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 13% | — |
| 2022 | 34 | 49% | 55,000 miles |
| 2021 | 36 | 29% | 15,000 miles |
| 2020 | 65 | 22% | 38,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 80% | 94,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 13% | 48,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 11% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 13 | 22% | 63,000 miles |
| 2009 | 26 | 17% | 87,000 miles |
| 2008 | 111 | 25% | 73,000 miles |
| 2007 | 39 | 28% | 78,000 miles |
| 2006 | 59 | 23% | 120,000 miles |
| 2005 | 31 | 16% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Several symptoms occur: First off Its cold where we live & the car goes into deep sleep mode every night. I get a FordPass message that states battery saver feature is activated. The car fails to start using the remote start or Key Fob. Dome lights don't turn on and remote features not allowed. This is a serious safety concern as it's getting colder, and engines not starting on a brand new vehicle is unacceptable. Please investigate this issue, as Ford dealers claim there is nothing wrong a TSB/Recall is needed to resolve this problem for all customers.
Failed to shift into reverse. Seems to run some sort of safety check. Still does not reverse Dash active and showing messages from safety check - lights work. Wont shift into reverse. Car is parked in garage where it has been for previous 14 hours. Temp is above freezing No previous indication of problems other than low tire pressure on one tire.
On November 12, 2022 at approximately 1:00 p.m. an incident occurred with my 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid in Columbia, MO. As I was parking in the Forum Theater parking lot, the engine surged and I had no brakes. I was at a dead stop and when I released the brake to move into a parking slot, the engine surged abruptly. When I applied the brakes, the pedal went clear to the floor with no braking occurring. I absolutely did not hit the wrong peddle causing this surging of power. As a result, the Escape jumped a curb and ran into a tree doing $14,000 damage. The airbags did not deploy nor did the seatbelts lock with the result of my granddaughters and I being thrust sharply forward. Currently the dealer, Moberly Motor Company has no plans to notify Ford of this incident. The $14,000 repair bill is being borne by my insurance, Shelter Insurance. …
We were driving on the interstate and the car began to make a metallic clicking/ticking sound. We started to move to the shoulder as we thought it might be a tire issue when we saw an orange glow reflected on the concrete. As soon as we reached the shoulder the engine started pouring out smoke and we immediately left the car. We opened the hood and saw fire inside the engine compartment. We left the hood up and moved away from the car and called 911. It appears this issue is tied to a known, open recall for which Ford has not released any information on how to fix with no specific timeline in place to release the fix. Our safety was at risk as the car was on fire and we were standing on the side of an interstate at midnight not knowing if the fire was going to go out or the car was going to explode; luckily for us it went out. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact noticed that a loose wire hanging from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic informed him that the heat exchange wire was designed longer than needed which resulted in the defect. The dealer cautioned him that extensive driving with that wiring hanging could lead to engine damage. The contact was able to purchase the wire kit at Bates Ford (1673 W Main St, Lebanon, TN 37087) however, the dealer could not service the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not under warranty. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 14,500.
I was driving down the road and the car stated to stall. I noticed white smoke in my review mirror. I started to pull over and I got a warning message that said I had zero oil pressure and the engine shut down. I costed off the road into a pull off. When we got out of the car there was a fire in the engine compartment. As we were out in the middle of no where it took the local voulunteer fire depart 25 minutes to respond. In that time the car was a total loss. I did not hit anything in the road and I was drive around 60 mph at the time this started.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle at the gas station, fuel was splashing out of the fuel filler neck. The contact stated that upon attempting to refuel the vehicle again, the gas pump nozzle unintendedly stopped several times and fuel splashed onto the contact; however, the fuel tank was not full. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Service Engine Soon" and other unknown messages were displayed on the Ford Mobile App. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the canister purge valve was blocked and was obstructing the fuel circulation. The dealer determined that the fuel lines, the fuel system valves, and the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V380000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the wrench symbol was also illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light illuminated intermittently, and the contact drove the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure might be engine or hybrid battery related. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000. …
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape Hybrid vehicles. The engine crankshaft may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the crankshaft and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed March 2, 2022.
NHTSA investigations
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
On July 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate alleged instances of sudden stalling without warning on model year (MY) 2013 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI turbocharged engines. Complaints alleged that vehicles stalled due to engine overheating, resulting in a delayed or no restart condition.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escape Hybrid years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (111), 2020 (65), 2006 (59), 2007 (39) and 2021 (36) model years. Engine complaints make up 25% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Ford Escape Hybrid engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 22V-109 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Feb 24, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Escape Hybrid engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 16% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (11 mentions), followed by the cooling system (10).
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.