2022 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine › Oil/lubrication
  1
• Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger › Hoses/plumbing
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  433%
• 25k–50k
  542%
• 50k–75k
  18%
• 75k–100k
  18%
• 100k–150k
  18%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2022 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact heard two loud explosions, when the contact looked outside the vehicle was in flames, causing the siding of the contact's home siding to melt. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated, but the contact smelled an odor of fuel coming from the vehicle before the explosion. No one was injured and a police report was filed. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,500.

I am writing to formally demand immediate action regarding my 2022 Ford Escape, VIN [redacted] a 0% financing plan and Ford's New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Since purchase, the Escape has suffered serious safety defects, including gasoline fumes inside the cabin, burning odors, and repeated performance failures tied to the fuel system. On [redacted] and again on [redacted], the vehicle flamed up while being driven, requiring emergency intervention to extinguish. In August 2025, Ford issued Safety Recall 25S76, admitting that these vehicles may suffer fuel injector cracking, fuel leaks, and under-hood fires while being driven. Ford further admitted that no permanent repair remedy exists. The interim software update provided does not correct the defect. As a retired U.S. Army Combat Medic and Purple Heart recipient, I live with PTSD triggered by vehicle fires and explosions. …

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from behind the dashboard. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The warning light with a wrench symbol was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and then restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact pulled over to a rest stop and contacted Ford Roadside Assistance. The contact's son met her at the rest stop and used a code reader on the vehicle and retrieved DTC: P1061. The vehicle was towed to a dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the vehicle showed historical codes, but the codes had been cleared. The vehicle was towed to another dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. …

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with several unknown codes. The contact stated that the diagnostic codes were like the failure description for the unrepaired recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part for the recall repair was not available. The contact explained to the dealer about the unrepaired recall; however, the contact was informed that the repair had already been performed on the vehicle. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair would not be performed a second time free of charge. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after having an oil change performed by his local dealer, an abnormal oil odor would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact inspected the engine and discovered that oil had leaked around the oil reservoir cap. Upon further inspection, the dipstick showed that the oil level was 3/8 of an inch over the oil limit. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealer where he explained to the service manager what he had discovered. Another oil change was performed and once the vehicle was returned, the same failure persisted upon inspection. The contact then performed his own oil change and the defect remained. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 3,600.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle began to skid, and there was smoke coming from the engine and the exhaust. The wrench symbol was displayed. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the turbocharger and the engine became inoperable. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact stated that the manufacturer stated that there would be no action unless the vehicle blew up or there was a fatality. The failure mileage was approximately 49,100.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed a burning odor in the interior of the vehicle. The diagnostic scanner was attached and the received code was P0299. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing within the next several days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,400.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment and underneath the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the cause of the failure was not yet determined; however, the mechanic determined that the brakes were not responsible for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at Meineke Auto for an oil change, the contact was informed that there was a significant amount of oil in the engine bay and the engine was smoking. Additionally, the contact was informed that there was no coolant in the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V484000(Engine and Engine Cooling, Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 49,025.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light continued to flash off and on, and the vehicle had experienced a loss of motive power. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other Escape years