2022 Ford ESCAPE PHEV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
3,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 78 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 25.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 36 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 2 |
Engine: 36; Electrical System: 23; Power Train: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Structure:Body: 5; Steering: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 73 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2022: 2; 2023: 27; 2024: 25; 2025: 20; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11475464 · 2022-07-23 (July 23, 2022)
I have owned the vehicle for 4 months & have had 5 total electrical failures. The car totally shuts down while driving in normal mode which is supposed to use the battery first & use the engine only if needed. In all cases the battery was charged enough (over 40%). In two cases, it occurred in my driveway. The other 3 occurred while driving (fortunately not in high traffic). I called the dealer on 4/20/22 but was not able to get an appointment until 4/26 because they are very busy. Seems like this can be a large safety issue & should be a …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11475464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11477730 · 2022-08-05 (August 5, 2022)
Of the 4 bolts that secure back of back seats to floor, one securing nut is missing and other 3 are loose, only barely screwed down a few turns.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11477730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11503496 · 2023-01-24 (January 24, 2023)
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled intermittently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11503496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11505530 · 2023-02-04 (February 4, 2023)
The plastic coolant nipple mounted on the high voltage battery was damaged and the dealership has determined that coolant may have entered the high voltage battery. If coolant did (or could easily) enter the battery, this would be a significant fire hazard and could lead to significant injury or death. The damaged part has been confirmed by the dealership, no one can identify how the damage could have occurred and the least unlikely cause is that I contacted a small animal without knowledge. No noticeable signs of impact (including leftover …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11505530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11507695 · 2023-02-16 (February 16, 2023)
On February 15, 2023 the Cruise Control on my 2022 Ford Escape was set for 46 mph. Everything was fine for several minutes. Then the "set speed" light jumped to 80 and the car accelerated until I stepped on the brake pedal to turn off the light and resume lower speed. This repeated several more times with the Cruise Control set to various speeds. Sometimes the "set speed" jumped to 75 and other times to 80. Although this situation could have caused a serious accident if I had been following closely behind another car, I was driving a saf…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11508144 · 2023-02-20 (February 20, 2023)
I recently purchased a 2022 Ford Escape and during my first drive with it upon arriving home while unloading the trunk I felt a pain in my hand. I looked where I had place my hand to reach in the trunk and there was razor sharp metal. I contacted Ford and brought the car in to get it deburred and Ford refused to repair the issue telling me all Ford Escapes had the razor sharp metal and that is as it’s designed. They provided this response in writing. Please keep in mind the jut outs in the photos on the edge are razer sharp metal burrs from t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11508144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11509302 · 2023-02-27 (February 27, 2023)
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to her destination. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to remain started. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer stated no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 700. The contact stated that at the time o…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11509302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11511190 · 2023-03-10 (March 10, 2023)
I have been without my new car since January 10, 2023 due to a design flaw in the Ford Escape Plug in Hybrid. Their inadequate undercarriage protection Ford is putting their owners at financial risk, and costing Federal and state taxpayers for a flawed product. Ford Escape Plug in Hybrid undercarriage protection is not made of a durable material. You have maybe expected plastic or metal in the past. Now it is a fabric material that I call “Fordboard”, that tears and leaves the highly sensitive electronic and the hybrid battery open for damage.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11511190 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
25V789000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery
Reported: 2025-11-14 (November 14, 2025)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V954 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 18, 2025.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V091000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery
Reported: 2026-02-17 (February 17, 2026)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
NHTSA campaign record ↗