Ford Escape Complaints (2023)

139 consumer complaints on file.

#11567403January 24, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Low Battery Voltage on a brand new 2023 Escape caused the engine to not start, leaving me stranded in 10 degree weather. Had to call Ford towing to get me and my car home. Indicators of low battery voltage include dome lights not turning on, battery saver mode in the FordPass app, and messages on the infotainment screen. Been a week and the dealer has not been able to fix this problem. According to many forum posts, this seems to be a problem in 2020-2023 Ford Hybrid Escapes. See: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] There should not be this many battery issues, without Ford fixing the actual problem with a recall or TSB. Please help us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565773January 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The navigation icon located on the instrument panel is a mirror image of the actual direction icon for roundabouts. If you are to take a right tune from a roundabout the indicator on the instrument panel shows you turning into oncoming traffic and taking a left. It appears to be a mirror image of the icon on the navigation screen. If not paying attention this could be VERY dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565069January 12, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564593January 10, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 55 MPH he smelled a burning odor. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot where the hood was lifted and the odor emanated strongly from the engine compartment. Additionally, he noticed sparking, and then flames erupted. The vehicle was towed to an unknown repair center. The fire department distinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11563415January 3, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
New 2023 Ford Escape purchased Dec 15, 2023. While accelerating onto expressway- get an error flashing "Engine Coolant Over temperature - service vehicle soon"
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562507December 29, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When using Apple Car Play for navigation and approaching traffic circles, instrument cluster always indicates the driver navigate to the left of the circle into oncoming traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11560226December 15, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Several symptoms occur: Car goes into deep sleep mode after an hour sitting idle. Car fails to start, with all warning lights active on dashboard. Dome lights don't turn on and remote features not allowed due to low battery. This is related to non-AGM 12V batteries being installed in the 2020, 2022, and 2023 Hybrid Escape. 2021's have the AGM battery and there are no problems reported on the forums regarding this issue for that model year. This is a serious safety concern as the winters get colder, and engines not starting on a brand new vehicle is a matter of life and death. Please investigate this issue, as Ford dealers claim there is noting wrong, and they refuse to install the AGM batteries. A TSB is needed to resolve this problem for all customers. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11559613December 11, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
After reviewing my owner’s manual on my newly purchased vehicle, I was shocked at how quickly and unexpectedly I was propelled from 75mph to 105mph because of a new-to-me feature on this model. I was surprised and moreover shocked that a system like this is mass-produced and sold worldwide. Seems like the manufacturer should provide proper training materials and not just the dealer telling me to Youtube it. I fear for my life every time I get behind the wheel. If someone unassumingly were to drive this vehicle without becoming accustomed to they ways it operates, I fear of what horrible accidents may result. I wish I could give the car back but the dealership won’t do anything for me. So I felt it necessary to make this report. Hopefully the features on this particular model of a major vehicle manufacturing brand are re-examined. Something just doesn’t seem right with this specific sub-model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555452November 16, 2023
SEATS
You’re making the new ford cars unsafe for shorter women. I just bought a new ford escape. I’m 5’3” tall (short, but not far from average) and the 2023 ford escape seat HEADREST DOES NOT FIT. My seat is relatively farther forward so my feet can reach the peddles and the seat back is sort of straight up so that I can reach the steering wheel. This puts the headrest pointing forward into my head. I like to wear a ponytail which makes it even worse. The car should accommodate multiple sizes and hairstyles. The old 2013 edge headrest was adjustable and worked, but not this miserable piece of garbage. I’m ready to turn the headrest backwards or chuck this headrest. Please provide a solution!!! P.S.I actually wanted to buy the new ford edge, but couldn’t because the headrest was worse. You’re making Ford cars unsafe for shorter women. Smarten up!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554794November 13, 2023
ENGINE
Shortly after purchasing this, my daughter was driving it and the check engine light came on and it said it was overheating. The dealer was contacted and it was taken in for repairs. We got it back and was told that it was a broken wire in the wiring harness and they ordered a new harness but had fixed the wire so it should be good to go. 2 weeks later it did the same thing and actually went into limp mode. This time they said it was the sensor in the cylinder head and they ordered a replacement. Fast forward 3 1/2 months and it's still at the dealers. They are now telling us the cylinder needs to be replaced and the parts are on backorder. While we have been waiting they gave us a 2023 Bronco Sport with the same 1.5 liter 3 cylinder and that hasn't given any issues. When the loaner hit 5000 miles we had to return it to the dealer for a different vehicle. They gave us a 2023 Escape with the same 1.5 liter 3 cylinder and only 800 miles in it. The 2nd day my daughter drove it, it did the same thing as the one she originally purchased did. We have now been told by the service department that they have several doing the same thing and they are replacing the heads on each one when they get them. Our Escape is now on the Lemon Law Buyback and the dealer won't even give us the time of day. The dealer told my daughter she needed to stop the Lemon Law Buyback process and then they would talk to her about trading it in for a different vehicle. The issue is, she is upside down on the loan and the only way she can finish the Lemon Law buyback is to come up with close to $5000 to get out from under the vehicle and the dealer says there is no way that they can/will roll that into a different loan. Upon looking at the Forums many of these vehicles are having the same issue. Ford really needs to step up and take care of this ASAP. It isn't safe being stranded along the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552516October 29, 2023
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
3 times, either merging on the highway or full throttle, vehicle screams overheat warning with wrench light for a couple of seconds and disappears. No limp mode or smoke at all. And coolant level is at MAX. No clue is this some sort of glitch or engine failure? Vehicles drives amazing and power is great. Maybe it’s a software glitch?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11551709October 24, 2023
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle has a 1.5L dragon 3 cylinder. When passing vehicles, on 3 occasions it throws codes that says that the engine has an engine overheated issue, service asap, and goes into a limp mode which does not give you any time to get to safety before your speed is dropped below 55 mph. It will not go out of limp mode until you completely shut off the vehicle and wait 5 or so minutes and turn it back on. Even after it stays in a limp mode capacity and does not easily get back up to highway speeds. The certified dealership service department has had my brand new vehicle 7 weeks with no resolution. Car was bought with 16 miles on the odometer, on August 25th, 2023, at 650 ish miles on September 6th it happened the 1st time. The 2nd time was on September 14th, 3rd time September 15th, 4th time was, September 29th. 3 times on a 4 lane highway, 1st time on a 2 lane country highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11548405October 5, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
As I was driving home with about 5 minutes to go, in my brand new (2 week old)2023 Ford Escape, I smelled something burning. I pulled over and saw smoke so I turned off the car and got out. As I got out of the car I looked under and saw fire. I got away from the car and as I did, the fire kept growing and growing from under the hood. The fire went high enough to hit the trees on the side of the roasd. The police and fire department came and were able to put out the fire but not before the car was distroyed. There were no warning lights or any other symtoms of a problem prior to smelling burning. The Ford company has not responded to me from the day my wife spoke to a representative on Monday, October 2nd. The car fire was on Saturday, September 30th. It's been 3 days. My insurance company was going to do an inspection. Ford wants nothing to do with us. We have a police report and a fire report. This clearly was a engine or electrical problem with this car. I was lucy this happened on a small street and not on the highway where pulling over would have been difficult. Lucky I could smell it so I knew to stop. Lucky I didn't have one or both of my toddler grandchildren in the back seat in their car seats! I would never have been able to get them out in time!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11548274October 4, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
engine light came on took it into dealership. they said it was evap system then fixed it. picked car up in a wednesday by the friday, light came on again. took back into dealership, they didn’t detect any leaks.. said they were going to put in a canister purge solenoid. found out about 23S27.. apparently my vehicle vin doesn’t fall under that recall.. but yet my vehicle has all the signs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11547386September 29, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
After the vehicle sits idle for about two contiguous days and you open the driver's door, there are not lights on inside or outside. Normally when you open the driver's door, the center dash and console light up as well as the ambient lighting in various areas of the interior. There is no mention of the 'battery deep sleep' anywhere in the online user manual for a non electric vehicle (ICE). Entering a dark interior in the middle of the night creates the potential for a slip and fall accident. Not to mention contact with kees and the dash or the door opening and the side of the head when trying to get situated behind the steering wheel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545259September 18, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: DYNAMIC BRAKE SUPPORT/BRAKE ASSIST
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 10 mph, she crashed into the rear of a Nissan Versa that abruptly stopped. The emergency braking system failed to engage. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who stated that the insurance adjuster would have to check the black box. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 4,850.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539326August 18, 2023
ENGINE
At approximately 1,000 miles on 2 separate occasions while traveling on the interstate, roughly 10 minutes apart, an audible chime and visual alert within the speedometer cluster appeared “engine coolant over temperature” for approximately 10 seconds. The temperature gauge within the cluster indicated normal, midway within the span of the gauge. The following day prior to starting the vehicle, a cold start essentially, the coolant level was “full”. I ran a “check engine” check with no stored codes in temporary or permanent storage. My 2023 Ford Escape has the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. When the warnings appeared, there was no reduction in engine power(limp mode) and no signs of steam while looking in the rear view mirror.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11534309July 25, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Starting on July 12th, 2023, my audio control module stopped working, so there was no sound in my car. I took it into my primary dealership (Bob Maxey Ford of Howell) on July 19th, 2023, they deemed that it was the ACM and order a new one. My navigation and my adaptive cruise control acted funny as well, with my navigation not lining up with my actual location. Fast forward to the weekend just a couple of days later, I received notices that my car was going into deep sleep mode to save battery. This went off and on for several days with no warning. On Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, my car was completely dead, and I had to jump start the car to drive into work. My sound returned to my car, and I was able to drive to work. However, three warnings popped up my dashboard and my FordPass application. The first is an orange wrench, indicating a powertrain malfunction/reduced power. A second warning indicating a High-Voltage Battery Warning, and an engine light indicating a Service Engine Soon Warning. I relayed these warnings to my service advisor at the dealership this morning, who stated that he would look at seeing how the ACM was coming along and would get back to me soon. It has been several hours and I have heard nothing back. I am worried about what may come of my car and I haven't been told to bring it in.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11525034June 2, 2023
SEATS, SEATS:BARRIERS
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, his right leg made direct contact with the floor seat railing, causing a minor laceration. The contact stated that to prevent further injury, the contact duct taped padding to the end of the seat railing. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact to reach out to Ford's warranty department; the contact was then transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Escape