The Lemon Index2023 Ford Escape.
The 2023 Ford Escape is so far better than average by owner complaints: 137 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 80, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 26 to 40 mpg combined. The best Ford Escape year is 2019.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 137 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Escape year. 2023 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 7K to 35K miles on the car (33 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 8K–27K miles
Recalls 11
- engine 2025
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
- electrical 2025
The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
- engine 2025
In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine comp…
Show all 11 recalls
- back over prevention 2025
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
- electrical 2024
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
- equipment 2024
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
- fuel system, gasoline 2024
The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
- automatic emergency braking 2024
The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
- electrical 2023
The module may have been improperly soldered, preventing the instrument panel from illuminating.
- engine 2023
In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine comp…
- fuel system, gasoline 2022
A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 209 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some 2018-2022 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission built on or…
- Some 2022-2023 F-150/Bronco/Expedition/Navigator/Escape/Corsair/Bronco Sport/Edge/Mustang…
- Condition where the power liftgate does
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape HEV SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape HEV SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1600–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicles coolant emptied out causing vehicle to overheat and smoke from under engine.
2023 Ford Escape owner · NHTSA complaint 11726171
More owner reports
Instrument cluster screen intermittently going black after related recall was performed.
NHTSA complaint 11624835
New 2023 Ford Escape purchased Dec 15, 2023. While accelerating onto expressway- get an error flashing "Engine Coolant Over temperature - service vehicle soon"
NHTSA complaint 11563415
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Ford Escape reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.2× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 80; 100 is average). The best Ford Escape year by this measure since 2010 is 2025.
What are the most common 2023 Ford Escape problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (45%), engine (24%) and transmission & drivetrain (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
11 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Ford Escape get?
26 to 40 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 Ford Escape safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2023 Ford Escape problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 7,700 and 35,000 miles. The middle report was at 15,500 miles, from 33 complaints.
Does the 2023 Ford Escape have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Ford Escape cost in fuel a year?
About $1600 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Ford Escape have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Ford Escape year is better than the 2023?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2015 and 2018.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works