The Lemon IndexThere's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. Full P0456 page
10 owner complaints · one of 245 codes Ford Escape owners name · 1% of Ford Escape complaints that name a code (every car: 1.0%)
Middle of 83,000 miles · most between 76,000 and 110,000 (6 owners gave it)
Ford Escape owners named P0456 in 10 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2018, 2017 and 2020 model years, at a middle of 83,000 miles. The part they name most is the EVAP purge or vent valve (4 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Escape model years that report P0456
Owner complaints naming P0456, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
83,000 miles is the middle of what 6 owners entered. Half were between 76,000 and 110,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the EVAP purge or vent valve, in 4 of the 10 complaints (40%). 2 of those mention it being replaced or repaired. Next: engine (replaced or rebuilt) (2) and oxygen (O2) sensor (2).
- EVAP part (purge valve, vent valve, canister)4 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine replaced or rebuilt2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Oxygen (O2 / air-fuel) sensor2 complaintsnamed as the cause, no repair mentioned · what owners paid
6 complaints mention a recall.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0456
60% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off30%3 of 10 complaints
- Brakes or ABS act up20%2 of 10 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires20%2 of 10 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0456 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
Other codes named in the same Ford Escape complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Ford Escape EVAP system repair cost · Ford Escape engine replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford Escape years
- Fuel system, gasoline · 2020 · issued 2025
A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. NHTSA 25V467000 - Engine · 2020 · issued 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… NHTSA 25V345000 - Fuel system, gasoline · 2020 · issued 2025
A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. NHTSA 25V165000 - Electrical · 2020 · issued 2024
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. NHTSA 24V954000 - Engine · 2020 · issued 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… NHTSA 23V380000
22 recalls for the same systems (electrical, engine and fuel) on the Ford Escape model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0456. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0456: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Escape reliability by year
- 2018 Ford Escape problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Escape owners report
P2111 P2112 P0302 P0303 B2278 P0316 P0301 P0304 P1299 P0300
P0456 on other cars
Ford Focus (26)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0456 means
There's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. The car drives normally.
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
- Gas cap seal
- Tiny crack in an EVAP hose
- Leaking purge or vent valve
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11684859, 11643510, 11633558, 11601267, 11595075, 11505015, 11287925, 11149580, 10839992, 10544055.
Quick answers
What does P0456 mean on a Ford Escape?
Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (Very Small Leak). There's a very small leak in the fuel vapor system. The car drives normally.
Which Ford Escape years have the most P0456 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2018 (2), 2017 (2), 2020 (1) Ford Escape named P0456 most (10 complaints in all, 2010–2020). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0456 on a Ford Escape?
Owners most often name the EVAP purge or vent valve (4 of 10 complaints), then engine (replaced or rebuilt) and oxygen (O2) sensor. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0456 show up on a Ford Escape?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 83,000 miles; half were between 76,000 and 110,000 (6 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Escape with P0456?
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0456 on the Ford Escape, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.