2023 Ford Escape Phev Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escape Phev years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Escape Phev. That ranks 3rd out of 7 Escape Phev model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints, 62%), typically at around 18,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2023 Ford Escape Phev problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 62% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2023 Ford Escape Phev recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
vehicle threw code P0CFF, risking thermal management failure.Ford is refusing to honor the emissions/hybrid defect mandates, leaving a known thermal defect active on a high-voltage system. They're refusing to cover this under warranty for me.
Following the 24S79 thermal safety recall remedy, the high-voltage battery pack coolant pump failed, throwing code P0CFF:00:E8 in the BECM network. The manufacturer is denying warranty coverage on this unique hybrid thermal safety component, leaving the high-voltage battery pack uncooled.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V091000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact contacted another dealer, Sheehy Ford of Richmond (10601 Midlothian Turnpike…
Purchased a 2023 Ford escape PHEV in May 2023. In January 2025, a safety recall 24S79, Ford explicitly instructed owners to immediately stop plugging in their vehicles and to avoid using external charging cables entirely. Then in February of 2026 after a year not being able to charge, recall 25SC4…
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was jump-started and the vehicle operated as intended. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (Electrical System); however, the part…
Other Ford Escape Phev years
← 2022 Escape Phev · 2024 Escape Phev →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape Phev | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 Escape Phev | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 Escape Phev | 8 | 2 |
| 2023 | 13 | 2 |
| 2022 Escape Phev | 79 | 2 |
| 2021 Escape Phev | 22 | 1 |
| 2020 Escape Phev | 1 | 1 |
See all Ford Escape Phev problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Ford Escape Phev?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2023 Ford Escape Phev?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2023 Ford Escape Phev a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escape Phev model years, the 2023 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.