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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
235 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2023 Ford Escape electrical problems

electrical problem

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2023 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #17

Nov 122024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Instrument cluster screen intermittently going black after related recall was performed.

- Glasco, NY, USA

problem #16

Aug 292024

Escape

  • miles
12volt battery is too small Ford replace the battery with another small battery that one failed Vehicle went into sleep mode twice I payed for a AGM battery about a month ago I haven-??t had trouble since I want Ford to pay for the larger battery $308.32

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #15

Aug 222024

Escape

  • miles
This vehicle is on the shop having it's 3rd 12 volt battery (4th overall if you count the factory battery) installed since I bought it in July 2023. There have been multiple instances of the car refusing to start and actually had to be towed to the dealer on one occasion. The only warning that you get when it is becoming an issue is that the vehicle shows going into deep sleep mode in the Ford Pass app. The batteries seem to last about 6 months on average. I do not have copies of all the service records with me at this time but can provide if needed.

- Taylor Mill, KY, USA

problem #14

Oct 152023

Escape

  • 4,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated on several occasions while driving, or while the vehicle was parked, all four doors locked inadvertently with the keys inside the vehicle. The contact stated the hatch failed to lock securely and there was no other way to get into the vehicle. The emergency brake light had illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but the vehicle could not be repaired on several occasions. The contact stated that a systems update was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

problem #13

Apr 152024

Escape

  • miles
Quite often, the display screen for the back up camera does not turn on at all. It will also go blank during use at times.

- Audubon, NJ, USA

problem #12

Oct 162023

Escape

  • miles
See attached document for complaint

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #11

Jan 292024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 1/29/24, I drove around town to run errands and on my second stop, I tried starting the car and it would not start, but it went into "accessory mode". I received SEVERAL warnings: Pedestrian Sounder, Memory Recall Failure, Front Collision Sensors, Tractions Control, Check Engine Light, etc. It also stated it would sound an alarm if we tried turning it on again. I sat there for 10 mins and tried turning it on after getting in and out of the car, looking underneath to see if oil or gas was leaking, which nothing was leaking. I kept trying to start the vehicle with no success, still getting the warnings. My spouse arrived after 15 mins and when she opened the hood and wiggled some cables around, we were able to start the car up and it was like it went through a factory reset as the memory for the driver seat went really close to the steering wheel. We called roadside assistance thinking we need to get this towed to a dealership but cancelled it after seeing it would start and my spouse driving it around the grocery parking lot carefully. When we got it to the dealership, it wasn't having those issues and they couldn't do much for it. On 2/10/24, the check engine light came on. We took it to the dealership on 2/12/24 and they told us the PCM malfunctioned. They did a software update on the PCM, which the dealership said has fixed the problem for now. Just worried this is going to happen again and will happen when I'm in a place where maybe my spouse can't come or we are traveling long distance. Prior to this incident, the dash (MPH, Gas level, Oil level, Engine Temp) of the vehicle, which is entirely digital, flickers like there is a short in the wiring somewhere. It doesn't happen every time we drive it, just sometimes (maybe 35% of the time). This was happening shortly after purchasing the vehicle in July 2023. I have a feeling that something relating to the electrical components, battery, chip/software/firmware in the Ford Escape needs to be replaced entirely.

- Plover, WI, USA

problem #10

Jan 292024

Escape

  • miles
Engine does not start or crank. It is available for inspection upon request. Pregnant wife and child were left stranded in the cold until I could pick them up. Problem has occurred on three separate occasions: 6/29/23 - No DTCs generated, Ford dealership did not do any work 9/22/23 - No DTCs again, but Ford dealership replaced a module and cleared other codes 1/29/24 - No DTCs. Dealership cleared other codes and informed of Ford SSM 52179 2023 Escape/Corsair - Intermittent No Crank/No Start Condition With Various Lost Communication DTCs Stored In Various Modules And Multiple Illuminated Warning Indicators Displayed In The IPC - Built On Or Before 07-Sep-2023. Dealership explained other customers have had complaints and Ford has no solution and is telling dealerships to return the vehicles to customers. Vehicle has not been inspected by any other party, including manufacturer, other than the dealership. There are messages for "Service AdvanceTrac" and "Park brake limited function, Service required" in the instrument panel each of the three occurrences.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #9

Nov 022023

Escape

  • miles
Unknown

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #8

Jan 112024

Escape

  • miles
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)

- New Helen, MN, USA

problem #7

Jan 012024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Blairsville, GA, USA

problem #6

Dec 292023

Escape

  • miles
New 2023 Ford Escape purchased Dec 15, 2023. While accelerating onto expressway- get an error flashing "Engine Coolant Over temperature - service vehicle soon"

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #5

Nov 222023

Escape

  • miles
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)

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #4

Oct 252023

Escape

  • miles
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"

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

problem #3

Sep 062023

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Reading , KS, USA

problem #2

Sep 302023

Escape

  • miles
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!

- Somers, NY, USA

problem #1

Jul 252023

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Clarkston, MI, USA

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