Home · 2022 Ford Escape Gas · Complaints

What 222 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Ford Escape Gas

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (222)Crash / fire / injury (13)Fuel system (78)Brakes (33)Engine (29)Transmission & drivetrain (28)Body & structure (20)Electrical system (19)Backup camera & sensors (9)Speed control (9)Driver assistance (6)Engine & cooling (6)

19 of 222 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Jun 2, 2026Electrical system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle on many occasions, the vehicle would start up and display odd error messages. For example, if the vehicle was plugged in, it stated to go to the owner's manual. The vehicle would not move and caused the vehicle to go into park. Clearing the messages and restarting the vehicle caused it to work again. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (25V789000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11741655

May 20, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Check engine light on with Powertrain Malfunction / REduced Power notification on myford pass app. Scanned with OBD scanner and it has code P0929

NHTSA ODI 11739144

Apr 27, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structure

This hasn't caused an accident or stranded me yet, but Ford won't do anything to help me avoid danger in the faulty vehicle they sold. There have been several recalls on my 2022 Ford Escape PHEV over the past year or so, including safety recalls. The number of recalls, requiring me to take the time to deal with scheduling, drop off/pickup the car, and being unable to use the car when it is in the shop for the recall rectifications seems excessive. Worse yet, they have safety related recalls from 2025 that still do not have a fix. I do not feel safe in my car. I went through the company's lemon recall process and they refused to repurchase the vehicle. People should expect a basic level of quality and definitely safety when buying a car. I will never buy another Ford and would never recommend that anyone else do so. This company no longer represents quality and they don't even care to try.

NHTSA ODI 11734128

Mar 18, 2026Electrical systemBody & structureEngine

The power window on our 2022 Ford Escape will remain down after being rolled down and cannot be raised. This issue has occurred three separate times. When it happens, the vehicle cannot be secured and is exposed to weather and theft. The failure appears to be intermittent but recurring, indicating a possible design or electrical defect rather than misuse. This creates a safety and security risk, especially if the failure occurs while away from home or during bad weather. This problem has happened multiple times and is not resolved by normal operation of the window switch. Engine problems are occurring as well due to the stated recalls provided by nhtsa.

NHTSA ODI 11725185

Jan 25, 2026Electrical systemLightsDriver assistance

My 22 Ford Escape has 620000 miles on it most of them highway miles. The issue I'm having began approx. 5000 miles ago. While in motion my dash lights, radio, and entertainment screen will go completely black for long periods of time and the chime will begin randomly ringing. A message sometimes appears on screen that says system off to continue please start engine but the engine is running the whole time. Sometime the message will appear on my dash saying front camera not available. I've taken it to a Ford Service station and they advised me my PCM software needed updating but the problem still existed and is existing even after the update. I still have a recall active on my vehicle as well regarding the fuel injector issue.

NHTSA ODI 11713220

Jan 21, 2026Electrical systemSeat beltsBody & structure

The vehicle has experienced repeated electrical failures over an extended period of time despite multiple repair attempts. After the most recent repair, which required the vehicle to be kept for approximately 10 days and included a battery replacement, the same electrical issue returned shortly after the vehicle was returned. The vehicle has previously stalled in traffic, creating a safety concern. In addition, the sunroof collapsed into the passenger compartment while a rear-seat passenger, who was a child, was present. A seat belt malfunction also occurred and required repair. Repairs have been attempted for these issues, but safety-related problems have continued. I do not feel the vehicle is safe to operate, especially when transporting a child.

NHTSA ODI 11712529

Dec 23, 2025Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Engine light is now on and when i fill my car up with gas it has a stall and takes 3-4 times to turn on. My safety is at risk if this recall is not repaired and my car catches fire. Started a month ago and it's challenging to schedule with Ford.

NHTSA ODI 11706845

Dec 16, 2025Electrical system

I received a letter saying that if I charge my battery over 80% it will catch on fire. This is the second battery recall this year saying my car will catch on fire. I couldn't charge my car for 6 months with the first recall and I bought this car because I only drive short distances and use the battery for most daily driving. Having two recalls saying that my car will catch on fire makes me very scared to drive with my wife and son in the car, so I would like to have this vehicle replaced immediately.

NHTSA ODI 11705250

Dec 3, 2025Electrical system

Vehicle: 2022 Ford Escape VIN: [XXX] Dealer: Westfield Ford, Countryside IL Problem: Rear light repeatedly fails even after multiple repairs; vehicle becomes unsafe and illegal to drive. The rear tail light on my 2022 Ford Escape has failed repeatedly since early Spring 2025. The dealer (Westfield Ford) has attempted repairs 5 times, including replacing bulbs and diagnosing the wiring/computer system. Each repair fails again shortly after. On June 12, 2025, the dealer refused to provide a loaner for a safety repair, forcing me to rent a car at my own expense. On October 9–10, 2025, I left the car again for diagnostics and had to pay for Uber rides because the vehicle could not be legally driven with the light out. The dealership now says the computer module (BCM) is defective, but they still refuse to open a warranty claim, so no repairs have been completed. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive due to loss of exterior rear lighting. This defect makes the vehicle non-compliant with FMVSS lighting standards and creates a serious safety hazard for nighttime or low-visibility driving. I am filing this complaint because the defect is ongoing, Ford and the dealer have failed to resolve it, and the car continues to have a recurring lighting failure that affects road safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11702853

Sep 15, 2025Electrical system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the contact attempted to use the GPS system via he infotainment screen; however, while depressing the source button, the screen failed to respond as intended. The contact was only able to turn the screen on and off. The contact added that the screen was jittery and changed inadvertently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,190.

NHTSA ODI 11687328

Jun 14, 2025SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

While going on the highway it braked hard and displayed service stabilitrak light with traction control light flashing went away after 10 seconds. Then I pulled into my driveway and it snapped the wheel out of my hand forcefully almost breaking my wrist and wouldn't let me turn right. Towed it to ford where they claim a loose battery terminal was present. No warning at all before this. Upper engine noise too (possibly pulley) 28k miles and trans is shifting hard as well. The trust for the vehicle is gone. I have a video as well of the steering wheel snapping.

NHTSA ODI 11666882

Jun 11, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

The rearview backup camera no longer functions at all. Upon putting the car in reverse, I receive a black screen with glitching colors for a few seconds that turns completely black and gives me an error stating rearview camera is unavailable. There has been no damage recently to the vehicle or any other modifications made, or no other known contributing events, it just stopped working on its own. I also received no warning prior to this happening from any systems in the vehicle. This is especially dangerous since I rely upon this camera and alert sensors to safely back up and avoid damage to my vehicle, myself, others, and surrounding objects. I am aware that several Ford models built the same year have an active recall for this exact issue, in addition to the 2023-2024 Escape models. I would highly recommend looking into this issue as it pertains to the 2022 Escape as well.

NHTSA ODI 11666235

May 19, 2025Electrical systemSpeed control

All vehicles screens including the speedometer turned off multiple times while driving. When screen came back online a large number of warning lights popped up including that there was a shift system fault. The light showing that the vehicle was in drive was no longer lit up. Immediately stopped vehicle. The electrical system on the vehicle has failed at least 5 times previously with several documented instances of going to the dealer for repairs with no solutions.

NHTSA ODI 11661797

May 16, 2025Electrical system

The entire panel and screen goes off and on countless times when driving. Cannot see speed or anything when panel shuts off. Makes it even more dangerous at night. It is also very distracting. The problem has been confirmed by FORD and dealer. They still can’t fix it. They have had our car for almost 2 months with no resolution. It started first with screen powering off and on countless times and then the entire panel. I have been told so many different times things. I have requested documentation and they will not provide me with anything other than vague emails with no answers. I was told several things: wrong part installed by Ford, severe wiring issue, wrong program possibly installed when trying to resolve the issue. The car was even pulling to the right and left but they said that had nothing to do with panel but just a dirty sensor, which I don’t know if I believe or not. They also stated the first issue had nothing to do with the recall even though it sounds and appears very similar. Me not being a mechanic, they can tell me anything. What I have not been told is what the problem is and we do not feel safe taking the car back but Ford is offering us nothing other than empty, vague answers. Any help you can provide would be so helpful and appreciated! Text from phone so please forgive any errors. Thank you!

NHTSA ODI 11661534

May 13, 2025Electrical system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V954000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11660653

Apr 25, 2025Electrical systemDriver assistance

Timeline of Events: •~March 2024 – Ongoing: Intermittent system alerts begin appearing at random. Includes: •AWD Temporarily Disabled •Auto Hold System Fault •Park Aid Fault •Drive Mode Not Available •Hill Start AssistNot Available •Service AdvanceTrac •Pre-Collision Assist Not Available •Power Steering Loss •Cruise Control not working •BLIS acting erratic •Squeaky brakes and “locked up” feel when glitch occurs •4/11/24: First major cluster of alerts appears. All systems shut off at once. Power steering was lost, difficult to turn. •4/17/24: Vehicle brought in for oil change. Brakes, tires, battery all checked and are in good condition. •4/21/24: Alerts occur again while driving. Same issues appear and disappear at random. •4/22/24: Vehicle returned to dealership. Intermittent issues discussed. No clear resolution found. •4/25/24: Alerts triggered again. Becoming more frequent. Safety systems failing during normal driving.

NHTSA ODI 11656774

Nov 30, 2024Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

Powertrain malfunction/ reduce power. My safety was fine, it just gave me really bad anxiety when the the gears shift shifted on its own. The problem was finally fixed it started literally less than five days after I bought my car and I bought my car brand new it took the dealership almost 2 years to believe me on what was wrong with it then of course I try to get blamed when I showed them proof on my phone that it was popping up a different times in the last two years. Yes Yes it started 3/27/22 - 2/01/24 Now I feel like I’m having problems with my brakes sometimes I feel like I gotta press on my heart to get them to stop and then it’s like my car is delaying when it’s stopping. Yet I checked to see if my car had any new recalls and nothing’s coming up. The powertrain malfunction didn’t even come up as a recall yet I had Ford fix it.

NHTSA ODI 11628011

Oct 21, 2024Electrical systemBrakesDriver assistance

My incident report is a non accident report, I am trying to be proactive and report problems I’ve experienced with this vehicle since I purchased this vehicle 2 years ago. The vehicle has been problematic since I purchased brand new in 2022. I’ve been reporting this issue for two years and the mechanic has not been able to resolve the issues.

NHTSA ODI 11620959

Oct 26, 2023Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

During vehicle operation, on occasion, entire vehicle instrument panel goes dark and shuts off, which includes speedometer and warning lights. Cruise control deactivates and all displays and warning indicators de-luminate. System will turn back on and flash multiple error codes before returning to normal. Sync/navigation system will also go out.

NHTSA ODI 11552085

Working with the data? Download all 222 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2022 Ford Escape Gas verdict →