Home · 2022 Ford Escape · Complaints

What 220 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Ford Escape

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 (220)Crash / fire / injury (13)Fuel system (78)Brakes (33)Engine (28)Transmission & drivetrain (28)Body & structure (20)Electrical system (19)Backup camera & sensors (9)Speed control (9)Engine & cooling (6)Driver assistance (5)

Newest first · 220 complaints · page 1 of 9

Jul 9, 2026Body & structure

Ford has issued a safety recall (Campaign 25DD6/2025-665) for the 2022 model year Escape. Part of the roof's hinge cover comes off and poses a hazard. The problem is my Ford 2022 Escape is not included even though it suffers from this identical hazard. How can I get my vehicle (VIN: [XXX]) included in the recall? Thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11749422

Jul 7, 2026Steering

The steering rack and gear went completely while we were driving 60mph on the highway. We had absolutely no steering all of a sudden and ended up missing a cliff and veering/driving 40 feet into a pasture at 60mph. No warning lights came on, the steering wheel pulled for a minute and then went completely loose with no steering. We had the vehicle towed. Steering rack and gear are completely out and the car is sitting a Ford dealership, they are the ones that did the diagnostics on it and told us what had happened. The dealership says they have never repaired or ordered this part before. This is a dangerous situation that should not have happened and obviously is a manufacturing/vehicle issue

NHTSA ODI 11748896

Jun 30, 2026Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

The entire transmission had to be replaced. The water pump also. Currently it continues to have issues with the check engine light coming on, the code it says is the fuel sensors.

NHTSA ODI 11747559

Jun 30, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission shudders and hesitates during low-speed operation, typically around 10-15 mph. Condition occurs repeatedly during normal driving and feels like slipping or delayed engagement. Transmission fluid was replaced, but the problem persists. No warning lights or messages have appeared. The issue may reduce driver confidence and affect acceleration when entering traffic or crossing intersections. Problem is reproducible and appears to be worsening over time. Vehicle available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11747565

Jun 16, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

I press on the gas pedal and the car won't move. I will be at a stop sign and I'll remove my foot from the break, step on the gas and the car stalls it won't really go. I almost have to floor it to get it to move. Has happened multiple times.

NHTSA ODI 11744396

Jun 15, 2026Suspension

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The vehicle was taken to Midas for a service appointment, and the contact was informed that the rear shocks were leaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was informed that the rear shocks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the rear shocks were leaking. The contact was informed that the rear shocks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 27,125.

NHTSA ODI 11744298

Jun 13, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Shortly after purchasing my 2022 Ford Escape, I began experiencing hesitation during acceleration, loss of power, RPM fluctuations, loud howling and whining noises, grinding noises, exhaust-related rattling, coolant bubbling, and a strong sulfur/rotten egg odor. The problems were reported repeatedly to the selling dealer and Ford service departments. Despite multiple complaints, I was repeatedly told nothing was wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle continued to deteriorate and now struggles to accelerate and produces extremely loud noises during operation. The condition creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not respond normally when accelerating and may not be able to maintain speed safely in traffic. I also discovered an open safety recall involving a potentially cracked fuel injector that could allow fuel or fuel vapor to accumulate on the engine and create a fire risk. The recall remains incomplete because a remedy is not currently available. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership service departments and an independent transmission specialist. The problems have been ongoing since shortly after purchase and continue to worsen.

NHTSA ODI 11743915

Jun 11, 2026EngineFuel system

Vehicle has trouble turning back on after filling with gas. The engine clicks and sometimes will not start back up without a jump. The battery has been replaced. The check engine light is on.

NHTSA ODI 11743448

Jun 11, 2026

As I was driving, I heard a sliding sound and something bumping every time I braked. It was hard to tell where it was coming from, but It sounded like it was above the sunroof shade. When I stopped, I pushed the open button to open the shade and a large metal piece that goes between the sunroof glass pieces came crashing down. At the same time, the shade unhooked and snapped back into the headliner, making a hole in the liner and an incredibly loud noise. If my pets or a passenger were in the back seat, they definitely would have been hit by the metal piece and possibly the shade. The noise itself could have caused a crash had I been driving. There was no warning about this, and when I called the dealer, they said they hadn't heard of it. However, online, there are significant reports of this metal piece coming off in the Ford Escape, especially in the heat. It is only held on by double sided tape.

NHTSA ODI 11743591

Jun 9, 2026Engine

Recall 25S76 manufacturer recall ID 25V467 NHTSA recall ID has been pending with an unavailable remedy for almost a year. I find this an unreasonable amount of time for this type of recall as this is a big safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11742976

Jun 5, 2026Fuel systemBackup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The local dealer confirmed that parts were still unavailable. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a half image while operating. The failure caused in a minor crash while the vehicle was in reverse(R) and damaged the contact's vehicle and another vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11742276

Jun 2, 2026Fuel system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and taken to the dealer and diagnosed with turbo, catalytic converter failure. 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. The contact stated that fuel can be smelled while driving, and experienced loss of power, warning lights service engine soon and engine has detected a fault illuminated on the instrument panel. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11741627

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 29, 2026Fuel system

Nov 20,2025 Manufacturer Recall Number25SC4 NHTSA Recall Number25V789 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available We purchased our vehicle with the intent of using it for a daily work commute, the range of the battery being perfect for this. We now find that the vehicle is not 100% safe to charge or drive in the manner intended and no remedy has been supplied by Ford, nor is one expected. We were advised by Ford not to charge it at all lest it catch fire. After several months we were told to charge it to only 80% to avoid the possibility of a fire while driving or when parked and charging. After a checkup we initiated with our local Ford mechanics in early 2026, we were told that the car was now safe to charge 100% and the recall could be ignored. We believed this to be the case. However, while having our car valued for a trade in, a dealer told us that the car still had an open recall on the battery which should definitely not be ignored. Ford’s own website says no fix is expected, no parts are available and the fire danger is still present because the issue is battery related, not a software one. Samsung who manufactured the batteries recalled them in February 2025. [XXX] We are no longer able use the car as intended: 80% of charge moving a 440Lb battery leaves short of the 35 miles we expect. Not utilizing the entire range of the battery, has cost us money in the purchase of gas which we should not have incurred. The vehicle is stored in a garage adjacent to our home, and were it to catch fire, we would lose everything. We wish to sell the car, but feel we shouldn't with such a dangerous safety unresolved flaw. Our vehicle has decreased in value by 66% since 2022 which has impacted our trade in value severely. This car is a financial impediment a potential danger to our safety and home and a nightmare to own. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11740867

May 26, 2026Fuel system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was parked with the hood open, started, idling, and driving at various speeds, she observed a ticking noise emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, a mechanic friend stated that when they observed the vehicle, the ticking noise was emanating from the fuel injectors. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11740185

May 25, 2026Body & structure

Failed door check attachment point on driver side. Door has issues when opening and closing.

NHTSA ODI 11739849

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

May 18, 2026

While driving down the road my passenger went to open the sunroof. That involves retracting the shade first. While the shade was retracting I heard a pop and then a crunching noise. The shade then drooped into the back seat area blocking any vision to the rear of the vehicle. It also was quite startling and distracting while driving. Contacted the dealer and set an appointment to get it looked at. Brought the vehicle in for its appointment about a week later. Was notified that a trim moulding ( part # LJ6Z5450036A) that was held up by two sided tape fell off and caused the shade to jam up and break. The moulding had fallen off with the shade closed so there was no way to know it had failed. Was initially quoted $2500 to repair it. The vehicle was less than 60 days out of Ford’s 3 year 36000 mile warranty. I even have a Ford 8 year 75000 mile extended warranty but was told that trim pieces were not covered by warranty. I asked the dealer to contact Ford to ask for assistance in paying for the repair. Ford came back and offered to repair it for $498.38. I authorized that repair and received the vehicle back. Shade is now functional but it appears that there has been no improvement to the moulding to keep it from having a repeat failure. If the moulding had fallen with the shade open it could have possibly struck an occupant and caused issues if driving.

NHTSA ODI 11738501

May 18, 2026Visibility & wipers

Sunroof fabric shade detached from roller arms meant to move shade open/closed. Plastic clips meant to hold shade fabric to roller arms snapped. Caused shade fabric to detach and cause hazard by hanging fabric, unable to see backseat or out back windshield. Caused hazard by not have shade to block out sunlight from above, hindering visibility.

NHTSA ODI 11738675

May 13, 2026Fuel system

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle would consume fuel at a rapid pace without warning. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle would shudder upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V164000(Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue 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 not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11737549

May 8, 2026Body & structure

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when opening the door, there was an abnormal, unknown noise detected. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56: The local dealer was contacted and scheduled an appointment. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there were no open recalls. But no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

NHTSA ODI 11736622

May 7, 2026Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver-side and passenger-side floors would get flooded with water. In addition, the contact stated that the water would leak from the AC while the Air-Conditioning was activated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11736371

May 4, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving, the sync screen displayed a blank image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer previously and was diagnosed as needing a battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer a second time and was diagnosed with wire failure; the issue persisted. The sync screen continued to display a blank image along with failures of the radio, mileage, and gas gauge. The vehicle was not repaired again, and the issue continued. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11735657

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

Apr 25, 2026EngineFuel system

There is fluid accumulation under the engine air filter assembly.

NHTSA ODI 11733748

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Working with the data? Download all 220 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 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 verdict →