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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)

1 of 220 complaints match · Fuel system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 4, 2025EngineFuel systemFire

I am writing to formally demand immediate action regarding my 2022 Ford Escape, VIN [XXX] a 0% financing plan and Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Since purchase, the Escape has suffered serious safety defects, including gasoline fumes inside the cabin, burning odors, and repeated performance failures tied to the fuel system. On [XXX] and again on [XXX], the vehicle flamed up while being driven, requiring emergency intervention to extinguish. In August 2025, Ford issued Safety Recall 25S76, admitting that these vehicles may suffer fuel injector cracking, fuel leaks, and under-hood fires while being driven. Ford further admitted that no permanent repair remedy exists. The interim software update provided does not correct the defect. As a retired U.S. Army Combat Medic and Purple Heart recipient, I live with PTSD triggered by vehicle fires and explosions. The Escape’s condition has placed me in a state of medical crisis, making it impossible for me to safely operate the vehicle. FORD HAS DISCONTINUED THE LINE. I WANT A REPLACEMENT CAR OR I WANT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE IF I DRIVE THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11697416

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 →