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What 94 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 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 (94)Crash / fire / injury (6)Electrical system (38)Engine (28)Transmission & drivetrain (19)Driver assistance (10)Fuel system (7)Lane Departure (6)Speed control (6)Body & structure (4)Engine & cooling (4)Backup camera & sensors (3)

4 of 94 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

May 1, 2026Body & structureSpeed controlVisibility & wipersCrash

While pulling into a residential parking space at low speed, the vehicle (2023 Ford Escape) suddenly accelerated unexpectedly without additional throttle input. The acceleration was abrupt and forceful, and I was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck the structure in front of the parking space. The incident occurred at very low speed and under normal driving conditions. The driver was applying the brake at the time of the unintended acceleration. Airbags deployed upon impact. There were no prior warning lights or indications of a mechanical issue before the incident. The vehicle sustained significant front-end damage.

NHTSA ODI 11735200

Mar 29, 2026Body & structure

The left rear liftgate hinge cover flew off in the car wash during the drying cycle. The same thing has happened to my 2020 Escape and that vehicle is covered under a recall but this 2023 Escape is not. I feel it should be because it has the same issue for the same part.

NHTSA ODI 11727734

Aug 11, 2024Body & structureEngine

I've had this thing less than 6 months, I've already had the engine rebuilt with 34 parts a month and a half in and the drivers side rear door handle replaced during this time because it would not open from the outside and only the inside despite being unlocked. All of this occurred at the beginning of May 2024 and it sat for 3 months due to the engine being basically rebuilt with most parts being on backorder. Today the same door is having the same issue, only this time the same exact door won't open neither from the inside or outside, which is a huge safety hazard in my eyes if I got into an accident and had passengers in the backseat. I do have video proof of this too.

NHTSA ODI 11607852

Apr 22, 2024Body & structureLatches & locks

The contact rented a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at about 20 MPH and driving over a railroad track, the hood of the vehicle opened abruptly and struck the windshield. The contact lost visibility and went through an intersection before coming to a complete stop. The contact made the rental company aware and was informed that they could not diagnose the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11584570

Working with the data? Download all 94 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 2023 Ford Escape Gas verdict →