What 94 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Escape Gas

My 2023 Ford Escape (with fewer than 50,000 miles) began experiencing significant mechanical issues. I noticed exhaust fumes entering the cabin that passengers and I would inhale, loud noises from under the hood, and lose power during acceleration. After inspecting the vehicle, the dealership determined that the turbocharger wastegate/flapper valve had failed mechanically, causing the turbocharger to overboost and sustain internal damage. This failure led to numerous drivability issues, including hesitation, rough shifting, delayed upshifts, loud whining noises during cold starts, slipping during acceleration, and, at times, the inability to shift beyond second gear. Ultimately, the dealership concluded that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. My vehicle remained at the dealership from January 28, 2026, through May 14, 2026, over three and a half months. The vehicle still has transmission issues and loses power at times when driving on the highway commuting to work. At this moment of time, I scheduled it to go back to the dealership on July 9th.

NHTSA ODI 11748002

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the engine unexpectedly stated revving at a high rate. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with turbo charger assembly failure. The turbo charger assembly was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The oxygen sensor was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,616.

NHTSA ODI 11745710

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated after the engine overheated and shifted into "LIMP Mode". The contact stated that during the failure, the message "Engine Overheated" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 4,200.

NHTSA ODI 11610974

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, he observed a warning chime dinging, the power train warning light illuminated, and the 'low engine coolant' message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact's wife received a notification via the Ford Pass APP stating that “There was a failure with the vehicle and to see the dealer”. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine and head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,900.

NHTSA ODI 11591508