What 94 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Escape Gas

My 2023 Ford Escape is equipped with a factory-installed rearview backup camera system and SYNC infotainment system. Beginning on or around February 2026. I began experiencing a series of recurring, intermittent, and worsening failures with the rearview camera and the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) that controls it. These failures render the backup camera system unreliable or completely non-functional during vehicle operation. Specific Symptoms Observed •BLUE / BLANK SCREEN: When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the rearview camera display shows a solid blue screen or goes completely blank rather than displaying the rear camera image. This failure occurs with no warning and leaves me unable to see what is behind the vehicle while backing up. •INVERTED / UPSIDE-DOWN IMAGE: The rearview camera image displays upside-down and/or mirrored, rendering the image confusing and unsafe. Guidelines, directional aids, and proximity warnings displayed on screen are also inverted, making them unusable. •DISTORTED / CORRUPTED IMAGE: The camera feed displays visual distortion, artifacts, freezing, flickering, or corruption that makes it impossible to accurately interpret what is behind the vehicle. •APIM FAILURE: The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) — the core software module controlling the SYNC 3 display and camera feed — has failed or malfunctioned. Dealership diagnosis has identified the APIM as requiring repair or replacement. This module failure is the root cause of the camera display issues described above. The failures occur intermittently and unpredictably. The camera may function correctly for a period, then fail on the next use. In some cases, the failure is persistent across multiple ignition cycles. There is no consistent triggering condition — the defect occurs in varied weather conditions, temperatures, and after varying periods of use. Turning the vehicle off and back on sometimes temporarily restores the camera, but the defect returns.

NHTSA ODI 11741427

[Recurring No-Start Issue with Multiple Warning Alerts – Safety Concern] I am reporting a recurring vehicle issue involving failure to start, which I believe may pose a safety risk. The issue has occurred five times: August 11, 2023 April 12, 2025 June 13, 2025 December 12, 2025 April 1, 2026 During these incidents, the vehicle failed to start and displayed multiple warning messages on the dashboard. On some occasions, the vehicle only started after several hours. The vehicle becomes completely inoperable when this issue occurs. After the third occurrence, I brought the vehicle to an authorized service center. However, the issue was not resolved and has continued to occur. This repeated failure raises serious concerns about vehicle reliability and safety, as the vehicle may become inoperable without warning. I have attached documentation, including repair records and photos of the dashboard warnings. I am submitting this report so that this issue can be properly investigated.

NHTSA ODI 11739002

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds with the Adaptive Cruise Control Mode engaged, the vehicle failed to respond as needed after another vehicle pulled in front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and decelerated, and then revved up and accelerated unintendedly until the vehicle was within proximity of the other vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the Lane Keep Assist failed to keep the vehicle within the intended lane while driving, and the vehicle veered to the left unintendedly while the Lane Keep Assist was engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V440000 (Forward Collision Avoidance), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11669387

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "Blind Spot Detection System Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the trailer tow wiring harness (Part Number: LX6Z-15A416-B). The contact was informed that the wiring harness was damaged by the heat shield. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.

NHTSA ODI 11648311

At any random time, all sensors fail. Blind spot systems, parking sensors, pre-collision assist, front camera fault, cross traffic system, cruise control, lane assist, auto headlights. Returned to the dealership multiple times, with no resolution. All sensors continue to fail, with no immediate fix available, according to Ford, until the fourth quarter. So, I am left with an unrepairable vehicle to drive in the already dangerous central Texas traffic. The problem has been confirmed at Leif Johnson Ford, 501 E. Koenig, Austin, Tx 78751. Main #512-454-3711, Service #512-454-3767, and reported to Ford Care at 800-392-3673

NHTSA ODI 11610436

After reviewing my owner’s manual on my newly purchased vehicle, I was shocked at how quickly and unexpectedly I was propelled from 75mph to 105mph because of a new-to-me feature on this model. I was surprised and moreover shocked that a system like this is mass-produced and sold worldwide. Seems like the manufacturer should provide proper training materials and not just the dealer telling me to Youtube it. I fear for my life every time I get behind the wheel. If someone unassumingly were to drive this vehicle without becoming accustomed to they ways it operates, I fear of what horrible accidents may result. I wish I could give the car back but the dealership won’t do anything for me. So I felt it necessary to make this report. Hopefully the features on this particular model of a major vehicle manufacturing brand are re-examined. Something just doesn’t seem right with this specific sub-model.

NHTSA ODI 11559613