2022 Ford Escape
The Verdict
The 2022 Ford Escape has 215 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (94 complaints) and body (56 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 51/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Escape, consider the 2024 model year which has 65% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 65% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Ford Escape dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 2
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-330. The Hybrid Power...
Risk
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this r...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 24, 2024. Owners ...
Reported Aug 3, 2024
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 286 | 132 | 147 | 358 | 115 |
| 2002 | 293 | 169 | 151 | 364 | 97 |
| 2003 | 302 | 57 | 91 | 89 | 59 |
| 2004 | 327 | 27 | 63 | 61 | 20 |
| 2005 | 938 | 132 | 113 | 306 | 95 |
| 2006 | 251 | 162 | 61 | 164 | 81 |
| 2007 | 119 | 96 | 40 | 94 | 44 |
| 2008 | 1372 | 283 | 153 | 293 | 313 |
| 2009 | 900 | 99 | 94 | 426 | 171 |
| 2010 | 776 | 48 | 111 | 899 | 292 |
| 2011 | 559 | 21 | 77 | 489 | 166 |
| 2012 | 263 | 20 | 47 | 220 | 47 |
| 2013 | 667 | 47 | 194 | 1560 | 269 |
| 2014 | 526 | 27 | 152 | 956 | 396 |
| 2015 | 357 | 19 | 115 | 300 | 235 |
| 2016 | 355 | 16 | 86 | 273 | 283 |
| 2017 | 288 | 32 | 113 | 1949 | 232 |
| 2018 | 136 | 16 | 48 | 1372 | 143 |
| 2019 | 62 | 8 | 33 | 370 | 83 |
| 2020 | 895 | 31 | 105 | 243 | 186 |
| 2021 | 138 | 43 | 20 | 91 | 29 |
| 2022 | 56 | 31 | 18 | 94 | 16 |
| 2023 | 17 | 3 | 27 | 33 | 14 |
| 2024 | 24 | 2 | 29 | 17 | 2 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
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Complaints
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
Failed door check attachment point on driver side. Door has issues when opening and closing.
Check engine light on with Powertrain Malfunction / REduced Power notification on myford pass app. Scanned with OBD scanner and it has code P0929
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.
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.
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.
215 total