NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2020–2026

Ford Escape PHEV recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 123 owner complaints for the Ford Escape PHEV, covering model years 2020 to 2026. The 2022 model year drew the most complaints (78), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Ford Escape PHEV VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
123 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
7 model years with data (2020–2026)

most complaints: 2022 (78 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (47 complaints)
latest recall 26V091000 (reported Feb 17, 2026)

2 complaints reporting a crash (1.6%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
2 complaints reporting an injury (1.6%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Ford Escape PHEV complaints by model year

7 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2022 model year has the most complaints: 78 of 123, or 63.4%. Next come 2021 (22) and 2023 (11). The fewest are for 2026, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Ford Escape PHEV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Ford Escape PHEV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting an injury
2020	1	0	0
2021	22	1	1
2022	78	1	1
2023	11	0	0
2024	6	0	0
2025	4	0	0
2026	1	0	0
All model years	123	2	2

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Ford Escape PHEV components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 47 complaints (38.2% of all 123), followed by Engine (44) and Power Train (14).

Components named most often in Ford Escape PHEV complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Ford Escape PHEV complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	47	38.2%
Engine	44	35.8%
Unknown or Other	16	13.0%
Power Train	14	11.4%
Fuel/Propulsion System	10	8.1%
Structure	7	5.7%
Forward Collision Avoidance	5	4.1%
Service Brakes	4	3.3%
Steering	3	2.4%
Air Bags	2	1.6%
Hybrid Propulsion System	2	1.6%
Vehicle Speed Control	2	1.6%
Visibility/Wiper	2	1.6%
Lane Departure	1	0.8%
Seat Belts	1	0.8%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Ford Escape PHEV recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Escape PHEV, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 2020 to 2026. The 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years appear in the most campaigns (2 each).

2 recall campaigns

Ford Escape PHEV recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
2020s	2020: 1 campaign	2021: 1 campaign	2022: 2 campaigns	2023: 2 campaigns	2024: 2 campaigns	2025: 1 campaign	2026: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 26V091000
Reported Feb 17, 2026
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery
Model years 2022–2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence:
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 25V789000
Reported Nov 14, 2025
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery
Model years 2020–2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence:
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V954 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 18, 2025.
Filed by Ford Motor Company

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Ford Escape PHEV questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Ford Escape PHEV have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Ford Escape PHEV, covering model years 2020 to 2026. The most recent, 26V091000, was reported on February 17, 2026 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years are covered by the most campaigns (2 each).

Which Ford Escape PHEV model year has the most complaints?

The 2022 model year, with 78 of the 123 complaints in NHTSA’s file (63.4%). The next are 2021 (22) and 2023 (11). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Ford Escape PHEV complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 47 complaints, or 38.2% of all 123. Engine (44) and Power Train (14) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Ford Escape PHEV?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Ford dealer.

How many Ford Escape PHEV complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 123 complaints, 2 report a crash, 0 a fire, 2 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Ford models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Ford VIN decoder with every Ford model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Ford F-150 1995–2027 · 158 recalls · 35,790 complaints
Ford Explorer 1995–2027 · 131 recalls · 31,089 complaints
Ford Escape 2000–2026 · 95 recalls · 27,343 complaints
Ford Fusion 2006–2020 · 46 recalls · 22,383 complaints
Ford Focus 1999–2018 · 36 recalls · 22,086 complaints
Ford Windstar 1995–2005 · 33 recalls · 14,108 complaints
Ford Edge 2004–2024 · 43 recalls · 14,009 complaints
Ford Taurus 1995–2019 · 52 recalls · 12,702 complaints

All Ford models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.