Model year 2025 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2025 Ford Escape: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2025 Ford Escape at 26–40 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

10

EPA combined mpg

26–40

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as ESCAPE HYBRID, ESCAPE PHEV.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2025 Ford Escape recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 10 safety recalls for the 2025 Ford Escape, newest first.

Engine and engine cooling: Exhaust system: Emission control: Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

NHTSA 26V122000 Reported Mar 3, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S10)
Units affected
47,804 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electrical system: Propulsion system: Traction battery

NHTSA 26V091000 Reported Feb 17, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SC4)
Units affected
25,237 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts: Rear/other: Retractor

NHTSA 25V862000 Reported Dec 12, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25C68)
Units affected
780 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
Risk
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 15, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Structure: Body: Hatchback/liftgate: Hinge and attachments

NHTSA 25V829000 Reported Dec 1, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SD6)
Units affected
108,762 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
Risk
A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electronic stability control (ESC) and 1 more component

NHTSA 25V787000 Reported Nov 14, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SC6)
Components
Electronic stability control (ESC); Service brakes, hydraulic: Power assist
Units affected
2 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Maverick and Escape vehicles. The cover for the electric brake booster's ECU may cause the printed circuit board to overheat and result in a loss of vehicle stability control systems (anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and traction control) or a loss of brake power assist.
Risk
Loss of vehicle stability control or brake power assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the electric brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 17, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine

NHTSA 25V372000 Reported Jun 3, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25S61)
Units affected
404 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Risk
An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil 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 replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Equipment: Electrical: Engine block heater and 1 more component

NHTSA 25V343000 Reported May 23, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25S52)
Components
Equipment: Electrical: Engine block heater; Electrical system
Units affected
6,781 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.
Risk
An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera

NHTSA 25V161000 Reported Mar 14, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25C08)
Units affected
4,721 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Escape vehicles. The rearview camera may incorrectly display an inverted image when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
An inverted rearview camera image will not accurately display what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C08.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electrical system: Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA 25V049000 Reported Jan 31, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25C02)
Units affected
298 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305.
Risk
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C02.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electrical system: Instrument cluster/panel and 1 more component

NHTSA 24V850000 Reported Nov 8, 2024
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 24C38)
Components
Electrical system: Instrument cluster/panel; Air bags: Frontal
Units affected
15 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2025 Ford Escape fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2025 Ford Escape EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombElectric rangeFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Escape AWD1.5L 3-cyl turboAutomatic 8-spdAll-Wheel DriveRegular26/32/28 mpg—$2,400316
Escape AWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 8-spdAll-Wheel DriveRegular23/31/26 mpg—$2,600336
Escape AWD HEV2.5L 4-cyl hybridAutomaticPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular42/36/39 mpg—$1,700225
Escape FWD1.5L 3-cyl turboAutomatic 8-spdFront-Wheel DriveRegular27/34/30 mpg—$2,250298
Escape FWD HEV2.5L 4-cyl hybridAutomaticFront-Wheel DriveRegular42/36/39 mpg—$1,700225
Escape FWD PHEV2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybridAutomaticFront-Wheel DriveRegular Gas and Electricity / Electricity42/37/40 mpg
101 MPGe on electricity
37 mi$1,70078

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2025 Ford Escape crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2025 Ford Escape NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2025 Ford Escape Gas SUV AWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars17.4%Standard & Optional
2025 Ford Escape Gas SUV FWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars16.9%Standard & Optional
2025 Ford Escape HEV SUV AWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars17.4%Standard
2025 Ford Escape HEV SUV FWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars16.9%Standard
2025 Ford Escape PHEV SUV FWD5 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars14.3%Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2025 Ford Escape owner complaints

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Ford Escape, most recently on Oct 10, 2026. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2025 Ford Escape complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Electrical system10
Unknown or other6
Engine5
Engine and engine cooling4
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking3
Fuel/propulsion system3
Power train3
Forward collision avoidance: Adaptive cruise control2
Steering2
Structure: Body2

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford Escape model years

Ford Escape by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2026 Escape26–40 mpg345/5
2024 Escape26–39 mpg10885/5
2023 Escape26–40 mpg131385/5
2022 Escape26–41 mpg213865/5
2021 Escape26–41 mpg214985/5
2020 Escape26–41 mpg251,9085/5
2019 Escape23–26 mpg35975/5
2018 Escape23–26 mpg41,8225/5
2017 Escape23–26 mpg42,7025/5
2016 Escape23–26 mpg41,1704/5
2015 Escape23–26 mpg91,1314/5

All Ford Escape years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2025 Ford models

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.