The fourth-gen launch year — 23 recalls, an 8-speed shudder, and hybrid engine-fire campaigns to verify.

The 1.5L three-cylinder EcoBoost drew two fire-risk recalls. 22V-191 (Ford 22S21) covers an engine oil-separator housing that can crack and leak oil near hot components. 22V-859 (22S73) covers a fuel injector that can crack and leak fuel in the engine bay — the fix updates the engine control software and adds a drain tube, and it absorbed the earlier oil-separator population. Both are free, but note the fuel-injector recall has been re-issued twice more (25V-165, 25V-467) for cars repaired incorrectly, so confirm the latest remedy was applied, not just the first.

On 2.5L hybrid and plug-in-hybrid cars, recall 23V-380 (Ford 23S27, which expanded the earlier 22V-484) addresses an engine failure that can release oil and fuel vapor into the engine bay and cause a fire. The remedy varies by year: some cars get a powertrain-control-module software update, and if a connecting-rod-bearing failure is detected, dealers replace the engine long-block — free. Ford's interim advice was to stop and shut off the engine at any unexpected noise, power loss, or smoke. A 2021 plug-in owner paid $7,000-plus out of pocket when the engine ran dry at 52,000 miles and the recall parts weren't yet available. On any 2020 hybrid or plug-in, this campaign is the must-verify.

The 2.5L hybrid drew a high-voltage-battery recall, 22V-331 (Ford 22S33), for insufficient welds inside the battery that can cause a sudden loss of drive power — free battery replacement. A broader campaign, 24V-954 (24S79), covers 2020-2024 Escapes for a battery-cell defect that can short internally, with 'do not charge until remedied' interim guidance and a long parts backlog that shows up in the complaint file as recall-delay filings. Confirm both by VIN on any hybrid or plug-in.

The remaining campaigns are mostly quick fixes but should still check out by VIN: a front-seat recliner missing a strength pawl (19V-633), a mis-crimped side-curtain airbag (20V-415), a body control module that can miss tire-pressure/key-fob signals (20V-635), a start/stop accumulator with loose bolts that can leak transmission fluid (20V-550), a rear-drive-unit lubricant shortfall that can seize the AWD axle (21V-011), the recurring rearview-camera recalls (20V-575 and later software re-remedies), rear brake pads (25V-693), and a Customer Support Program (23B56) inspecting the front-door check-arm spot welds, in effect through May 31, 2027 with no mileage limit.