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Reliability report · 2021 Ford Escape · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,100/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

Much quieter than the 2020 launch — but the hybrid engine-fire and battery recalls still apply.

The 2021 Escape is a calmer car than the 2020: complaint volume drops sharply as the redesign matures. The complaint file is now dominated by recall-delay filings — owners waiting for parts on the engine-fire and battery campaigns — rather than fresh mechanical failures.

The catch is that those campaigns are the serious ones. On a 2.5L hybrid or plug-in, the engine-fire recall (23V-380) and the high-voltage-battery recalls (22V-149, 24V-954) are must-verifies; on a 1.5L, the fuel-injector fire recall applies; and the 8-speed's torque-converter shudder can still show up. Buy one with a complete, VIN-verified recall history and the 2021 is a sound used compact SUV.

Evidence: 343 NHTSA complaints · 19 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 343 federal complaints across gas, hybrid, and plug-in — a fifth of the 2020's volume — with the launch-year kinks settling. But the serious safety campaigns carry over: the 2.5L hybrid/plug-in engine-fire recall (23V-380), the high-voltage-battery recalls, and the 1.5L fuel-injector fire recall. The story here is recall verification, not a new mechanical pattern.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

343

Federal complaints

19

Recalls

$7,000+

Owner-paid engine before parts (reported)

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2021 Ford Escape SUV FWD (NHTSA VehicleId 15375)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Hybrid and plug-in engine-fire recall — 23V-380

major
  • 2.5L hybrid I4
  • 2.5L PHEV I4

On 2.5L hybrid and plug-in cars, recall 23V-380 (Ford 23S27) covers an engine failure that can vent oil and fuel vapor into the engine bay and cause a fire; the remedy is a powertrain-control-module software update, with an engine long-block replacement if a connecting-rod-bearing failure is found. The 2021 complaint file is full of the fallout: owners who received the recall notice in mid-2023 and waited many months for parts, and at least one whose engine ran dry and was destroyed at 52,000 miles, costing $7,000-plus out of pocket after a warranty denial. Verify this recall is completed — not just mailed — on any 2021 hybrid or plug-in.

This is a 2.5L hybrid I4 and 2.5L PHEV I4 problem. The 2.5L Duratec I4, 1.5L EcoBoost I4, 2.0L EcoBoost I4, and 1.5L EcoBoost I3 don’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

Recall 23V-380 (software or free long-block)

$0

Owner-paid engine before parts (reported)

$7,000+

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 22V-149, 24V-954, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03) · Independent gen-4 Escape mechanic transcripts + owner plug-in engine account

High-voltage battery recallsmajor

  • 2.5L hybrid I4
  • 2.5L PHEV I4

The 2021 hybrid and plug-in drew high-voltage-battery recalls: 22V-149 (Ford 21S48) for a battery that can fail and cause a sudden loss of drive power, and the broad 24V-954 (24S79) for a battery-cell defect that can short internally — the latter with 'do not charge until remedied' interim guidance and a long parts backlog. The complaint file shows the real-world symptom: a plug-in that stalled and displayed 'Stop Safely Now,' traced to a failed high-voltage battery, waiting on recall parts. Confirm both by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 22V-149, 24V-954, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

Recalls 22V-149, 24V-954

1.5L fuel-injector fire recall and fuel-delivery modulemoderate

  • 1.5L EcoBoost I3

The 1.5L three-cylinder carries the fuel-injector fire recall (22V-859, re-remedied by 25V-165 and 25V-467) — a cracked injector can leak fuel in the engine bay; the fix updates software and, in the final remedy, replaces the fuel rail and injector. Separately, 21V-625 (21S38) covers a fuel-delivery module that can leak inside the tank and cause low fuel pressure and stalling. Both free; confirm the latest remedy on the injector recall, since it was re-issued for cars fixed incorrectly.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 22V-149, 24V-954, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

Recalls 22V-859 (latest remedy), 21V-625

8-speed shudder and the recall backlogmoderate

  • 8-speed automatic (8F35)

The gas 2021 still uses the 8F35 8-speed, whose torque-converter shudder below 60 mph has a Ford service bulletin (torque-converter replacement) and a Customer Support Program (25N03/25M02) replacing the upstream catalytic converter on some 1.5L cars. Beyond that, most recent complaints are recall-delay filings — the rearview-camera and battery campaigns waiting on parts — rather than new failures. Drive for the shudder and confirm the brake-pad recall (21V-922) and camera re-remedies were done.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 22V-149, 24V-954, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

8F35 torque-converter under warranty/TSB

several thousand, directional

Out-of-warranty transmission repair

According to Ford recall 23S27 and NHTSA recall 23V-380, this is a known issue and could have put our family at significant risk.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Ford dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 23V-3802020-2023 Escape 2.5L hybrid/PHEV: engine failure may release oil/fuel vapor → engine-compartment fire. PCM software, free engine long-block if a rod-bearing failure is found. Ford number 23S27.open
  2. 22V-1492021-2022 Escape 2.5L hybrid: high-voltage battery may fail — sudden loss of drive power. Free HV battery replacement. Ford number 21S48.open
  3. 24V-9542020-2024 Escape: high-voltage battery cell defect can short internally — loss of power / fire. BECM software + HV pack as needed. 'Do not charge until remedied.' Ford number 24S79.open
  4. 22V-8592020-2023 Escape 1.5L: fuel injector may crack and leak fuel — fire risk. Free software + drain tube (re-remedied by 25V-165/25V-467). Ford number 22S73.open
  5. 21V-6252021 Escape: fuel-delivery module may leak inside the tank, causing low fuel pressure and engine stall. Free fuel-delivery-module replacement. Ford number 21S38.open
  6. 22V-1912020-2022 Escape 1.5L: engine oil-separator housing may crack and leak oil — fire risk. Free inspection/replacement. Ford number 22S21.open
  7. 21V-9222021-2022 Escape: rear brake linings may be manufactured incorrectly, affecting braking. Free front brake-pad replacement. Ford number 21C31.open
  8. 24V-3302020-2022 Escape hybrid: Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software may shift the vehicle to neutral unexpectedly — loss of drive power. Free HPCM update. Ford number 24S33.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2021 Escape

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

30 MPG combined (28 city / 34 highway) for the FWD, 1.5L turbo on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 43645 (Escape FWD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 1.5L turbo 28 MPG · AWD, 2.0L turbo 26 MPG · Hybrid 4WD, 2.5L 40 MPG · Hybrid FWD, 2.5L 41 MPG.

$2,100/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Insurers lose about 17% less on this vehicle than on the average car. Lower collision losses tend to show up in what you pay for coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Escape 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Escape 4dr 84 · Ford Escape hybrid 4dr 4WD 86 · Ford Escape hybrid 4dr 86 · Ford Escape plug-in hybrid 4dr 96, where 100 = average.

83 vs 100

17% below average

Theft

Stolen about 73% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Escape 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Escape 4dr 46 · Ford Escape hybrid 4dr 4WD 45 · Ford Escape hybrid 4dr 27, where 100 = average.

27 vs 100

73% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Recall 23V-380 (software or free long-block)$0
Owner-paid engine before parts (reported)$7,000+
Recalls 22V-149, 24V-954$0
Recalls 22V-859 (latest remedy), 21V-625$0
8F35 torque-converter under warranty/TSB$0
Out-of-warranty transmission repairseveral thousand, directional
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On a hybrid or plug-in, verify the engine-fire recall 23V-380 and the HV-battery recalls (22V-149, 24V-954) show COMPLETED, not just mailed.
  2. 02On a 1.5L, confirm the latest fuel-injector fire remedy (22V-859 → 25V-165/25V-467) and the fuel-delivery-module recall 21V-625 were done.
  3. 03Drive it for the 8F35 8-speed's low-speed shudder/hesitation; ask about CSP 25N03 (catalytic converter) on 1.5L cars.
  4. 04Confirm the brake-pad recall 21V-922 and the HPCM neutral-shift recall 24V-330 (hybrid) were completed.
  5. 05Expect recall-delay history in the file — check that parts-backlogged campaigns (battery, camera) have since been finished.
  6. 06Ask about CSP 23B56 (front-door check-arm spot welds) — free through May 31, 2027, no mileage limit.

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