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Reliability report · 2022 Ford Escape · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,100/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

Settled gas cars, but the plug-in still leans on the engine-fire and battery recalls.

The 2022 Escape's gas versions are the settled version of the fourth generation: the launch-year recall wave has mostly closed behind them, and complaint volume keeps falling. The 8-speed's torque-converter shudder can still appear, but there is no new mechanical pattern.

The plug-in hybrid is a different story — it accounts for a large slice of this year's complaints, and they are almost entirely about the 2.5L engine-fire recall (23V-380) and the high-voltage-battery recall (24V-954) and the long wait for parts. On a 2022 plug-in or hybrid, those two campaigns plus the HPCM neutral-shift recall are the must-verifies; a fully remedied car is fine.

Evidence: 295 NHTSA complaints · 19 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 295 federal complaints — quieter still than 2021 on the gas side, but the plug-in hybrid carries a heavier share of the filings, almost all tied to the 2.5L engine-fire recall (23V-380) and the high-voltage-battery campaign waiting on parts. The gas car is a matured product; the plug-in is a recall-verification job.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

295

Federal complaints

19

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2022 Ford Escape SUV FWD (NHTSA VehicleId 16335)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

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

Plug-in and hybrid engine-fire recall — 23V-380

major
  • 2.5L hybrid I4
  • 2.5L PHEV I4

The 2.5L hybrid and plug-in engine-fire recall (23V-380, Ford 23S27) applies to the 2022: an engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor into the engine bay and cause a fire. The remedy is a powertrain-control-module software update, with a free engine long-block if a rod-bearing failure is detected. The 2022 plug-in complaint file is dominated by this campaign and its parts delays — owners describing more than a year of waiting, multiple dealer trips, and incomplete fixes. On any 2022 hybrid or plug-in, verify 23V-380 is actually completed.

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

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 24V-954, 24V-330, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

High-voltage battery and HPCM neutral-shift recallsmajor

  • 2.5L hybrid I4
  • 2.5L PHEV I4

Two more hybrid/plug-in safety campaigns. 24V-954 (Ford 24S79) covers a high-voltage-battery cell defect that can short internally — loss of power or fire — with 'do not charge until remedied' interim guidance and a long parts backlog. And 24V-330 (24S33, re-remedied by 25V-133) covers Hybrid Powertrain Control Module software that can shift the car into neutral unexpectedly, causing a sudden loss of drive power. Both free; confirm the latest remedy on each, since both were re-issued.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 24V-954, 24V-330, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

Recalls 24V-954, 24V-330 (latest remedy)

1.5L fuel-injector fire recallmoderate

  • 1.5L EcoBoost I3

The 1.5L three-cylinder carries the fuel-injector fire recall — 22V-859, expanded by 24V-187 and re-remedied by 25V-165/25V-467 — where a cracked injector can leak fuel in the engine bay. The final remedy replaces the fuel rail and injector; earlier remedies were software-plus-drain-tube. Because this campaign was re-issued several times, confirm the most recent fix was applied rather than assuming the first one closed it.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 24V-954, 24V-330, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

Recall 22V-859 (latest remedy)

8-speed shudder and the brake-pad recallmoderate

  • 8-speed automatic (8F35)

The gas 2022 still uses the 8F35 8-speed, and its torque-converter shudder below 60 mph remains a service-bulletin item (torque-converter replacement), with a Customer Support Program (25N03/25M02) covering an upstream catalytic-converter replacement on some 1.5L cars. The rear brake-lining recall (21V-922) also covers the 2022 — a free front brake-pad replacement. Drive for the shudder and confirm the brake recall was done.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV · NHTSA recall + manufacturer-communications (23V-380, 24V-954, 24V-330, 22V-859; 8F35 shudder TSB; CSP 23B56/25N03)

$0

8F35 torque-converter under warranty/TSB; recall 21V-922

several thousand, directional

Out-of-warranty transmission repair

We have now been dealing with this issue for well over a year and made yet another trip to the dealer — only to be told the problem is still not fully fixed.
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. 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
  3. 24V-3302020-2022 Escape hybrid: HPCM software may shift the vehicle to neutral unexpectedly — loss of drive power. Free HPCM update (re-remedied by 25V-133). Ford number 24S33.open
  4. 22V-8592020-2023 Escape 1.5L: fuel injector may crack and leak fuel — fire risk. Free software + drain tube (expanded by 24V-187; re-remedied by 25V-165/25V-467). Ford number 22S73.open
  5. 22V-4842020-2022 Escape 2.5L HEV/PHEV: engine failure may release oil/fuel vapor → fire. Under-shield and grille-shutter modification (superseded by 23V-380). Ford number 22S47.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

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 — 2022 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 44810 (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 79% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2022–24 models, published May 2025 (report WT-24). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Escape 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Escape 4dr 23, where 100 = average.

21 vs 100

79% 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
Recalls 24V-954, 24V-330 (latest remedy)$0
Recall 22V-859 (latest remedy)$0
8F35 torque-converter under warranty/TSB; recall 21V-922$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 plug-in or hybrid, verify the engine-fire recall 23V-380 shows COMPLETED — the 2022 plug-in file is full of year-plus parts delays and incomplete fixes.
  2. 02Confirm the HV-battery recall 24V-954 and the HPCM neutral-shift recall 24V-330 (latest remedy 25V-133) were done.
  3. 03On a 1.5L, confirm the most recent fuel-injector fire remedy (22V-859 → 24V-187 → 25V-165/25V-467) was applied.
  4. 04Drive it for the 8F35 8-speed's low-speed shudder; ask about CSP 25N03 (catalytic converter) on 1.5L cars.
  5. 05Confirm the brake-pad recall 21V-922 was completed.
  6. 06Ask about CSP 23B56 (front-door check-arm spot welds) — free through May 31, 2027, no mileage limit.

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