Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine36
- Structure32
- Electrical system23
- Unknown or other17
- Power train14
- Fuel/propulsion system9
- Service brakes7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Seat belts3
- Hybrid propulsion system3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 5.8–5.9 L/100 km (about 40–41 mpg US), CO₂ 136–139 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escape Hybrid · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 5.4 | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| Escape Hybrid AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 5.5 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape Hybrid vehicles. The engine crankshaft may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10252555 | This article supersedes TSB 23-2244 to add 2024 model year. Some 2020-2024 Escape hybrid vehicles equipped with a 2.5L (FHEV) full hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit a grinding or rubbing noise while braking at or below 10 mph (16 km/h) from the front of the vehicle. This may be due to an inadequate gap between the driveshaft and the heat shield. To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to diagnose and position the heat shield away from the driveshaft. |
| 10250298 | 2020-2023 Escape/Explorer, 2021-2023 F-150 and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with a full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) powertrain may exhibit a cable connection error screen from the Midtronics xRC-3363 High Voltage Battery Rescue Charger. The xRC-3363 will prompt the technician to verify the low voltage connections, when no actual fault is present. This may be due to the software level of the Midtronics xRC-3363 High Voltage Battery Rescue Charger. To correct this condition, update the Midtronics xRC-3363 High Voltage Battery Rescue Charger to the latest software level by navigating t |
| 10249424 | Some 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L engine full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L engine FHEV powertrain may exhibit a condition where the 12V battery voltage is low or discharged with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U3003:62 stored in the direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter control module. The vehicle may also exhibit DTC U3003:16 and/or U3000:04 stored in the DC/DC converter control module. This may be due to an open in the 300 amp high-current fuse |
| 10244876 | Some 2020-2023 Escape/2021-2023 Corsair equipped with 2.5L engine full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L engine FHEV powertrain may exhibit a condition where the 12V battery voltage is low or discharged with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U3003:62 stored in the direct current/direct current converter control module (DC/DC). The vehicle may also exhibit DTC U3003:16 and/or U3000:04 stored in the DC/DC module. This may be due to an open in the 300 amp high-current fuse F4 located in the high-curr |
| 10244798 | Some 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L engine built on or before 30-Nov-2022, 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine built on or before 28-Feb-2022 or 2020-2022 Escape/Corsair non-plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) vehicles built on or before 30-Apr-2022 may exhibit a chatter/shudder during low speed turning events. This may be due to contamination of the rear drive unit (RDU) fluid through the RDU vent hose. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the RDU vent hose. |
| 10240743 | The Service Awareness Newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a TSB, SSM, GSB, or other electronic communication. This article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information. |
| 10240573 | Some 2020-2023 Escape hybrid vehicles equipped with a 2.5L (FHEV) full hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit a grinding or rubbing noise while braking at or below 10 mph (16 km/h) from the front of the vehicle. This may be due to an inadequate gap between the driveshaft and the heat shield. To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to diagnose and position the heat shield away from the driveshaft. |
| 10236028 | Some 2020-2023 Escape/Corsair equipped with 2.5L engine full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L engine FHEV powertrain may exhibit a condition where the 12V battery voltage is low or discharged with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U3003:62 stored in the direct current/direct current converter control module (DC/DC). The vehicle may also exhibit DTC U3003:16 and/or U3000:04 stored in the DC/DC module. This may be due to an open in the 300 amp mega fuse located in the high current battery junction |
| 10224777 | Some 2021-2022 Mustang Mach-E/Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2020-2022 Aviator PHEV, and 2022 Transit battery electric vehicle (BEV) vehicles may experience an illuminated powertrain malfunction (Wrench) indicator and/or malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with secondary on board diagnostic control module (SOBDM) diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U3000:49. This may be due to an internal SOBDM concern. To correct the concern, replace the SOBDM following Workshop Manual, Section 414-03B Removal and Installation, Secondary On-board Diagnostic Control Module. For claiming use base part # |
| 10211708 | Some Escape 2020-2022 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and 2021-2022 Corsair PHEV may exhibit a 12-volt battery discharged while the vehicle is plugged in during the high voltage battery charging and/or inoperative level 2 charger (220/240 volts) at customers residence but charging performance operates as intended at a dealership or other locations. This may be due to the software in the battery charger control module (BCCM) (also known as secondary on-board diagnostic module (SOBDM)) and/or differences in local electrical power grids for the level 2 charger. To correct the condition, f |
| 10211707 | Some 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) powertrain built on or before 30-Mar-2022 may exhibit an idle surge and/or rough idle with high temperature in the catalytic converter and/or sulfur odor in the cab. This condition occurs when the high voltage battery is being charged by the engine at cold start and the state of charge (SOC) increases to the top of the charge limit. When the SOC is at the top of the charge limit the system cuts the engine injectors until the SOC is below the top limit to protect the battery. The continuous cycle of running |
| 10210497 | Some 2020-2021 Escape and 2021 Corsair vehicles equipped with a 2.5L full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) or 2.5L plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain may exhibit a no crank/no start condition due to the passive anti-theft system (PATS) immobilizer being enabled. This may be more prevalent after a vehicle service/repair. This may be due to software that renders the inverter system controller (ISC) (also known as secondary on-board diagnostic module C (SOBDMC)) inoperable when a vehicle repair requires a PATS update. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to reprogra |
| 10210387 | Some 2020-2022 Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and 2021-2022 Corsair PHEV vehicles built on or before 3-Mar-2022 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and/or engine coolant over temperature warning message with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P2183 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). DTC P26C1 may also be present due to DTC P2183 setting. This condition occurs when the vehicle is driven with the cabin coolant heater active and after an engine long soak the DTC P2183 will incorrectly set at next key on. This may be due to the soak timer feature in th |
| 10205448 | Some 2021 Escape/Corsair 2.5L PHEV vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with DTCs P2183 and/or P26C1 present. The vehicle may also exhibit an engine overheat message in the instrument panel cluster. Engineering is aware of this concern and is working on a solution. Continue with checking the engine coolant level, inspect the cabin heater coolant temperature sensor (ECT sensor 2) connector for contamination and perform Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 412-00 pinpoint test AQ. If no concern is found and the vehicle does not exhibit DTC P1285 or P1299, clear the DTCs. If DTCs P1285 or P1299 are |
| 10203843 | Some 2021 Escape/Escape Hybrid vehicles built on 10-Aug-2021 and through 20-Sep-2021 may exhibit a front-end flutter/rattle noise at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher. Engineering is aware of this concern. Due to parts availability, a repair procedure may not be available until 1st quarter, 2022. Using the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS), command the active grill shudders open and closed to see if the flutter/rattle noise changes. If the flutter/rattle noise does not change, continue with normal Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 100-04 for diagnostic and repair information. If the flutter/rattl |
| 10202610 | Some 2021 Escape/Escape Hybrid vehicles built on 10-Aug-2021 through 20-Sep-21 may exhibit a front-end flutter/rattle noise at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher. Engineering is aware of this concern and a repair procedure should be available late October. Using the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS), command the active grill shudders open and closed to see if the flutter/rattle noise changes. If the flutter/rattle noise does not change, continue with normal Workshop Manual, Section 100-04 for diagnostic and repair information. If the flutter/rattle noise does change, advise the customer that th |
| 10201701 | Some 2021 Escape Hybrid vehicles built on 10-Aug-2021 through 20-Sep-21 may exhibit a front-end flutter/rattle noise at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher. Engineering is aware of this concern and a repair procedure should be available late October. Using the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS), command the active grill shudders open and closed to see if the flutter/rattle noise changes. If the flutter/rattle noise does not change, continue with normal Workshop Manual, Section 100-04 for diagnostic and repair information. If the flutter/rattle noise does change, advise the customer that the vehic |
| 10200759 | Some 2020 and 2021 Escape Hybrid vehicles built on or before 19-Jul-2021 may exhibit a rattle/buzz originating in the right rear quarter area. This may be due to the pedestrian alert control module (PACM) internal connector vibrating against the metal housing when subjected to audio frequencies between 50 and 60 Hz. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to insulate the connector. |
| 10191178 | Some 2020-2021 Escape hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) built on or before 29-Mar-2021 may experience a lack of power, crank/no start, and Stop Safely Now message with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2282, P0106 and/or P1A0C stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) in temperatures below 32F/0C. This may be due to various software parameters within the PCM and condensation buildup in the intake manifold. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure and reprogram the PCM. |
| 10189573 | Some 2021 Escape Hybrid (FHEV) customers may have received a FordPass message indicating an Electrical System Fault was detected. No warning messages in-vehicle should have occurred, but diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U0594 may be present in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This DTC does not affect vehicle durability and no additional diagnosis or service is required for this condition at this time. FordPass message targeting has been suppressed and engineering is working to implement a solution for the DTC. Let the customer know they can continue to drive the vehicle and schedule a follow-u |
| 10189558 | Some 2020-2021 Escape hybrid vehicles may experience an illuminated (MIL) and DTC P0106 and/or P2282 while operating at or below freezing and covering daily distances of about 60 miles (100 Km). Remove the throttle body per Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 303-04C and inspect the inside of the intake manifold for water/ice. If present, thaw the vehicle and remove liquid using a suction gun/large syringe and tubing. Swab the bottom of the intake by tying a shop towel to a rod to remove remaining liquid. Remove the manifold absolute pressure and temperature (MAPT) Sensor per WSM section 303-14C. In |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation