2022 Ford Escape Phev Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2022 Escape PHEV most often write about recalls, not breakdowns: many complaints describe a long wait for remedies on engine and high-voltage battery safety campaigns, with little or nothing to report about a failure they experienced themselves. The second recurring theme is loss of power or propulsion, reported at very low mileage, sometimes in slow or stop-and-go conditions, and often not reproduced by the dealer. A smaller set of complaints covers interior and body details such as the panoramic roof shade, door assembly, and underbody shielding.

1. 1
   Engine

   Recall remedy not available for engine campaign

   • 28 complaints (35%)
   • median 3,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2024

   Owners describe receiving notice of an engine-related safety recall and then being told the fix and parts were still not available. Some say the promised remedy date was pushed back repeatedly, and that dealers confirmed parts were on back order while owners kept driving the vehicle. A few mention hearing engine noises or reduced response and were told the concern could be related to the recall but could not be addressed yet. Several reports are filed shortly after purchase, with no failure mileage given.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for the vehicle's recall history by VIN and whether the outstanding engine campaign has actually been completed, with paperwork showing the remedy was performed rather than just ordered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I want to know why there has been no remedy for the 23V380 recall. A remedy was anticipated in October 2023. Also, I got notice of a new recall Ford campaign #23E09 regarding reprogramming the PCM for emissions. When I enter 23E09 on your Web site it takes me to the 23V380 recall. Are they related? Either way Ford is still saying there is no remedy yet for either.”

   NHTSA complaint #11568288, filed 2024-01

   “The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. May 26,2023 Manufacturer Recall Number 23S27 NHTSA Recall Number 23V380 Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available, despite the remedy being announced to be available by October 2023.”

   NHTSA complaint #11576317, filed 2024-03
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Loss of power or propulsion while driving

   • 29 complaints (36%)
   • median 2,700 mi at 1.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing power or refusing to accelerate, sometimes at low speed, at an intersection, in a driveway, or while pulling away, with warning lights appearing on the dash. Some owners say the car restarted and drove on after a stall, while others describe a warning that only limited power was available and the vehicle would not start afterwards. Dealers were sometimes unable to duplicate the condition, and in several cases the vehicle had already had a module update or other service. Reported from a few hundred to roughly 18,000 miles, including slow-speed and snowy conditions.

   Recall 26V091000Recall 25V7890002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the high-voltage battery campaigns and 12V battery service bulletin have been addressed, and request any stored diagnostic codes from prior dealer visits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ford states that if I charge my vehicle it will catch on fire. I paid $8,000 extra to have a plug-in vehicle and I haven't been able to charge it for months. Ford said they would fix this in Q2 2025 and this has now been pushed to maybe September 2025 . I don't feel safe driving this vehicle, but I have to use it to get my child to daycare each day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11654525, filed 2025-04

   “My PHEV car randomly and suddenly has loss of propulsion creating a safety hazard in traffic. It seems to occur at low speeds, sometimes from waiting in line at an intersection. This fault produces a solid red battery warning light, but no additional safety warnings, nor an error code for diagnostics. I have experienced this fault randomly in April, May, and June. The worst experience was within intersection traffic when I was unable to accelerate; just coasted with cars whizzing past. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746769, filed 2026-06
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks or drops out of gear

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 2,400 mi at 1.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2025

   Owners describe a hard jolt or a sudden drop into neutral during moderate-to-hard acceleration, feeling as if the car hit a wall, with drive returning after the throttle is released. A few report the vehicle failing to stay running or shutting off soon after start. Some note the dealer could not find a cause, and one owner mentions a transmission replacement recorded in the vehicle's history. Mostly reported under about 2,000 miles, with some reports after longer use.

   What to check: Test-drive at moderate speeds with firm acceleration and ask whether any transmission repairs or replacements are documented in service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When Accelerating from approximately 25mph - 40mph and accelerating hard, the vehicle is shifting to Neutral (HARD). It feels like you hit a wall. Does not occur from stop. Letting off throttle and the transmission will reengage and allow full acceleration as if nothing happened. No warning indicators on dash. Is duplicatable. Vehicle had Telematics control module update in December already. Vehicle had transmission replacement 25-JUNE-2024 according to History. Tried reporting on GCR but would not permit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11653110, filed 2025-04

   “The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled intermittently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,400.”

   NHTSA complaint #11503496, filed 2023-01, 2,400 miles

Buying note. Check the recall and service history by VIN before buying, since a large share of complaints center on campaigns still awaiting a remedy. A thorough test drive at low and moderate speeds, plus a check of the sunroof shade, is worth doing given the power-loss and roof reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.