2023 Ford Escape Phev recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
What could happen: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed S…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2023 ESCAPE PHEV.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 25V789000 (manufacturer code 25SC4).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-866-436-7332.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM), free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V954 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 18, 2025.
Notes:
2. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
What could happen: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2023 ESCAPE PHEV.
- Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V091000 (manufacturer code 25SC4).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-866-436-7332.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Ford Escape and 2023-2026 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Consequence: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery energy control module (BECM) and hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) software, free of charge. Owners are advised to only use "Auto EV" mode and will be instructed by mail to limit the maximum charge of the battery until the remedy has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC4. This recall expands previous recall numbers 24V954 and 25V489. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 18, 2026.
Notes:
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- Portable jump starter
- 2023 Ford Escape Phev owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (8), Engine (2), Unknown Or Other (2), Fuel system (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
10/09/2026 · Engine
vehicle threw code P0CFF, risking thermal management failure.Ford is refusing to honor the emissions/hybrid defect mandates, leaving a known thermal defect active on a high-voltage system. They're refusing to cover this under warranty for me.
10/09/2026 · Engine
Following the 24S79 thermal safety recall remedy, the high-voltage battery pack coolant pump failed, throwing code P0CFF:00:E8 in the BECM network. The manufacturer is denying warranty coverage on this unique hybrid thermal safety component, leaving the high-voltage battery pack uncooled.
08/18/2026 · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V091000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact contacted another dealer, Sheehy Ford of Richmond (10601 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235); however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or…
07/28/2026 · Electrical system
Purchased a 2023 Ford escape PHEV in May 2023. In January 2025, a safety recall 24S79, Ford explicitly instructed owners to immediately stop plugging in their vehicles and to avoid using external charging cables entirely. Then in February of 2026 after a year not being able to charge, recall 25SC4 was issued, advising owners to limit charging to a maximum…
07/20/2026 · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was jump-started and the vehicle operated as intended. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available, and the contac…
07/14/2026 · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the recall was an inconvenience because the battery could only be charged to 80 percent. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that…
07/07/2026 · Electrical system
I received a recall notice for my car for the batteries. I parked my car in the garage so now I'm worried that my house is going to catch on fire and if I'm doing 70 mph down the freeway is my engine going to shut down. I'm not sure if this is part of it but my car doors lock on their own and a couple times my keys have been inside the car thank goodness I…
06/30/2026 · Unknown Or Other
Dear Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center, We are resending our original letter (dated March, 2026), as we have still not received any response or resolution regarding this ongoing recall matter. Since sending that letter, we received a notice stating the recall fix for the battery issue was finally available. Despite the significant inconvenien…