Fourth generation

2021 Ford Escape Hybrid

The most reported problem on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid is hybrid system, with 18 complaints, usually around 14,000 miles.

122owner complaints
1recalls
2involved a crash
36,000median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

Your odometer

miles

Problem sheets

No single problem on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid reliable?

The 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid has 122 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 216 for 2021 SUVs on this site. Of the 4 Escape Hybrid model years since 2020, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.

At a glance

Next to the 2020 and 2022: Complaints ease off across these three model years. Counted per year on the road, the 2020 draws 41, the 2021 20 and the 2022 14.
Top problem: No problem dominates. The largest, hybrid system, covers 18 of the 122 complaints (15%), and dead battery is next with 11 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). Hybrid system tends to show up early. Of the 11 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 14,000 miles and a quarter under about 12,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports: 5 of the 122 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 2 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 2 people were hurt.
Recalls behind the top problems: 1 recall is on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against it.
When owners filed: Filings peaked in 2024 at 39 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 14. So far in 2026, 9 more have come in.

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: hybrid or ev system warning, loss of power, 18 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou

Every complaint with a mileage33 of 122

Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power18 reports

middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

Around your mileage

Ahead of you

How this compares

2021 Ford Escape Hybrid122

Median 2021 model here (80 vehicles)190

Median 2021 SUV here (50)216

122 complaints is 1.6 times fewer than the median 2021 model on this site and 1.8 times fewer than the median 2021 SUV. Among the 3 Escape Hybrid model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

Service bulletins for the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid

Ford filed 23 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. 17 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 17 bulletins · 18 complaints

Service bulletinTSB 24-2078Mar 19, 2024
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.
Service bulletinSSM 52229Feb 1, 2024
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.

15 more on this problem

Service bulletinSSM 52201Jan 24, 2024
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 ...
Service bulletinSSM 52024Oct 27, 2023
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 ...
Service bulletinTSB 23-2335Oct 27, 2023
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) ...
Service bulletinTSB 23-2244Aug 2, 2023
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.
Service bulletinSSM 51598May 4, 2023
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 ...
Service bulletinSSM 51137Oct 20, 2022
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 ...
Service bulletinTSB 22-2170May 4, 2022
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.
Service bulletinTSB 22-2169May 2, 2022
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 ...
Service bulletinTSB 22-2147Apr 25, 2022
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) ...
Service bulletinTSB 22-2127Apr 12, 2022
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 ...

Plus 5 older ones not listed here.

Complaints filed by year

39 complaints came in 2024. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

NHTSA investigations

PE23-013opened Jul 7, 2023

Structure · model years 2020 to 2021

Failed door check arm attachment point. Closed jan 24, 2024.

NHTSA summary

On July 7, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-013 to investigate instances of check arm bracket failure in the front doors in model year (MY) 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles. At the time of opening, ODI received 118 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging this failure. To date, ODI has received 593 VOQs alleging this failure, with a variety of reported failure conditions. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more difficult to open or close) and the least common was inadvertent door opening. Other reported failure conditions include inability to latch and inability to open. Three VOQs reported injuries, one of which requiring medical attention. ODI conducted a consumer survey which yielded an additional 44 injuries (although the VOQs did not indicate any injury), none of which requiring medical attention. All these injuries were bumps/bruises from the door closing on occupantsâ arms and legs while entering and exiting the vehicle. The function of the check arm system is to provide hold-open assist at specific angles and to assist with door closing energy. It does not provide vertical support of the door and is independent of the latching mechanism. This failure is progressive and detectable by vehicle occupants. Consumers commonly report hearing a popping or snapping noise when opening and closing the door. This noise is caused by some of the welds between the bracket and door structure failing

DP22-005opened Jan 27, 2023

Electrical · model years 2005 to 2022

Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.

NHTSA summary

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Recalls that include the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid

Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

22V-109Feb 24, 2022

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the crankshaft and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed March 2, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S10.

The recall on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay

Questions

What is the most common problem on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid?

Hybrid system, with 18 of the 122 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 14,000 miles.

At what mileage do 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid problems start?

Of the 33 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 14,000 miles and half by about 36,000.

Is the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid better or worse than the 2020 and 2022?

Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has fewer complaints than the 2020 and more complaints than the 2022: 20 a year against 41 and 14.

How many 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

5 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.

Is there a recall for hybrid system on the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid?

No recall on file for the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid is on the same system as hybrid system. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Other model years

2020288 2021122 202268