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2022 Ford Escape: engine and transmission complaints

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
35%
101 of 297 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2022 Ford Escape are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 61% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
101
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
297
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
19
10 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE65 · 22%
FUEL SYSTEM62 · 21%
GASOLINE62 · 21%
SERVICE BRAKES47 · 16%
POWER TRAIN35 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29 · 10%

The years either side

2010
55%
1,149 of 2,127
2011
48%
639 of 1,353
2012
43%
249 of 613
2013
68%
1,816 of 2,752
2014
67%
1,347 of 2,080
2015
51%
538 of 1,085
2016
53%
571 of 1,109
2017
85%
2,223 of 2,669
2018
90%
1,575 of 1,783
2019
84%
470 of 582
2020
26%
458 of 1,809
2021
28%
91 of 339
2022
35%
101 of 297
2023
45%
52 of 118

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal in 2022

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN09/07/2026
There are no warning lamps on at this time but the transmission is not shifting at the right points. It seems to search a lot for the right gear. Also half the time you hit the gas there is severe transmission lag. It makes it dangerous to pull into traffic. I first had the transmission replaced at roughly 36000 miles.…
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/27/2026
Ford refuses to fix this recall for over a year I am stuck with a car I cannot sell because dealer will not honor recall.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/26/2026
This recall has been in effect for over a year now with no remedy available. I have issues with my engine starting, engine staying running, acceleration during turning, etc. due to this recall. It is extremely unsafe and no remedy being available after a year is very disappointing and puts me in harm everyday.

Three of 101 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (19)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affec…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Corsair and 2021-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resu…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crac…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2022 Ford Escape

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.