This article supersedes TSB 22-2176 to increase the labor operation allowance and update the part list. Some 2020-2022 Escape/Corsair vehicles built on or before 3-Jan-2022, 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles built on or before 14-Feb-2022, 2020-2022 Aviator vehicles built on or before 07-Feb-2022 and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles built on or before 3-Dec-2021 may exhibit a slow fuel fill and/or spit back condition during refueling. This may be due to the design of the fuel tank filler pipe. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the fuel tank filler pipe.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Ford Escape fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Ford Escape have filed 40 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system, typically surfacing around 70,000 miles at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Escape | 18 |
| 2018 Escape | 9 |
| 2019 Escape | 7 |
| 2020 Escape | 109 |
| 2021 Escape (this page) | 40 |
| 2022 Escape | 59 |
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 40 fuel system complaints filed for the 2021 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 40 fuel system complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2020-2022 Escape/Corsair vehicles built on or before 3-Jan-2022, 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles built on or before 14-Feb-2022, 2020-2022 Aviator vehicles built on or before 07-Feb-2022 and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles built on or before 3-Dec-2021 may exhibit a slow fuel fill and/or spit back condition during refueling. This may be due to the design of the fuel tank filler pipe. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the fuel tank filler pipe.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2020-2022 Escape/Corsair, 2021-2022 Bronco Sport, 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit a grinding/rubbing noise from floor pan/underbody area. This noise will be most noticeable on tip in acceleration and may be due to a mispositioned fuel tank heat shield. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to reposition the fuel tank heat shield.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2021 Corsair/Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and built on or after 04-Jan-2021 may exhibit a rattle/buzz noise on start-up/idle/slow speed from the back of the engine compartment area. This noise may be caused by fuel line heat shield contact with the fuel/brake lines at the rear engine compartment. The fuel line heat shield is located on the front dash cross member. Adjust from the bottom of the heat shield 10ÃÂð forward or 15 mm (0.6 inches) clearance between the shield and the fuel/brake lines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2020-2021 Escape/Corsair vehicles built on or before 30-Mar-2021 and Explorer/Aviator vehicles built on or before 09-Apr-2021 may exhibit a slow fuel fill and/or spit back condition during refueling. This may be due to the design of the fuel tank filler pipe. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the fuel tank filler pipe.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Across 34 complaints, six owners report active fuel system or related drivetrain failures; the remaining 28 describe delayed recall parts availability. The most severe: engine fire at 10 MPH with fuel odor preceding ignition (no warning lights), causing the owner to fall while pregnant. One owner lost acceleration at highway speed with check engine light and 'turning off to save power' message; transmission damage was discovered afterward. Three owners report check engine light issues tied to fuel system or valve problems that persist after dealer repair. One vehicle seized at 40,000 miles with fuel odor; another went into limp-mode at 79,000 with parking brake failure and abnormal vibration.
Part availability is the dominant theme. Owners cite NHTSA Campaigns 22V859000 and 25V467000 (both Fuel System, Gasoline) repeatedly delayed; dealers confirm parts on backorder or state Ford restricts ordering to one part per week. Multiple owners report manufacturer exceeded reasonable recall timeframes—some waiting months since August 2025 notifications without updates. One owner explicitly stated the unrepaired fuel recall made the vehicle unsafe to drive. Dealers refuse to work on unrelated issues citing prior repairs, and manufacturer support is largely absent when contacted.
Same Ford Escape fuel system reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire with fuel odor
Vehicle caught fire while making a low-speed turn with fuel odor preceding ignition. No warning lights illuminated before failure. Origin of fire unknown despite engine replacement prior to incident.
When: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel odor leaking into cabin; Engine fire; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Engine was replaced at dealer prior to fire. Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired after fire due to costs. Remains on residential driveway.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign Numbers 22V859000 and 24V187000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). Manufacturer not made aware of the failure.
Loss of power/acceleration with transmission concern
Vehicle lost acceleration during highway driving with check engine light and 'Vehicle Turning Off to Save Power' message. Parking brake button failed. Abnormal knocking from engine while slowing. Unknown transmission damage discovered under steering wheel cover after dealer service.
When: 79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration at 60-70 MPH; Check engine warning light; Charging system service light; Abnormal engine knocking; Parking brake button malfunction; Vehicle abnormal vibration at 15 MPH
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer denied causing transmission damage. Vehicle refused repair. Pending diagnostic results at dealer. Related to complaint #2 vibration issue after oil change at Firestone.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle included in NHTSA Campaign 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). Manufacturer made aware but offered no assistance.
Fuel injector fault with check engine light cycling
Vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate properly with check engine light that illuminated and reset repeatedly over time. Fault code PS04 retrieved but vehicle continued to fail after dealer repair. Issue recurred monthly.
When: 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration on pedal depression; Vehicle hesitation; Check engine warning light cycling on and off monthly
Codes mentioned: PS04
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repaired vehicle multiple times. Check engine light reset but failure reoccurred. Vehicle taken to dealer several times.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Received notification of NHTSA Campaign 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but recall parts unavailable. Manufacturer not made aware of repeated failures.
Transmission failure in reverse
Vehicle failed to respond in reverse gear with check engine light illumination. Both dealer and independent mechanic diagnosed transmission failure requiring replacement. Vehicle deemed unsafe to drive due to fuel system fire risk from unrepaired recall.
When: 81,881 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unresponsive in reverse; Check engine warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission diagnosed as failed at both dealer and independent mechanic. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notification NHTSA Campaign 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) received but parts unavailable. Owner cited fire risk made vehicle unsafe. Manufacturer not made aware of transmission failure.
Fuel intake valve failure recurring
Vehicle displayed 'Service Engine Soon' message. Dealer diagnosed unknown valve related to fuel intake requiring replacement. Failure persisted through three dealer repair attempts with identical diagnosis each time.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Service Engine Soon message displayed; Check engine warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown valve in fuel intake replaced three times. Failure reoccurred after each repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and referred contact to NHTSA Hotline for assistance.
Engine seizure with fuel odor
Vehicle experienced abnormal fuel odor and engine seized during driving. No warning lights illuminated. Engine was able to be restarted and driven home. Issue not diagnosed or repaired.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal fuel odor inside vehicle; Engine seized; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by independent mechanic or dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Notifications received for NHTSA Campaigns 25V467000, 26V123000, and 26V117000 but recall parts unavailable. Dealer made aware but provided no assistance. Manufacturer not made aware.
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while in reverse(R). In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received a manufacturer recall in August 2025 for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact had been calling the local dealer for updates on when parts would be available for the recall repair and was informed that there were no updates available from the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2021 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2021 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 39,000 and 79,845 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,000; a quarter make it past 79,845. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.