2022-2023 Escape and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines should add local fuel once the vehicle arrive to the dealership to reduce the risk of driving performance issues such as: rough operation, idle quality, engine misfires, lack or loss of engine power. These conditions may occur due to different fuel specifications between manufacturing plant and final market. Make sure that the vehicles in stock have local fuel added.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Ford Escape fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Ford Escape have filed 59 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system, typically surfacing around 49,100 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
59
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Escape | 9 |
| 2019 Escape | 7 |
| 2020 Escape | 109 |
| 2021 Escape | 40 |
| 2022 Escape (this page) | 59 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 59 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.
Fuel system accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
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.
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2022 Ford Escapes are reporting fuel-system failures and widespread recall-parts shortages. The most common failure involves stalling: vehicles stall at stoplights or while turning, fail to start immediately after refueling, or require multiple start attempts and accelerator pumping to begin operation. Check engine lights accompany these events, with dealer diagnostics pointing to fuel-injector faults and canister purge-valve issues.
Other owners describe abnormal fuel odor inside or around the vehicle, visible fuel leaks, and smoke from the engine bay. One owner reported the turbocharger became inoperable. One vehicle lost all electrical power while idling—battery and alternator were replaced, but error codes returned afterward.
The overarching problem is that 54 owners received recall notifications (NHTSA Campaigns 25V467000, 22V859000, 24V187000) but dealers cannot obtain parts. Some owners waited months with no timeline given. One manufacturer response stated action would only occur if the vehicle "blew up or there was a fatality." Multiple owners stopped driving their vehicles due to fire-risk concerns or sold them at significant losses. Dealers report receiving parts at a rate of one per week. Repairs are simply not happening.
Same Ford Escape fuel system reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel system–related stalling and no-start conditions
Vehicle stalls during acceleration, at idle, or while turning; fails to start immediately after refueling; requires multiple start attempts or pumping the accelerator pedal to start. Owners report check engine lights and fuel-injector diagnostic codes.
When: 13,000–77,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving at low speeds or at traffic lights; Check engine warning light illuminated; Failure to start immediately after refueling; Requires multiple start attempts or accelerator pumping to start; Fuel-injector-related diagnostic trouble codes retrieved; RPM fluctuation indicating fuel-system failure
Codes mentioned: Fuel injector failure codes, Check engine codes related to fuel system
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer diagnosis of fuel-injector replacement need; one case mentions canister purge valve replacement need. Repairs largely unavailable due to recall part shortage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V467000, 22V859000, and 24V187000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); TSB 24N08 issued. Parts for recall repairs unavailable or on backorder, with no clear timeline for availability. One dealer refused to service vehicle, claiming VIN not under recall despite owner having recall notice.
Fuel odor and exhaust issues
Owners report abnormal fuel smell inside or near the vehicle, exhaust leaks, smoke from engine and exhaust, and abnormally blackened tailpipes. Some fuel-odor cases occur during or after refueling.
When: 45,000–95,638 miles; one case unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal fuel odor inside vehicle; Fuel smell near vehicle or at fuel door; Fuel leaking from vehicle (observed by pedestrian); Smoke coming from engine and exhaust during driving; Exhaust leak; Tailpipe becoming abnormally blackened
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle observed leaking fuel; one case mentions smoke from engine/exhaust and turbocharger failure. Repairs not completed due to recall part shortage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V467000 and 22V859000. Parts unavailable. One dealer refused to check vehicle and claimed VIN was not under recall. One owner reported manufacturer stated there would be no action unless vehicle 'blew up or there was a fatality.'
Loss of motive power and stalling with electrical anomalies
Vehicle loses power and stalls during driving or at idle. Some cases show charging-system warning codes; one case involved loss of hazard-light function and required battery and alternator replacement, with error codes returning post-repair.
When: 13,000 miles (primary case with electrical diagnosis); 33,007 miles (braking-related case)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls and fails to restart while idling at stoplight; Vehicle loses motive power and comes to complete stop; Charging System Service Now warning with Battery Warning light illuminated; Hazard lights inoperable; Loss of power to vehicle; Vehicle abruptly stops with 'Brake Applied' message despite brake not being pressed
Codes mentioned: Charging System Service Now code, Battery Warning light code, Unknown diagnostic codes (multiple)
Repairs/costs cited: One case: battery and alternator replaced; error codes returned post-repair. PCM software update completed but fuel-system recall parts still unavailable. Electrical diagnosis may have masked underlying fuel-system issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V467000, 22V859000, and 24V187000. PCM software update performed in one case. One owner reported manufacturer opened a case after contact.
Vehicle jerking and hesitation
Vehicle jerks abnormally during normal driving or when shifting into park. One case describes jerking at 65 mph with concurrent fuel odor. Another case shows jerking when vehicle is shifted into park at low mileage.
When: 2,800 miles; undisclosed; 65 mph driving speed mentioned
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks abnormally during driving at various speeds; Jerking when shifted into park; Jerking at 65 mph with fuel odor; Message 'Car Automatically Shifts to Park' displayed during turn at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not diagnosed or repaired due to recall part unavailability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V467000 and 22V859000. Parts on backorder or unavailable.
EVAP and purge-valve failure
Diagnostic codes point to canister purge valve and EVAP ejector malfunction, resulting in check engine lights and difficulty starting.
When: 47,000–48,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminated on startup; Difficult starting; Abnormal odor on startup
Codes mentioned: Canister purge valve failure, EVAP ejector failure
Repairs/costs cited: One case: EVAP ejector and purge valve identified as needing replacement; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified. No recall specifically identified for EVAP components in these narratives, though related to broader fuel-system recalls 22V859000 and 25V467000.
Recall parts shortage and service delays
Dominant issue across 54 complaints: owners notified of fuel-system recalls (25V467000, 22V859000, 24V187000) but unable to obtain repair parts. Manufacturers and dealers cite extended backorder status with no timeline for availability. Multiple complaints indicate owners waiting months or indefinitely.
When: From notification through at least late 2025 in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable; Dealers confirming parts on backorder or not yet available; Manufacturer stating only one part per week being sent to dealers; No timeline provided for part availability; Dealers unable to schedule recall repair appointments
Repairs/costs cited: One owner sold vehicle at significant loss due to inability to get recall repair completed and concern about fire risk. One owner no longer driving vehicle daily out of fire-risk fear. Multiple owners expressed they exceeded reasonable waiting time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V467000 (issued and ongoing), 22V859000 (ongoing parts shortage), 24V187000, and 26V123000. Manufacturer opening cases but providing no resolution or timeline. One manufacturer statement: 'no action unless vehicle blew up or there was a fatality.' One recall notice claimed parts available but dealers contradicted this.
Synthesized from 59 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 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 59 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 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 43,000 and 58,500 miles, with the median around 49,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 58,500. 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/2022/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.