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Ford Escape Hybrid check engine light comes on

61 of the 1,747 owner complaints about the Ford Escape Hybrid describe check engine light, most of them for the 2009 model year.

owner complaints
61
worst model year
2009
typical repair cost reported
$5,700
typical mileage
88,297
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Loss of power 9ABS 8Won't shift 4Brake failure 4Adaptive cruise 4Stalling 3Knocking 3Overheating 2

Trouble codes mentioned

P1061 2U0401 1U0100 1P2112 1P1A0D 1P1753 1P166B 1P0929 1P0919 1P0340 1

What owners say

Filed Oct 24, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · NC

Engaging & disengaging while parked and turned off. Lost of power while driving. Check engine light & wrench came on. Tried to get dealer to diagnose but they didn’t understand me with the engaging. Taking on dealer today’s for both issues. It went from about 50 mph to 25 mph

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · OH

"While driving my 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid, the vehicle suffered an abrupt powertrain failure. A wrench icon and check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and the vehicle immediately dropped into a low-speed mode that severely limited my throttle control on the road. I was unable to drive home and had to leave the vehicle on the road until I could get a tow. The vehicle is currently grounded and unsafe to operate at a Ford dealership lot. Ford customer service is actively refusing to authorize alternative transportation or honor the extended coverage parameters outlined in Customer Satisfaction Program 23N06, which covers this exact engine defect."

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · 55,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and a code for ABS Internal Module Failure was displayed. The contact was informed that further diagnostic tests were needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Body, Engine · MI · fire

On 20 July 2026, my 2022 Ford Escape HEV caught fire in the engine compartment while parked. The vehicle is likely a total loss (insurance pending). On-site emergency personnel responded within minutes of the fire and the local fire department was on scene within 5 minutes of the 911 call. They cleared the incident (and d/c the 12V) within 32 minutes of arrival. Detroit Fire Department Incident: 202620101471. This vehicle was subject to Ford Safety Recall 23S27 and Customer Satisfaction Program 23N06, which address a manufacturing defect in the 2.5L HEV/PHEV engine. Under that recall, connecting rod bearing journals were not properly finished, causing premature bearing and engine failure that can release engine oil and fuel vapor into the under-hood area resulting in a fire. The recall remedy was completed on my vehicle, as were all customer satisfaction program campaigns. The dealer performed the PCM software update, which is intended to detect early signs of bearing failure through diagnostic trouble codes (P1061 and P032F) so the failure can be caught before an engine breach occurs. The engine long block was NOT replaced. Under Ford's own criteria, long block replacement was only authorized if the vehicle exhibited loud metal-to-metal clanking noises, a loss of torque, or the associated diagnostic codes. Dealership personnel assured me an engine light would illuminate and I would have time to safely move the vehicle to the side of the road. My vehicle did not have any warnings: no clanking, loss of torque, or leaks-no diagnostic warnings of any kind before the fire. The recall remedy did not prevent the exact failure it was designed to prevent--Ford's response was inadequate to protect owners. My the federal safety agency VIN lookup shows no open recalls. I completed every recall and CSP Ford issued. I have complete dealer service records for this vehicle, photos of the damage, hi-res surveillance video is saved at work, as well. The vehicle is intact and has not been salvaged.

Filed Jul 7, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · 82,000 miles · NE · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Transmission · TX

Our 2020 Ford Escape Titanium began making a flutter noise at lower speeds. An independent mechanic checked for codes and none were present. He advised to drive until the check engine light comes on. Two days later the car had a knocking noise in the engine compartment. Driving home, accelerating onto a hiway the engine made a loud metallic noise as the engine started to overspeed. The car shut itself off and we pulled over to the shoulder. We were stuck on a 65 mph 4 lane hiway for 3 hours trying to work with roadside assistance for a tow. We towed it to McGraw Ford in Aransas Pass, TX and it sat in their back lot for 8 weeks with no diagnosis. We then had it towed to a Ford certified mechanic near our home and he wanted many hours of labor as the transmission needed to be removed to provide an estimate. He was throwing numbers approaching $10k as a guess. We elected to sell the car to a private party for far less than its value.

Filed Mar 3, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · 129,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer reset the check engine warning light. The contact stated that the following day after the reset, the check engine warning light illuminated a second time. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V869000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Filed Feb 25, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

The vehicle is just under 37K miles. I was operating the vehicle normally, and the wrench icon came on, indicating a powertrain issue. There are recalls for this for some vehicles but not all, and it seems to occur just after warranties expiring. I am concerned my vehicle falls under this service bulletin but has not been properly added: SSM 49157 - 2020 Escape - Illuminated MIL With DTCs U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, And/Or P0919 Some 2020 Escape vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, and/or P0919. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator lamp. This may be due to the software in the gear shift module (GSM). To correct the condition, reprogram the GSM using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part number 7P155 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual. APPLICABLE VEHICLES 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE

Filed Jan 30, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · CA

Egr coolant leak in the first 70k miles of driving the car this has been causing my check engine light to turn on and the problem is 'discovered' when the part is no longer covered by warranty.

Filed Dec 2, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · IN

I purchased my car in September and in October my check engine light came on and a wrench light. I think could not go above 30MPH.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanicalReported February 24, 2022 · 155 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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
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.

Recall number 22V109000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Escape Hybrid check engine light

Why does the check engine light come on in the Ford Escape Hybrid?

Owners who report it most often also describe sudden loss of power, abs light or abs activating and stuck in gear or won't shift, and the codes they mention most are P1061, U0401 and U0100.

Which Ford Escape Hybrid years have check engine light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2009 (14 complaints), 2008 (13 complaints) and 2020 (11 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix check engine light on the Ford Escape Hybrid?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,700 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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