The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an engine control software update was performed as an interim repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, smoke was coming from under the hood and the RPM was fluctuating. Additionally, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle even while the vehicle was turned off. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle due to a fire risk. The contact scheduled a service appointment with Mike Carpino Ford Pittsburg, Inc. (1097 US-69, Pittsburg, KS 66762). The manufacturer was contacted several times, and a case was opened, but the contact was denied the contact information for the engineering department and towing assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Ford Escape fuel smell problems
226 of the 27,615 owner complaints about the Ford Escape describe gas smell in the cabin, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 226
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical repair cost reported
- $634
- typical mileage
- 70,000
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel leak 25Check engine light 25Stalling 18Fire or smoke 13Overheating 12Engine failure 12Misfire 11Hesitation 8
Trouble codes mentioned
P3402 1P0456 1P0304 1P0302 1
What owners say
Performance issues after Eco boost icon stopped appearing on Dash, followed by a Check Engine Light that was intermittent for a few days. Vehicle would fail after ignition and would lose pressure and RPMs directly after fueling vehicle. Fuel Line clear would fix issue, Had repair shop check battery and alternator with no issue found. Days following would smell slight gasoline odor from exhaust while on, smell moved to Engine bay and became overpowering. Had a Technician check and confirmed both the Fuel Line had ruptured and was actively dripping into Engine Bay, as well as the EVAP Purge Line had become completely broken off of the manifold. No active Recalls for this Vehicle but reading recent Complaints about this exact issue for this exact model and make. Vehicle @ 70,100 miles only two owners previous. Risk of Fire Hazard and Death.
When I would turn on the vehicle, it would emit a strong smell of gasoline. The vehicle continued to have the same issues after prior service and complaint to the dealership about the continued smell of gasoline emitting from my 21-ford escape. A technician then verified the concern and found an exhaust leak present on the catalytic converter, when the car had very low mileage. The smell of gasoline combined with a leak created a potential fire hazard and risk of carbon monoxide exposure posing a serious safety risk while driving or when the vehicle is parked.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was fire coming from under the hood. The contact turned off the vehicle, opened the hood, and extinguished the fire using coolant stored in the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire had started at the fuel line connector. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle when the vehicle was previously started. The manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, was notified of the failure by phone and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Coolant is going into the cylinder. Car was starting rough and exhaust smelled strange. No warning lights came on. Service center reproduced issue. It’s an issue Ford has been aware of but hasn’t issued a recall. Now I need a new engine on my vehicle that only has 41,000 miles on it. Estimate is $10,000.00
The suv had a coolant loss. After checking the oil it smelled like antifreeze and the antifreeze container smelled of gas mixed with antifreeze
My 2023 Ford Escape (with fewer than 50,000 miles) began experiencing significant mechanical issues. I noticed exhaust fumes entering the cabin that passengers and I would inhale, loud noises from under the hood, and lose power during acceleration. After inspecting the vehicle, the dealership determined that the turbocharger wastegate/flapper valve had failed mechanically, causing the turbocharger to overboost and sustain internal damage. This failure led to numerous drivability issues, including hesitation, rough shifting, delayed upshifts, loud whining noises during cold starts, slipping during acceleration, and, at times, the inability to shift beyond second gear. Ultimately, the dealership concluded that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. My vehicle remained at the dealership from January 28, 2026, through May 14, 2026, over three and a half months. The vehicle still has transmission issues and loses power at times when driving on the highway commuting to work. At this moment of time, I scheduled it to go back to the dealership on July 9th.
Evap purge valve stuck open, coolant pooling in spark plugs, and oil combusting rapidly causing fire and explosion fears. Heavy smell of gasoline to where i didn't feel safe to start or drive
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and being refueled, and the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact observed a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the engine control software. In addition, dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and fuel injectors, free of charge. As an interim repair, dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 29, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S76. This recall expands and replaces previous recall numbers 22V‑859, 24V187, and 25V165. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V‑859, 24V187, and 25V165 will need to have the new final remedy performed once it is available.
Recall number 25V467000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 22V‑859 or 24V‑187. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S21.
Recall number 25V165000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.
Recall number 24V634000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 24, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S16. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V‑859.
Recall number 24V187000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed January 9, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 1st Quarter of 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S73. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 22V‑191. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V‑191 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Recall number 22V859000 · Recall details
Hybrid propulsion system
- What is wrong
- 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, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S48.
Recall number 22V149000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles. The fuel delivery module may leak inside the fuel tank, causing low fuel pressure which could result in an engine stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. Interim notification letters (remedy not available) were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S38.
Recall number 21V625000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Recall number 16V777000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta vehicles manufactured April 10, 2014, to June 17, 2014 and 2014 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 21, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S30.
Recall number 15V005000 · Recall details
Hybrid propulsion system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
- Risk
- If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
Recall number 14V526000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Escape fuel smell
Which Ford Escape years have gas smell in the cabin problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (47 complaints), 2001 (29 complaints) and 2010 (22 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix gas smell in the cabin on the Ford Escape?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $634 (median of 15 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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