THINK TWICE

The 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder's defining safety defect on this Escape is an under-hood FIRE risk from a cracked fuel injector, not a cracked block. Per Ford recall 22V859000 (Ford 22S73), on 2020-2023 Escape (and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport) vehicles with the 1.5L engine a fuel injector can crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, and that fuel near an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire; Ford's remedy is an engine-control software update adding fuel-injector leak detection plus a drain tube. That campaign absorbed the earlier 22V191000 (the 1.5L engine oil separator housing can crack and develop an OIL leak), and the injector defect was re-addressed in later campaigns 24V187000 and 25V467000. There is no coolant-intrusion or cracked-block recall on the Escape 1.5L in the federal record -- the mechanism here is a cracked injector (fuel) and a cracked oil separator housing (oil).

Check — On any 1.5L Escape, VIN-check that the fuel-injector fire recall (22V859000 / 22S73 and its follow-ons 24V187000, 25V467000) and the oil-separator recall (rolled into 22V859000) are complete, with the software update AND the drain tube installed. Look for a fuel smell in the engine bay, prior under-hood fire or heat damage, or injector/oil-separator replacement history. Walk away from any 1.5L with an open fuel-injector fire recall.