2021 Ford Escape High-Voltage Battery Recall (21V869)
Ford Motor Company · 1 vehicles · Reported November 10, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 1 2021 Ford Escape vehicles. 5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power. A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V869 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V869000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S48 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 10, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Escape |
| Units affected | 1 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery |
| Safety risk | A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Escape in recall 21V869?
5L hybrid powertrain.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 Escape vehicle equipped with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Escape with recall 21V869?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the traction battery.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V869?
Recall 21V869 covers 1 vehicles: 2021 Ford Escape.
NHTSA lists 1 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Escape |
What is the fix for the Escape high-voltage battery recall?
Yes. A dealer will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge.
A dealer will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. The owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S48.
When was recall 21V869 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V869 to NHTSA on November 10, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 1, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V869000. |
| December 1, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your Escape was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Escape is part of recall 21V869?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V869 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Escape vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Escape owners do about recall 21V869?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V869000 applies to your Escape.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any traction battery symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Escape owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 348 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 31 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 21V869 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 3 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after November 10, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 348 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 31 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Escape: 348 complaints in total, 31 about the ev and hybrid battery
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
1. The Sunroof/Moonroof overhead fabric lining fell off the tracks when moving back, yes. 2. My safety was put at risk from the lining falling off the tracks and nearly completely covering my eyes and face while driving, which also puts the safety of others at risk. 3.
2021 Ford Escape owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11641126, filed February 6, 2025
Vehicle will completely cut off when stopped at lights sometimes. And I have to turn off vehicle and restart it to get vehicle going again.
2021 Ford Escape owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11657127, filed April 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the contact was informed that the gateway module of the vehicle was not communicating, preventing the inspection from being performed.
2021 Ford Escape owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11676268, filed July 25, 2025
Can recall 21V869 make my Escape a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this traction battery recall means their Escape qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Battery and electric drive repairs are among the slowest repairs in the industry. A 2021 Ford Escape waiting on a battery module or drive unit can sit at the dealer for weeks, and every day counts toward the 30-day figure in California's lemon law presumption.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Ford Escape has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Escape been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Escape recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V869
Did the recall 21V869 fix work?
Since recall 21V869 was reported on November 10, 2021, owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 3 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 1, 2021.
Is the 21V869000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Escape is part of recall 21V869000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V869000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.