2021-2022 Ford Escape Oil and Lubrication Recall (22V191)
Ford Motor Company · 345,451 vehicles · Reported March 25, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 345,451 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport; 2021-2022 Ford Escape vehicles. 5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V191 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V191000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22S21 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 25, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport; 2021-2022 Ford Escape |
| Units affected | 345,451 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Engine > Oil / Lubrication |
| Safety risk | An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Escape in recall 22V191?
5L engines.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Escape with recall 22V191?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Escape shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the oil and lubrication, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V191?
Recall 22V191 covers 345,451 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport; 2021-2022 Ford Escape.
NHTSA lists 345,451 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Bronco Sport |
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Escape |
What is the fix for the Escape oil and lubrication recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S21.
When was recall 22V191 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V191 to NHTSA on March 25, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 18, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V191000. |
| April 18, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 55 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 22V191?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V191 is open on your Escape, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V191000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Escape owners do about recall 22V191?
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 22V191000 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the oil and lubrication happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Escape owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,634 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 337 of them about the engine.
Since recall 22V191 was reported on March 25, 2022, owners have filed 329 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 57 of them (17%) 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 engine and were received on or after March 25, 2022, 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 engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,634 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 337 of them involve the engine. 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 Bronco Sport: 696 complaints in total, 168 about the engine
- 2022 Ford Bronco Sport: 358 complaints in total, 86 about the engine
- 2021 Ford Escape: 348 complaints in total, 47 about the engine
- 2022 Ford Escape: 232 complaints in total, 36 about the engine
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The local dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance.
2022 Ford Escape owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11646567, filed March 5, 2025
Problem with fuel injectors. Car has a very rough idle when cold. Also while driving there is a rough idle from the engine.
2022 Ford Escape owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11651307, filed March 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with several unknown codes. The contact stated that the diagnostic codes were like the failure description for the unrepaired recall.
2022 Ford Escape owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11695389, filed October 24, 2025
Can recall 22V191 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Engine defects can mean stalling, loss of power, oil consumption or overheating. When the same engine complaint brings the 2021-2022 Ford Escape back to the dealer more than once, that history matters under California's lemon law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
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.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 22V191
Did the recall 22V191 fix work?
Since recall 22V191 was reported on March 25, 2022, owners have filed 329 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 57 of them (17%) 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 April 18, 2022.
Is the 22V191000 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 22V191000?
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.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 22V191000 (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.