Quality Issues Halt 2023 Ford Escape Production
Oh no, just when the Ford Escape was on an upward trend, something caused it to come crashing down. Production of the 2023 Ford Escape is currently paused due to quality issues that could lead to lengthy delays.
Why does the 2023 Ford Escape face quality issues?
Reportedly, production of the 2023 Ford Escape has been paused at the plant in Lousiville, Kentucky, due to quality issues. According to Ford Authority, production halted in the middle of last week.
The issue is related to a software problem. Brandon Reisinger, Ford plant chairman for UAW Local 862, shared that Ford encountered a few concerns that the engineering team wants to review and resolve before production resumes.
Production is currently scheduled to get back on track on February 20. Andrew Tapp, Ford plant manager, explained to employees that internal metrics are excellent for the new vehicle, and tons of progress has been made.
Before this mysterious software issue arrived, the new Escape struggled with delays caused by ongoing supply chain shortages.
Kelli Felker, Ford spokeswoman, added that Ford is committed to ensuring vehicles are built with the quality that customers deserve and will take the appropriate actions to deliver this commitment.
On a positive note, the software problem must have a fast solution because production will only be down for a few weeks.
How reliable is the 2023 Escape?
The 2023 Ford Escape has a slightly average reliability ranking. It earned a predicted score of 83 out of 100 from J.D.Power. Anything that falls in the 81 to 91-point range is considered to be great.
Other outlets, like Consumer Reports, gave the Escape a slightly below-average reliability ranking. This could mean that the Escape has been improving over the past few years. The predicted score is based on issues reported in previous models.
The average Escape model is expected to make it past 200,000 miles, but some models surpass 250,000 miles. If you drive about 15,000 miles annually, then your Escape could provide 13 to 17 years of service before needing expensive repairs.
Some of the models with the most complaints in recent years are from 2016, 2014, and 2013. Escape models built after 2017 have significantly fewer complaints. Also, the latest generation was introduced in 2020.
How long is the wait for a 2023 Escape?
It typically takes eight to 12 weeks to build a new Escape model. However, the 2023 Ford Escape has been facing a few different types of delays that pushed things back by months. It could take four to six months to get your new order.
You can order a new Escape model now but act fast. Order banks for the Ford Escape PHEV model have already closed due to supply chain constraints. The Escape Hybrid could be in limited supply due to higher demand as well.
The 2023 Escape starts at $27,500, and the range-topping ST-Line Elite model takes the price up to $39,460. These prices are the MSRPs and don’t include the $1,495 destination charge.
It’s good that Ford is catching this potential software issue before Escape models are delivered. This could prevent things from turning into a time-consuming recall. We’ll keep an eye on how things go. Stay tuned for the latest updates.
