SA550

Conflicting information on the issue of the underlying problem, though I'm sure there is much interplay between the design and component specs. Story in Britain includes the following statement: "A Ford spokesman said that initially it believed the issue was with the shielding between the battery and the fuel tank, but it had subsequently decided the problem was more to do with the proximity of the two." https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8832347/Ford-recalls-thousands-plug-hybrid-Kuga-SUVs-fire-concerns.html

Ford UK is now saying the company has not yet figured out a fix for the Kuga PHEV problem and that a solution could still be "months" away. I'm sure the same issue applies to Escape PHEVs in the U.S. The first post on this page includes a youtube link to Ford's full video statement. https://www.kugaownersclub.co.uk/threads/video-message-from-lisa-brankin-on-the-phev-recall-acting-manager-ford-uk.18265/#post-181652

I suspect you're right about Escapes being held up for modification prior to shipment. We have a deposit on one that dealer said is showing up in Ford system as built but not yet shipped. The longer it sits in KY, the more likely it seems that Ford it building Escapes that have the same problems as the Kuga, with the parts to repair not readily available.

BTW, found full text of Ford's notice in Europe recalling the Kuga and it says the fix for the problem related to the 4 vehicle fires in UK will include installation of a heat shield and manifold. Don't know whether that addresses the issue of hot gases being vented from the battery as that appeared to be a separate notice. Here's the Ford statement per one of the news outlets: “The sale of Kuga PHEV vehicles built prior to 26 June 2020, has been suspended temporarily. Ford also recalls all vehicles with customers to update them with an additional heat shield and manifold according to the current manufacturing status, and informs customers of all affected Kuga PHEVs in service not to charge their vehicle’s high voltage battery until this update is made. As part of Ford’s ongoing quality and safety processes, a potential concern has been identified with the high voltage drive battery in these vehicles. Information from the field indicates that four vehicle fires are likely to have been caused by the overheating of the high voltage batteries.”

If you search for escape phev review you'll see some "first look" reviews such as on kbb.com and if you search kuga phev you'll see UK reviews on the EU version. From what I've read, the 2020 escape and kuga are essentially the same. Consumer reports and edmunds have reviews on the regular hybrid escape but not the plug-in variant.

That's reassuring, unless you're referring to the "just a flesh wound" scene from Monty Python.

One day after I put a deposit down for an Escape PHEV (last week), I saw stories in the UK auto press about the Kuga PHEV fires and the resulting recall and suspension of Kuga sales. I had same thought, maybe that explains the delay in delivery as much as covid, which is what the dealer told me. I now see notice of a second EU recall on the PHEVs over battery leaking hot gases that are not vented and therefore pose another risk of fire in these vehicles. Yikes! I'll attach link to the second recall issue below if I'm allowed to do that here -- new to forum so not sure what's supported. So question to all of you who know autos better than I do: are these just a couple of bumps in the road that can be fixed and forgotten, or should I consider canceling my deposit and at least giving it more time to see how things shake out? Got myself excited about the Escape PHEV but am now having serious second thoughts. https://car-recalls.eu/recall/ford-kuga-phev-hot-gas-battery-fire/