Complaint volume
1435 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Ford Escape Complaints
1435 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Escape, grouped by component category.
1435 Total complaints
19 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
22 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are structure, unknown or other, power train. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 19 crash reports, 3 fire reports, 22 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 305 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 45,215 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to structure, unknown or other, power train?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Ford Escape?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Ford Escape
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Ford Escape complaints?
19 Crash
3 Fire
22 Injury
0 Fatality
30 Towed
9 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Ford Escape complaint categories?
STRUCTURE 503
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 187
POWER TRAIN 110
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 80
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34
ENGINE 30
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 26
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18
VISIBILITY/WIPER 18
1,435 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | - The check arm attachment point in the door assembly on the driver's side door. The spot welds holding the attachment to the door have broken. It is available for inspection at request. - It's a safety issue because the door no longer is able to catch itself presenting the possibility of the door being "ripped" from our hand if the wind would catch it potentially causing harm. Also, it's unknown whether the door will eventually be unable to latch presenting an even bigger problem if the door would open while traveling. - The local dealership is fully aware of the issue at hand reassuring me that this is indeed an issue. There is even a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) - SSM 50150 issued displaying the issue at hand. - The "fix" the dealership collision center has told me is a complete door replacement with a cost of $3,000 or more. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Problems with the driver side door. Purchased car brand new. Currently has 25k miles (roughly). My 3-36k mile warranty ended 10/23. My door is making creaking snapping popping noises and the window Won't go down. I'm concerned the door won't open or worse snap and fall off while driving. I feel I have to hold the door while driving which is not safe. . I have to drive this car for work, I work in the field and need the car to go from location to location throughout the day. . I took it to the dealer garage. The conversation went along the lines, the door arm welds are bad and the garage mentioned they had 5 cars recently with the same problem. They said it was covered and then the door would have to be replaced. They (service dept) sent it over to the body shop stating it was too long of a job for service dept to do. I waited 2 weeks and went down to check on status. The body shop said it wasn't covered and it would be $2400 to replace the door. Contacted Ford about the letter that's supposedly to come out to owners with this problem 2020 escape and they know nothing about it. I reached out to another dealer in the area and they are very aware of problem with the escape door but they know nothing about Fords customer satisfaction program regarding the door. Very concerned the car door is unsafe. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Weld came undone. Driver door does not work properly. Window does not roll down | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Drivers side door inner shell became unwelded. Ford released a TSB technical service bulletin about it, but refuses to call it a recall. Out of pocket $1500 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,STRUCTURE | Left front door check came unwelded from inside door panel causing door to not open and close properly. Left window would not work. Holes in door frame where hinges pulled out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The driver front door check arm spot welds are breaking, making the door hard to open and close. The vehicle only has 56,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The vehicle without warning lost power as I was driving in the middle of a road way. The engine stayed running but only revs. No check engine lights or messages. Thankfully I was headed down hill and was able to coast through the intersection that was turning yellow and had just turned red as I coasted through. I coasted and pulled over to a side street and proceeded to put vehicle in park and shut it off. I then tried to start and put it back into drive. Nothing. I shut it off again waited 10 minutes then started and it started driving. Then lost all ability to give power to the wheels. Vehicle was taken to the dealership where they said it had metal in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was scheduled to have a fluid exchange for the transmission the next day. They couldn't get it out of park either then it did slam into drive for them. They said it needed a new transmission. For the cost of $7,500 it now has a new transmission from ford. The only warning I finally got was through the Ford pass app after the vehicle has finally been at the dealership for a couple days. That is when it indicated a power train fault and problem with transmission. | Crash: No Fire: No | 129,485 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The weld that holds the control arm for the front driver side door has broken. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Opening/closing driver door is very difficult must do slowly. Window does not go down. I can see three holes where the spot weld holding the hinge is gone. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | * Spot Weld Joints failed on driver side door. The welds have failed. * Cannot open drivers side door due to to spot weld failure. * Dealer has seen the issue and said the only option is a new door. *Dealer has notified Ford Motor Company. I have a 5 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty that I purchased from Ford Motor Company. Ford told the dealer it is not a part failure so not covered under my warranty and the cost should fall back to the customer. *No. I was getting into my car to leave work on 2/15/2024 and when I opened the door I heard the loud popping/cracking sound. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE | So there is multiple issues with my vehicle. First: I had the recall issue with the fuel injector "fixed" as the dealer stated. Now CO2 is leaking into my cabin when the car is parked and/ or when the remote start is activated. You can not breathe. I bought this car because I have 2 boys in car seats still. It is a serious hazard for anyone that breathes it in, especially kids. Second: after pumping gas it chugs. Like it will try to crank up but can't. I have had this car for less than a year. After the dealership "fixed" the fuel injector this issue started. When it finally starts the car smells strongly of gas. Third: there was a recall on a hose that had to do with the A/c system. It leaked onto wires and caused a shortage in my whole electrical system which in turn caused the vehicle to shut down on me while I was driving on the interstate. Fourth: The blind spot warning goes crazy when you are driving down a road with no one beside you. Fifth: The lane keeping assistant has completely stopped working. I have reset the system and it still will not work. Sixth: the radio, bluetooth, sound system does not work because of the water that leaked onto the wires from the A/C pipe that was recalled. Now my biggest issue is that the dealership that I purchased the vehicle from tried to charge me to have the recalls fixed. I had to take it to another dealership and afterwards was informed that, that specific dealership will claim to replace the recalls but not actually do the work so that way you have to come back and they can charge you for the work. Could you guys please look into this? Please call me at [XXX] in regards to the issues, so you can experience them first hand with me. Thank you so much for your time. Also if you google the problems everything i listed is a HUGE ISSUE with this vehicle but nothing is being done about it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The driver side door began making a terrible noise upon opening and closing. It would not close. The door eventually closed and the door weld for the hinge failed. The door does not operate properly and now the driver side window does not go down because the door hinge components are broken off inside the door and blocking the window from going down at all. Ford was contacted multiple times about the manufacturer failure and there is still NO Recall on the 2020 Escape AWD. They advised to wait for a letter from Ford allowing the fix. Ford has no information for when they will send letters to customers or dealers to fix the failed manufacturer weld component on the drivers side door. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while opening the front driver's side door, the door made an abnormally loud popping sound. Additionally, the door failed to open completely, and the window failed to roll down completely. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | My driver door began clicking and popping and I was unable to open my door to exit the vehicle . My driver window would not roll down. The following day the metal door arm had popped loose. And where the hinge was welded to the door. 3 holes were found and the metal hinge in the door started moving freely. I am a home care nurse and depend on my vehicle. It feels like the door is going to fall off. This scares me, because I am not sure if I will be unable to open my door or window to exit in case of an emergency. I am also fearful the door will fall off. I called ford and was told no recalls were reregistering for my vin number. I was told my warranty ran out and any repair will have to be paid fully by me. Ford refuses to put customer safety first in this situation. Please advise. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the door hinge. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the door check arm attachment point. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23013 (Structure), but the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The passenger door hinge made a large noise and was unable to close without extreme force. It was a safety issue as the car function and hinge mechanism failed. The dealer turned me away as they do not "weld" and referred me to a body shop. Yes, my independent auto service stated that the Door Stay and Mounting Bracket three small welds broke off. They were unable to re attach door properly as they do not weld. They noted the drivers side door is also starting to loosen. This is another safety concern. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | When opening driverside door, hinge broke making it difficult to close door securely. Had to have the hinge replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's side door made an abnormal popping sound while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the driver's side door check arm attachment point had failed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23013 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was later referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | On February 23,2024 the driver door started making very loud scraping and popping noises with physical resistance to opening or closing. The drivers power window started working very slowly like it was being dragged on, and then wouldn't go back up. Pushing on exposed window edge got it finally to go up and close. Over the next several days the noise and resistance has gotten worse. Found out NTSB has opened an investigation into this issue, and Ford has a service memo SSM 50150 as the cause is faulty spot welds on interior door anchors which can lead to door failure and unexpected opening. SO far Ford has not offered any help to repair this issue. I have filed a claim without result yet. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES | The driver door welds have broken. The door has been investigated by Courtesy Ford, Hattiesburg, MS. They stated the door would have to be replaced at a cost of $2600. No warning lamps were indicated. Also, the breaks squeal when in reverse. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE | The door check bracket is broke to where my door makes a terrible noise and I hear this is affecting over 300,000 Ford escapes | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while opening the front driver's side door, there was an abnormal cracking sound heard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the driver’s side front door was cracked or had a fractured spot weld at the check arm attachment in the door assembly. The dealer informed the contact that the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact there was no coverage under a recall or warranty for the repair. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA ID Number: 10234590, Manufacturer Communication Number: SSM 51553 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 33,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Drivers door spot welds that hold the reinforcing angle for the door check have broken loose allowing the door check angle to move inside of door, this makes it difficult to close the door all the way because the angle is hitting something inside of the door. Looking online this appears to be a common problem, Ford issued a service bulletin for this issue, (SSM 50150), we called the local Ford dealership and was told that since the vehicle is out of warranty there is nothing they can do. Vehicle has about 14,000 miles on it but is about 8 months out of warranty, it was used very little for the first 2 years due to Covid 19 pandemic shutting down the University that is the owner. The passenger door spot welds are also beginning to break loose. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the front driver's side door made an abnormal popping sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver's side door check arm attachment point had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23013 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 51,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 51,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE | Drivers side door started to make a loud popping sound and the window stopped rolling down. Every time the drivers side door opens it flings wide open because there’s nothing to keep it in place. Took the car to the dealership it was purchased at and was told that the ford escape has that issue with a faulty weld on the check arm causing it to break completely off with no way to repair it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |