Complaint volume
1434 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
1434 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Escape, grouped by component category.
1434 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 79
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34
ENGINE 30
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 26
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18
VISIBILITY/WIPER 18
1,434 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Powertrain malfunction/ reduced power hill start assist warning Pre- collision assist not available | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Awd module fault seeing a lot of other owners having same issue of awd module breaking and causing awd to not function | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I have a recall for my vehicle that was sent out as an advanced notice back in July 2025. There is still no remedy available. This recall states my car could ignite in an engine fire if not repaired. This could cause serious danger or bodily harm to me and others while I'm driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | The fabric covering for the sunroof detached and is now sagging down so that you can not see out the rearview mirror. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V829000 (Structure) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the engine was running rough, and the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 25 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into the engine, causing the cylinder head to crack. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 140,000 |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | I am reporting an Ineffective Remedy for Recall 22S21. The vehicle was 'inspected' in 2022, but the original defective part (Date Code 2020) remains and is now leaking oil onto hot engine components, creating the fire risk the recall was intended to prevent. The dealership (Ford [Dealer Name]) is refusing to honor the recall and is demanding 500 to address a safety defect. This is a violation of 49 U.S.C. § 30120. The vehicle is exhibiting the exact failure symptoms described in Safety Recall 22S21 (NHTSA 22V-191): active oil leakage in the engine compartment. While the dealership refuses to perform a 'no-charge' forensic teardown, I have documented a 2020-dated oil separator still on the vehicle despite a 2022 'Completion' notice in the Ford OASIS system. The presence of oil in the turbocharger is a documented consequential result of high crankcase pressure caused by this failed component. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Thumb was deeply cut using gear shift selector knob due to peeling chrome on the knob. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that after eight months, parts were still unavailable for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof Shade hangs down and blocks vision. The retractable shade does not roll up onto rod in the roof. Shade slides back and hangs down blocking all vision for driver to look in review mirror. Dealer will not cover any expense for repair under any warranty or extended warranty. I have taken it for service quotes to two different Ford Dealerships. No prior warnings. The retractable shade just did this after pushing the button one time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | The car has been jerking and shuddering and losing power when I accelerate. Was told it needs a new transmission. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My vehicle has been in the shop since December due to the turbocharger needing to be replaced. Through this site I found the fuel injector recall which I had to fight ford to evaluate. My vehicle had 2 cracked fuel injectors. I have been fighting with ford that everything I read states that this can damage the turbocharger. I am not sure if this is theright organization to look for help but I need to try. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Liftgate hinge cover loose on car but not under the recall. Caused back glass to shatter while driving | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and started, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle while reversing. The contact stated the sound started shortly after the vehicle was purchased. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,800. | Crash: No Fire: No | 75,800 |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | One day just had a ton of issues. Sometimes when vehicles is started it will not go into drive or reverse. Rpm’s respond to gas pedal like the vehicle is in park or neutral with little resistance. CEL 4WD hill start and maybe another light alert come on when the vehicle starts. When this first began to happen there was a rev condition between 1st and 2nd gear, car hesitated to shift. When auto start stop would engage it would not move forward. Eventually the car may catch gear and begin to move under its own power again. Brought it into a car repair shop and was told I needed a whole new transmission. Said it could have been from the transmission fluid leaking in the car from a previous recall on my car. Car is only at 66,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | System failures with lights and warnings include: hill start assist, All wheel drive fault, precollision assist, advanctrac. Rear differential and AWD module had to be replaced. Car has 57,000 miles on it and is a 2020. Safety is put at risk with a failing rear differential. There were minor vibrations that could've turned into wheel lock. All of the different drive modes were unavailable, and with heavy snow and ice in the area where I live, it made driving more difficult. The car was diagnosed and 2 dealers and one independent service center and the work was ultimately done at a dealer because the all wheel drive module has to be programmed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Wiper started going at a regular pace even when the speed was set to max or slow now the wiper won't go up. Looks like the wiper motor has gone bad and this seems to be the same issue with the recall put in place recall number 26s14. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE | The door locking mechanism on the front driver and passenger side door fails to operate. When attempting to lock vehicle the front doors will make a sound attempting to lock but does successfully lock the doors. Safety is put at risk because anyone can enter the vehicle without a key at any time. Problem has not been inspected by manufacturer or independent service advisor. Has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representative, or others. No warning of problem prior to failure. Problem first appeared after Ford dealer performed customer satisfaction program 23B56 for the front door check-arm reinforcement welds that can crack and pull away from door structure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | My recall was dated last march 2025. Its almost 1 year and they havents fixed the car yet. It has a recall on fuel injectors. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and being refueled, and the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact observed a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 53,000 |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | UNKNOWN When I start my car for the 1st time that day & start to back up with my foot on the break, the back end of my vehicle makes a loud groaning sound. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Faulty Fuel injector | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | When I attempted to open the panoramic sunroof shade, it became stuck and was drawn into the roller housing, where it is now fully lodged and cannot be retrieved. Repair estimates are in the thousands of dollars because correcting this issue requires removal of the headliner and extensive labor to access and replace the shade assembly. This failure has been reported by numerous other owners, particularly on the 2020 model year, with many describing the same outcome and similarly high repair costs. There was no indication that any component was compromised, no warning once the part detached, and no safety mechanism to prevent the shade from operating while obstructed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | When opening the driver door, it pops and sometimes won't close or open all the way because of the door check arm bracket. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |