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
1435 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Escape, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
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.
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.
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 is available on 305 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 45,215 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
1,435 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Shortly after purchasing my 2020 Ford Escape my driver side window stopped working. Soon after my door hinges began to fail. I took this to several dealerships who said that the hinge was sagging leading to the electric within my door to have weight on it. My car is available for inspection, I am concerned my door will stop opening or not close all the way at some point putting my safety at risk. Both independent dealerships that I took my car to said this was a common issue. No warning lamps or messages. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Spot welds on the door check arm bracket have broken on the driver's side front door. The arm is still attached to the pillar, but is no longer attached to the door itself. This is also preventing the window from rolling down fully. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The driver door is trying to fall off. When I open it, it makes a loud creaking noise and then comes loose. When I try to shut it, it’s not lined up and won’t shut correctly and completely. This issue started almost immediately after purchasing it in July 2023. I brought it to the Ford dealership and it sat there for over a month before they looked at it. They never did give me an official diagnosis or estimate although I asked several times. I have been driving around like this for months. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I OWN A 2020 FORD ESCAPE. The Driver's Front Door started making a loud popping sound when opened and then it wouldn't close all of the way. It was hard to close but finally did. It kept making the popping noise louder every time it was opened and shut. Then, the Driver's Front Window failed to go down more than an inch and a half to two inches. It wouldn't roll up every time it was rolled down the couple of inches either. I took it to Mike White Ford Dealership in Coeur d'Alene, ID where I was informed that the welds on the control arm of the Driver's Door had failed and broken so the car needed to go to a body shop to be repaired. The dealership said that none of this is covered by my warranties. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver's side door spot weld was fractured. The contact stated that the door was difficult to close. The driver's side window also failed to open as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the hinge and door weld had failed. The mechanic recommended replacing the door. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 33,000 |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | my driver side door hinge randomly began making snapping noises and then the door no longer functioned properly. There are times when I cannot close my door fully so I must drive with the door partially opened. The issue also affects the window. I cannot roll my window down. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Like many others, the spot welds gave way on my drivers door. It affects window operation and the door sounds terrible when opening and closing. I called ford and they told me to have the concern verified at my next service visit. They need to issue a recall for this ASAP. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while opening the driver's side front door, the door made an abnormal popping sound. The contact stated that the abnormal popping sound had become more intense as if the door was going to detach from the frame. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side window was no longer operating as designed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the welds on the door check arm were failing, and the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to an open NHTSA Action Number: PE23013 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 37,800. | Crash: No Fire: No | 37,800 |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The passenger door start making a creaking/popping sound. Within the last week, it started to get louder and louder because the spot weld around the door check arm had completely broken. I took it to the dealership I purchased it from and ford denied assistance with my issue. They recommended I pay a body shop to fix it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Door hinge on 2020 Ford Escape has failed. The window no longer works, the door is difficult to open and close, sometimes it will not open or close. It makes a loud popping noise when opened or closed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | ON [XXX] I NOTICED MY WIFES FRONT DRIVER DOOR HINGE WAS MAKING NOISE. AT THAT TIME I LUBED THE DOOR HINGES. NOISE STILL PRESENT DOOR HARD TO CLOSE. OPENED AND CLOSED DOOR MULTIPLE TIMES TO MAKE SURE DOOR WOULD CLOSE AND LATCH. ON [XXX] MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE AM. UPON ARRIVING HOME SHE INFORMED ME THAT THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I OPENED THE DOOR AND PUT THE WINDOW DOWN .AND IT WOULDN'T GO BACK UP AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE.AT THAT POINT I CONTACTED A FRIEND WHO OWNS A BODY SHOP AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. WITH THE DOOR NOT CLOSING I TOOK THE SEAT BELT AND PUT IT AROUND THE DOOR FRAME AND THROUGH THE WINDOW OPENING AND DROVE THE VEHICLE 2 MILES TO HIS SHOP WITH THE DOOR OPEN ABOUT 8 INCHES FROM THE LATCH WHILE HOLDING ONTO THE SEAT BELT. AT HIS SHOP WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE WINDOW UP AND THE DOOR CLOSED.THE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES NOW BUT WE WONT PUT THE WINDOW DOWN.HE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR HINGE CHECK REINFORCEMENT HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. ON 12/27/2023 @907AM I NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO OF THE PROBLEM. THE GAVE ME A CASE #([XXX]) AND TOLD ME TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO VERIFY PROBLEM. ITOOK THE VEHICLE TO TUNKHANNOCK FORD AND PROBLEM WAS VERIFIED. DEALER TRIED TO VERIFY CASE # BUT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY. AGAIN ON 01/04/2024 8PM. ICALLED FORD AGAIN GIVE ANOTHERCASE #([XXX]).DEALER AGAIN TRIED WITH NO LUCK CALLED FORD AGAIN ON 01/16/24 @6.40PM AND TOLD THE 1ST CASE # WAS THE CORRECT #. NO LUCK AGAIN FINALLY ON 01/22/2024 @4PM. THE FORD REP CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD US ON A CONFRENCE CALL. AFTER MUCH CONVERSATION THE REP.INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REPEATED TO HER MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!! SHE INFORMED ME THAT IF I GOT IT REPAIRED TO SAVE MY RECEIPTS IF ANY ACTION IN THE FUTURE BY FORD TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR. VERY IRRITATED WITH ANSWER. ALSO NOTE THAT THE DOORS WERE ON HOLD FOR A CAMPAIGN FIX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My left side door. The door is making a popping/cracking noise the window won’t go down because the welding broke off | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | AWD Module failed, deactivated all traction control, all wheel drive, pre-collision alert, emergency breaking. Module failure is known issue to Ford | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Problem with 2020 Ford escape door hinge. It happened about 1,000 miles after warranty ended. Repair shop took pictures and sent to Ford. Ford said it was out of warranty. Since then window will not go down and door is harder and harder to close and lock. 10/9/23 took to be serviced because check engine light would come on and off intermittently along with other messages. They found multiple codes for lost communication. They reprogrammed them. Ford also recommended to reprogram instrument panel. They told me because of door I may still get messages. I still get message about low windshield washer fluid. This is intermittently too. 1/22/24 took car to be inspected. They are concerned about the door. Got call they are trying to replace a part in door but having problems. Car is still at garage. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Drivers side inside door welds have broken loose at catch arm attachment. Related to Ford TSB SSM 50150. Car bought used 1/6/2024 but previously used as a rental in another state. Car has approximately 64,500 miles. Door failure occurred 1/19/2024. Bought from out of town dealer and inspected by local Ford dealer who verified issue. No prior signs leading up to the failure. Neither dealer agrees to repair without charge. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact started the vehicle, and the power train malfunction indicator lamp warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed gear shifter module. The contact was informed that the gear shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Left front door hinge arm broke because of a failed weld. Dealer says it’s not covered and I have to pay for full door replacment. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | I am experiencing the piping sound on the drivers door arm as mention in the active investigation. I called the dealer and they want $4000 to put a whole new door on. The arm Barack also bust my window clips and now my drivers window will not go down as a result. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The driver's side door hinge/arm is broken. Sometimes the door cannot shut, sometimes it is very difficult to open. If this is the same issue as that reported by car and driver [XXX], then whoever drives the car could be at risk of the door coming open while the car is in motion. I took the car to my local Ford Dealer/Repair shop today. They said it isn't an issue they can handle: I have to take it to a body shop. I've taken it to 2 body shops. One believes the door must be replaced (for $3,900) and the other thinks he can fix it without replacing the door. The problem first started as a sound like plastic getting caught. Then it worsened (the weather here got worse as well-- down to -25). When the door was hard to open, I pushed it harder and then I started getting metal against metal noises. There were no warning lights on the dashboard at all. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Had Driver Front door welds broke on the inside of the door about one year ago and now the passenger front door has the same issue | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | The welding on the driver side door broke for no reason. Since that time it has sprung open for no reason and almost hit another vehicle. It has also slammed shut several times and hit my leg as I have attempted to exit the car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Driver door popping and won’t shut. Welds broke off the hinge | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Driver's side door hinge is loose, making cracking sounds and hard to close. Also affecting the window operation - doesn't allow window to be rolled up. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE | Door Hinge spot welds broken on the check arm moving freely causing loud noise in the driver door making it hard to operate and won't allow the window to roll down. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when pressing the brake pedal while in reverse the vehicle would emit a loud howling noise. There were no warning lights. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the bolt kit and spring kit for the brakes failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 32,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,000 |