Complaint volume
1436 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
1436 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Escape, grouped by component category.
1436 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 188
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
1,436 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | STRUCTURE | DRIVER DOOR RETAINER WELDS HAVE CRACKED AND SEPARATED. MAKING THE DOOR DIFFICULT TO OPEN OR CLOSE AND REMAIN CLOSED. THERE ARE NO WARNING LAMPS THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA SSM 50150. ITS TIME FOR A RECALL OF THIS DANGEROUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DOOR IS ABLE TO OPEN SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,FIRERELATED | I just pulled in my driveway of my home open car door saw smoke and I looked under engine I saw flames that's when I close garage door and call 911 by the time they get there my car engine was burned out. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | STRUCTURE | Driver side door malfunctioning. Popping when opening and closing | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Previous my drivers side check arm broke and as of tonight my passenger check arm is broken as well. I do not have pictures as it is dark outside | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | The door hinge on the driver's side failed. The 3 weld joints broke off. At times the door will not shut and latch properly, and the driver's window cannot be lowered. The dealer I took the vehicle to informed me that this is a recurring problem with the 2020 Ford Escape. They have had many people with the same problem. Ford refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Drivers door Check Arm has broken from door because of faulty spot welds from factory. You no longer have control of door when opening and door can swing open to full opening and out of control. This problem was confirmed by Fred Beans Ford in Boyertown PA. Apparently according to dealership this is an ongoing issue and Ford Refuses to recall or fix if out of warranty. I was quoted $2800 for the repair. My car has 31500 miles on it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | 3 door welds (cracked) on drivers door. making popping noise when opening door. i have confirmed with auto body shop and car dealership, where car was purchased. 2020 ford escape, passed warranty . concerned that door may not close, or open. have heard the popping noise for months, just thought is was dirt in the hinges, but had it checked out at the auto body shop. body shop estimate is $2300 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | The driver door hinge broke at the 3 weld spots and now the door sometimes closes and other times hard to close. It has also popped open while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Investigation: PE 23-013 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | left door hinges breaking | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Every time the driver side opens, I hear a popping sound. I took it to my local Ford dealership and apparently it was passed warranty just two days prior so no work has been done. They advised me that the welds failed on the door and now the car needs a new door and latch that will take at least a week to complete repairs. My car has only 32,000 miles so it's fairly new. I fear that the door will eventually give out on me and not close properly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | It’s a welding issue with the door arm and that’s a widespread issue but not a recall yet. It happened on my previous Ford Escape as well. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Unable to get an E-Check, emissions test. Getting Gateway error. Found on [XXX] that others are also unable to get their SUV's E-checked to get a registration sticker. Ford is possibly aware of this. Found SSM [XXX] and SSM [XXX] , "Some 2020-2021 Escape/Corsair and 2021 Bronco Sport vehicles may exhibit a communication fault with emissions inspection equipment. This may be due to the software in the gateway module. To correct this condition, reprogram the gateway module to latest software level using the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. Use causal part 14F642 and applicable labor times from Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual." Yet they are not doing anything about it. I called my local ford dealer and they weren't aware of any of these and want me to pay for the reprogramming. If this fault is inherent in the product line, it should be a recall. I wanted you to know about this. No warning lamps, I went to 2 different county E-Check inspection places and tried several different connections and even tried the self serve kiosk. I could not get the e check completed as their equipment would not communicate with the Ford OBD-II Port. This affects all owners of the product years 2020-2021 for Ford Escape and Broncos. My dealer is not at fault and offered to reprogram my vehicle at no charge, so i commend them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | broken spot welds in the left front door at the check arm attachment point in the door | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Front drivers door makes popping noise and it appears to be loose. No physical damage. Looks like an internal part failure | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | POPPING NOISE WHEN OPENING SHUTTING DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE FROM THE DOOR LIMITER. IT IS A VERY COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM THAT IS AFFECTING 2020 FORD ESCAPE. THE SPOT WELDS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $800 TO RESOLVE | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The AWD module malfunctioned and had faults. Issue was confirmed by dealer with no explanation and had no cause for failure. AWD fault and Service AdvanceTrac warnings appeared and reappeared each time the vehicle was turned on. Vehicle could only use front wheel drive and cruise control was also affected. The dealer kept the malfunctioning module so unknown if it will be inspected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Left front driver side door, making loud popping noise when opening and closing. Almost could not close with most recent use. Afraid to open again in fear that I will not be able to drive my car or lock it shut. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Factory Spot welds in driver side door have failed. The swing arm is not attached properly. Door will not open or close properly and it also affecting the window. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Left driver's side door is popping and gets stuck open sometimes. Vehicle mileage is only 33,505. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Driver's side door hinge has failed. Per staff at two separate dealerships, a "cup" or where the end of hinge attaches within the door has broken loose due to failed spot welds. Staff at both dealerships claim this is a common occurrence. Ford refuses to participate in the repair even though staff indicates it should be a recall event. Concerned door hinge will either jam thereby not allowing ingress / egress or will shatter window as parts appear to be moving inside body of door. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | About 3 weeks ago now I opened my driver door and heard a loud cranking followed by a poo, the arm bar weld on the door just broke, had to shut the door from the outside and as a result I don't have control over my driver side window and all the power locks in the vehicle are shot. In addition to this my electrical is going crazy, I have the dash lights set to off but when I remove key or open door all the lights come on and I have to click the button back and forth to get the lights to shut off. This has resulted in a dead battery once for not catching it acting up. I'm extremely concerned about the safety on this vehicle I have had it less then 3 years and it's had several recalled issues fixed already. I can't afford a whole new door so please recall this spot weld!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Drivers Side door Welds broke inside door. And door doesn't lock. Door check broke and window goes down less than half way. Bought it in 2021 with 14, 000 miles now has 30,000 Went to my dealership and they said Ford would give me 1000.00 towards repairs leaving me with a balance of 1500. This should be a recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | Sheet metal piece attached to CHECK ARM ATTACHMENT(PN LJ6Z-7823552-B)detached. 5 spot welds failed. See TSB [XXX]. Door would not close. David McDavid Ford wanted $31000 to replace door. I pop riveted sheet metal piece in 5 places. I will continue driving car but will check rivets every week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STEERING,STRUCTURE | The spot welds on the interior door assembly for the check arm broke off. Causing damage to my power window motor. And many other components. Car is at 50,000 miles. Not high wear. The welds are poorly done and ford is making me buy a new door as a result of their error. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |