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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | The door limiter is ripped free of its mounting [inside the door] and makes keeping the door closed and/or opening it impossible at times. In addition, the broken pieces in the door damaged the window regulator, making egress through the window equally impossible. Our safety is put at risk due to the possibility of the door opening while driving as well as the safety of oncoming traffic. Both Ford dealer and independent body shop confirmed that they have seen this problem on many other Ford vehicles, and the only remedy is a complete door replacement. Prior to door failure, there was a lot of creaking and difficulty closing the door. When we first bought the car [new], the door was not closing correctly, and the dealer claimed that the weatherstripping was the issue. Now that the car is OUT of warranty, Dealer mechanic confirmed this door limiter breaking from the spot welds is a common occurance, yet not yet under recall for my VIN number. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | Driver's door hinge limit opening check-arm mechanism failure. First awareness when popping noise occurred when opening and closing the door. Internet search found this and related hinge failure experiences by many other Escape owners. The factory welds attaching the mechanism housing to the interior of the door body are failing. Ford has not made a recall. While this is a primary vehicle function, our car is slightly out of warranty and the Indianapolis Skillman Ford dealer offered no help after presenting the vehicle in-person as soon as the problem occurred. Our check arm has not completely failed. Complete failure reports include interference with power window operation and inability to safely open and close the door. We contacted Ford Motor Company direct; the person on the phone checked and said there was no recall and no assistance due to our vehicle being past warranty but they did create a case#: SSM 51553. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Door latch on drivers side has begun to make popping noise every time it is opened or closed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Driver door hinge isnt working. Door doesnt stay open and is hard to close. Makes loud popping noise when trying to close. Driver side window doesn't go down. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN | When the Escape interior reaches a certain temperature (between 90-101 degrees), the gear selector (a knob-like device), will not move--you cannot move from Park into any other gear. I have to either pump the brakes OR turn on the AC to get the interior a little cooler, before I can move the gear selector. There are reports of others dealing with this, mostly 2020-2021 Escapes. If you have to move the car in an emergency, it will not be happening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The left front drivers door is difficult to open and close due to broken factory spot welds on the door where it attaches to a factory mechanism. This causes the door to make a popping sound and makes it periodically difficult to both open and securely close the door. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | Door welds have broken and door arm is not attached to door any longer. Door has been inspected by Ford and are unwilling to fix due to it being weeks out of warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | Driver’s door started to make a loud popping sound. Found that weld spots on the door had failed. Local dealer removed the door check so now the sound is gone but need to be careful opening door in the wind. They have quoted $2,235 to replace the door! Already charged me $52 to remove the door check. I don’t feel safe driving this car being unsure if the door will stay latched. I hope there is a recall by Ford to fix this problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My front drivers door started squeaking and yesterday it started making this crunching noise. I noticed that I have three holes on the inside front door panel where the hinges are. I was told by a mechanic that the door check arm on the interior of the door the weld did not hold and that was the noise I was hearing it braking. I can not open my door all the way and it gets stuck open sometimes. I called Ford and because my car is 2800 miles over warranty they will do nothing. Upon investigation I have found you have an investigation into this problem SSM 50150. I have a Ford 2020 Escape. How is it that the weld on a 3 year old car breaks? I have not had it repaired because of the cost involved. I feel this should be escalated to a recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | Door mechanical issue could become a future safety issue where failed/poor spot welds on a doors check arm bracket could cause the door to swing too far when opened or it could open while driving because of the spot weld failure. Current popping sound when opening and closing the door indicates spot welds on the check arm bracket, internal to the door, have failed, making the door difficult to open and close. A secondary failure is the inability to open and close the window. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's side door made abnormal clicking sounds while opening and closing. The contact's wife had difficulty closing the door securely. The contact related the failure to a faulty front driver's side door middle hinge pin. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The AWD module failed. This was confirmed at a Ford dealership after a lengthy diagnostic. The car started to alarm by showing first a powertrain failure and then disabling AWD, pre-collison assist warnings and hill assist. This placed the car in "limp" mode while i was entering the interstate on the on ramp making it a safety issue. In my research, I am seeing others who have had the same issue in the 2020 Escape and feel this should be recalled. My car is still at the Ford dealership awaiting a part, but I am happy to submit the service report once completed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STRUCTURE | The welding spots on the fort broke off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE | My main car display is dying and it’s also my way into the car, diagnostic reporting and navigation. Navigating is harder with out main display freezing or not working at all. Also my blind spot sensor goes off at random times in which nobody had a answer for me on a fix for that. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Driver side door front is making a creaking sound like a popping noise when opening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | The component or system that is failing/malfunctioning is the opening and closing of the driver side door. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. My safety/the safety of others are put at risk should the door opens during driving or at any time without a physical being opening it. No, the problem hasn’t been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center not to my knowledge. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives but has been inspected by myself and others. No, there was not any warning lamps, or messages of the problem prior to the failure. However, there was other symptoms which included a mild sounding popping noise coming from the driver door when opening it to enter and exit the vehicle. This first appeared about two days prior to the component or system complete failure/malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | My drivers side door makes a creaking noise and window doesn’t roll down | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | POWER TRAIN | 2020 Ford Escape Titanium Multiple error messages shown; forced into front wheel drive. Took my car to the dealer and was told my car’s awd module needed to be replaced. I did get it replaced and paid out of pocket because it apparently is not covered under the powertrain warranty ($705.33). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | DRIVER SIDE DOOR THE DOOR SPOT WELD THAT IS FOR THE DOOR ARM THAT OPENS HAS BROKEN ON 07/28/2023. TOOK IT TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP NOT COVERED PAST 3 YEAR 36000 MILE WARRANTTY. THIS IS A DEFECT FROM FORD AND SHOULD BE COVERED | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | POWER TRAIN | When putting vehicle into reverse the gears jump and there is an gear malfunction warning that appears on my screen. The car jumps and jerks several times. Also, when car is in drive whether it is at a stop or driving, the car starts to shudder like it's about to stall- ESPECIALLY when idling or at a stop. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | Door is making popping sound when open. Both driver side and passenger front doors. The driver side window won't roll down. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | Drivers side check arm broke resulting in 3 rivet joints to break where it’s attached to the inside door skin. SSM 50150 for fleet vehicles addresses this. This was purchased from Enterprise. Was told a new door skin was required along with the check arm replacement. Over $1200. This should be a recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | STRUCTURE | Driver's side door not closing completely, making loud cracking noise. Unable to roll window down. Door not closing completely is a safety hazard while traveling, concerned the door might open while moving. Because the door isn't closing all the way, it's messing up the electronics as well. The door welds where the bracket attaches has come detached. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The recall notice (22V859), states that parts are now available to repair my vehicle and Ford’s corporate office stated this to me when I called. However the dealership that corporate transferred me to states they do not have the parts and they don’t know why corporate is telling people they have the parts. I have been waiting 5 months. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Rear camera stops working. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |