2020 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,593 owner complaints analyzed
23 distinct recall campaigns
44,224 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 386 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 493 of 1,593 complaints (30.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 109 | 6.8% |
| Braking behavior | 73 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 34 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 32 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 493 |
| Unknown Or Other | 306 |
| Power Train | 224 |
| Electrical System | 152 |
| Engine | 120 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 115 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 90 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 74 |
Structure:Body: 493; Unknown Or Other: 306; Power Train: 224; Electrical System: 152; Engine: 120; Fuel System, Gasoline: 115; Structure:Body:Door: 90; Fuel/Propulsion System: 74
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 97 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 119 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 98 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 97; 25,000 to 49,999: 119; 50,000 to 74,999: 98; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (119). 1,207 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2023 | 570 |
| 2024 | 399 |
| 2025 | 291 |
| 2026 | 195 |
2019: 1; 2020: 40; 2021: 42; 2022: 55; 2023: 570; 2024: 399; 2025: 291; 2026: 195
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 109 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11300811 · 2020-01-21 (January 21, 2020)
SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, IT HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEN APPROACHING 25MPH THEN THE VIBRATION CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO 75MPH. ALSO AT APPROX. 25MPH AN LOW HUMMING SOUND STARTS. THE HUMMING SOUND GETS LOADER AS SPEED INCREASES ALONG WITH THE ROAD NOISE. THE HUMMING AND VIBRATION STOP AS SOON AS YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. BUT RESUMES AGAIN AS SOON AS THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS VIBRATION FEELS AS IF A WHEEL IS LOOSE OR COMING OFF OR THE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE GOING TO FAIL CAUSING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS BY N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11300811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337274 · 2020-07-02 (July 2, 2020)
MY 2020 FORD ESCAPE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKES ODD WHIRRING SOUNDS AND SHIFTS HARD OFTEN WHILE DRIVING. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STILL HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING SMOOTHLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES BEEN WARMED UP AND DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. EVEN WHEN IT IS WORKING THE FEED IS USUALLY TERRIBLE QUALITY. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE REAR VIEW CAMERA, THE IMAGE QUALITY TURNS GREYISH AND IMAGES LAG.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,090 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301659 · 2020-01-24 (January 24, 2020)
MOST STATES REQUIRE TRAILERS OF 3,000LB GVWR, AND SOME STATES ONLY 1,500LB, TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRAKING SYSTEM ON AT LEAST ONE AXLE OF THE TRAILER. FORD SELLS VEHICLES WITH FACTORY TOW PACKAGES RATED AT 3,500LB, BUT DOES NOT SUPPLY EVEN AN OPTIONAL ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER. FURTHER, THEY DON'T SUPPLY A "PLUG 'N' PLAY" HARNESS FOR AN AFTERMARKET CONTROLLER AS DO MANY MANUFACTURERS. THIS SITUATION HAS PREVAILED FROM AT LEAST 2013 ONWARD. WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR 2020 ESCAPE SEL WITH FACTORY TOWING, WE FULLY EXPECTED THAT THIS SHORTCOMING WOULD H…
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341020 · 2020-07-22 (July 22, 2020)
WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN 'PARK' ON A FLAT SURFACE, THE E-BRAKE TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY, BUT WHEN I PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME, I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE SCREENS AND IT TOLD ME THAT THE AUTO START/STOP WAS DISABLED DUE TO BEING ON A SLOPE (BUT I WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE). ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT OF THE LINES, BUT THE PUMP IS WORKING BECAUSE I CAN HEAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11283051 · 2019-11-30 (November 30, 2019)
THE DRIVERS SEAT (BOTTOM CUSHION) HAS A PIECE OF METAL OR HEAVY WIRING, ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG, AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT, WHERE YOUR TAILBONE IS. THE WIRE IS EASY TO FIND (IT RUNS BACK TO FRONT) UNDER THE SEAT MATERIAL. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER I LEASED IT FROM AND THEY CHECKED OTHER 2020 ESCAPES AND THEY WERE THE SAME. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOTE THE PROBLEM. I DREAD SITTING IN THE SEAT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11283051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11339508 · 2020-07-15 (July 15, 2020)
THE ELECTRICAL IN THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 2000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE HAD IT ABOUT A MONTH AND I'VE HAD 4 ISSUES WITH IT. THE FIRST ISSUES THE CRUISE CONTROL EPULD NOT WORK. I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FIXED IT. MY BOTTOM CUP HOLDER BROKE TWICE NOW AND IT'S LIKE THE BOTTOM OF IT FELL OUT. TODAY I GET IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE SPEAKERS ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR ARE NOT WORKING. IS THIS TYPICAL OF THIS KIND OF CAR OR IS IT JUST MY LUCK? I'VE HAD MORE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR THAN I HAVE EVER HAD WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,885 miles reported. Look up ODI 11339508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11495097 · 2022-11-28 (November 28, 2022)
NHTSA ID Number: 10201603/ SSM 50150 - 2020-2021 Ford Escape My vehicle is having this EXACT issue and there are many other Ford Escape owners that are having this issue and even with the manufacturer extended warranty it is not covered. This issue has obviously been reported with the reference number above and NHTSA PDF attached. fordescape.org/threads/door-limiting-rod.116354/page-2 has so many other Ford escape owners with the EXACT same problem. This IS a safety issue as the door can fail to open or close at any given time with the arm t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11532568 · 2023-07-16 (July 16, 2023)
Service engine soon light is on due to the injector problem that has been recalled, but has not been fixed yet, because the dealer has not received the parts yet. Service engine soon light is also throwing a code for the catylitic converter and it’s causing the vehicle to run and shift poorly and getting worse fuel economy because of this issue. I have always bought Fords and I’m very dissatisfied with the problems I’ve encountered since I’ve purchased this vehicle. I think these issues need to be addressed and fixed ASAP, because this could p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351091 · 2020-08-25 (August 25, 2020)
VEHICLE SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN NORMALLY DRIVING AND WHEN AUTO START AND STOP FEATURE FUNCTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO STAY IN, OFTEN TIMES JERKING VERY HARD, WHICH MOVES THE ENTIRE CAR AT A COMPLETE STOP OR TOSSES THE DRIVER IN THEIR SEAT WHEN MOVING AND SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, LOOSING THROTTLE AND FUNCTION, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET T-BONED BY 2 SEPARATE CARS IN TRAFFIC. OVERALL, THE VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, ENGINE REALIZABILITY, AND GENERAL SAFETY FEATURES AS A WHOLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465588 · 2022-05-21 (May 21, 2022)
Driving on freeway at 70 when cruise went off and car slowed down “power train malfunction,detecting erratic signals from timing sensor” came on tried to get speed back up could get to about 67 and exited 1st ramp. Stopped in parking lot called dealer. They said it would be fine after turned off an back on. “Wrench repair light went off service light stayed on. After time both lights were off and drove home safely. Next time I drove was fine until drive home didn’t take freeway but busy road with 55 mph limit.started. Losing power again then w…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11342347 · 2020-07-30 (July 30, 2020)
ON THE 1.5L ENGINE WHEN YOU ARE ACCELERATING IN THE NORMAL DRIVING MODE YOU EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL SIMILAR TO A FLAT TIRE. THE 2.0L ENGINE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342347 at NHTSA ↗