Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2020 Ford Escape: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 1,476 safety complaints about the 2020 Ford Escape with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved July 14, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

1,476
Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Investigations
5★
Overall crash rating

Complaints for this vehicle report 19 crashes, 4 fires, 28 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Body & structure leads the complaint list, cited in 645 of 1,476 complaints, followed by Other / unspecified.
  2. 2 recalls are do-overs. NHTSA records show recall repairs that were previously performed incorrectly — worth a VIN check even if you had recall work done.
  3. 2 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2020 Ford Escape, body & structure issues stand far above everything else.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 1,476 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Body & structure
645
Other / unspecified
302
Power train / transmission
223
Fuel & propulsion
182
Electrical
149
Engine & cooling
116
Driver assistance
91
Visibility & lighting
64

"LIFTGATE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED. THERE IS A GAP DIFFERENCE FROM THE LEFT REAR TO THE RIGHT REAR ON LIFTGATE. THERE IS ALSO RUST APPEARING ON THE BOLTS. CONDENSATION TUBE HAS DETACHED UNDER THE LIFTGATE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MALL OF GEORGIA FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON COMMERCE DRIVE IN BUFORD GEORGIA. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP AND STATED IT MAY NEED TO GO TO THEIR BODY SH0P."

Owner complaint filed July 2026 · Structure · NHTSA ODI 11748876

"The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V829000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure."

Owner complaint filed April 2026 · Structure · NHTSA ODI 11734120

When complaints were filed

Complaint filings for the 2020 Ford Escape over time:

Complaints filed per year — 2020 Ford Escape
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
1
40
42
55
506
394
289
149
1920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through July 14, 2026).

How the 2020 compares with other model years

Across the Ford Escape model years we track, the 2013 has the most complaints on file (2,743); the 2020 ranks 6 of 9.

Total complaints by model year — Ford Escape
All complaints on file per model year, as of July 14, 2026
2,126
1,312
2,743
2,067
1,028
1,031
2,624
1,725
2020
1,476
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 23 recalls, including 2 do-overs

23 recalls apply to some or all 2020 Ford Escape vehicles. Note the flagged campaigns: they cover vehicles whose earlier recall repairs were performed incorrectly.

Aug 201919V-633
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also i…

Jul 202020V-415
Air Bags:Side/Window

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain air bags which may result in the diffuser detaching from the inflator in the event of an air bag deployment.

Sep 202020V-550
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.

Sep 202020V-575
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or disto…

Oct 202020V-635
Electrical System:Body Control Module/Bcm

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with a key-start ignition system. The Body Control Module (BCM) intermittently may not pick up the signal from the rear Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors or the Remote Key Fob. In the event of a low tire pressu…

Jan 202121V-011
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.

Mar 202222V-191
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.

May 202222V-331
Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L hybrid powertrains. Insufficient welds inside the high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power.

Jul 202222V-484
Engine And Engine Cooling

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair, and 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources…

Nov 202222V-859
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.

May 202323V-380
Engine

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources su…

May 202424V-330
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2020-2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.

Nov 202424V-852
Equipment:Other:Labels

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement …

Dec 202424V-954
Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery:Management System/Energy Control Module (Bms/Becm)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.

Mar 202525V-165Repair done incorrectly
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 22V-859 or 24V-187. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.

May 202525V-345Repair done incorrectly
Engine

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine …

Jun 202525V-442
Back Over Prevention:Software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-20…

Jul 202525V-467
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.

Oct 202525V-685
Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it t…

Oct 202525V-693
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles. The rear brake pads may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can reduce brake function in the event of a brake booster malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety S…

Dec 202525V-829
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.

Mar 202626V-117
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

Mar 202626V-123
Back Over Prevention:Software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles …

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.

★★★★★
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2020 Ford Escape have?

As of July 14, 2026, owners have filed 1,476 complaints about the 2020 Ford Escape with NHTSA. The most-reported system is body & structure.

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Escape have?

The 2020 Ford Escape has 23 NHTSA recalls on file. 2 recalls reopen earlier campaigns whose repairs were performed incorrectly. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Is the 2020 Ford Escape safe in a crash?

NHTSA gives the 2020 Ford Escape an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved July 14, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.