There are 20 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2020 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the brake pedal was firm while depressed, and the vehicle lost brake assist functionality. The contact stated that there was an unknown brake warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The failure worsened, and the vehicle was no longer safe to operate. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer, where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the electric brake booster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
I went for a diagnostic test for AWD module failures, and when auto zone did the test ABS came back as failed and this was in July of 2025.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
1st: water reservoir tank was empty and didn't notice it until heat was cold...inspected and filled reservoir back to max had it tested and couldn't find reason for coolant to be low...Ford tech told me to drive it because they were unable to explain.2nd issue when vehicle sets overnight when backing out of carport back brake system sounds like a scrubbing sound then after drive awhile it may or may not do it when I put it in reverse. just curious. Haven't had said vehicle but one year.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be pushed unusually hard to activate the brakes. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed of Customer Service Program: 21B19; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the Customer Satisfaction Program. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
Vehicle has 14,000 miles on it. Was taken to Ford garage after the AWD light came on. They placed the AWD module on the vehicle and then ran diagnostics again and it still pulled the errors. They determined that the ABS system is bad and also needs replaced. He provided me with a notice that was sent to Ford/Lincoln dealers -Customer Satisfaction Program 20B5 which was for vehicles manufactured in 2020 where the dealers were to replace the electronic break booster. My vehicle was manufactured in 2019, but has the same problem as this recall and unfortunately was not part of the dates where Ford would fix the issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal while in reverse(R), there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an unknown application was applied to the brake pads which stopped the noise; however, the contact stated that the failure recently returned. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a case number. The contact was also referred to NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the braking system abruptly stopped working properly. The contact stated that the brake pedal was abnormally stiff. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive a short distance to an independent mechanic. The contact stated that the independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,200.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a right turn, the vehicle failed to exceed 18 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the fuel pump, fuel rail, and the battery; however, the failure reoccurred. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 12,000.
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.
See attached document for complaint.
Despite repairs done under what eventually became TSB 23-2308, the brake squeal continues. I reported this originally to the dealership that sold me the vehicle in the spring of 2021.Work was done under SSM51261
TEMPORARILY THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION AND INSPITE OF APPLYING GHTE BRAKES THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE WARING LIGHTS CAME ON SUCH AS SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CALLED THE ALRRY MILLER LAKEWOOD FORD DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO AND WAS GIVEN A DATE AFTER 2 MONTHS JUST TO INSPECT. ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED FOR 20 MIN AND AT THAT TIME THE CAR BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE.
The auto stop, occasionally has a fault in the system and will stop auto braking at a stop light. This is going to cause someone to get into an accident
The contact owned a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of Ford Campaign Number: 20E03 and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
2020 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BREAK IN PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POLE AND A CAR BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon the depression of the brake pedal, an abnormal grinding noise would intermittently emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle would intermittently hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal also with no warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer for repairs on two separate occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,800. The consumer stated the vehicle pauses when accelerating, brakes squeak while driving, fluid leakage, carpet damage. Also, consumer hit a pothole and tires were totally destroyed .
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing at approximately 3 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing, the brake pedal was depressed and there was an abnormally loud squealing sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing and depressing the brake pedal, there was a very loud screeching sound coming from the rear wheels. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the brake pads and rotors, but the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was recently taken back to the dealer for the failure and the contact was informed that the rear brake pins needed to be replaced; however, the brake pins were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026