2020 Ford Escape Complaint Log

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.

I am getting the following error messages: awd fault service required/ service AdvanceTrac /pre collision assist not available / hill assist not available/ AWD off / powertrain malfunction/ reduced power.

Driver's side front door is making loud noises when opening and closing. Noise appears to be coming from the middle hinge.

Driver door will not close properly making popping sounds when closing driver window also does not roll down

The door has separated and will not close properly. I’m concerned the door could potentially open while in operation. My wife should not have to climb through the passenger side of the car to drive somewhere because the driver door has come apart.

Driver door pops loudly opening and closing and one of the weld spots on the door closing plate is broken off inside the door. Also, the cover over the closing arm is broken and won’t stay in place. I have read others reporting door not properly closing because of these welds breaking down. The contact stated all of the welds have broken loose and the vehicle door won’t close properly.

If the car is parked in the sun on a hot day, there are times when the car turns on but you cannot shift out of park. The knob will not turn. You are stuck until the car is able to shift. The engine and electrical will run but it is impossible to shift the car into gear. This has happened at least four times and is happening now because it is hot. Shutting the car off and restarting does not solve the problem. There appear to be other Ford Escape owners with this issue when I search online. It is not possible to replicate the issue at a mechanic because it only happens when the car is in the heat.

Premature failure of valve cover gasket and transmission. Valve cover gasket allowing oil to seep in to spark plug “tubes” causing misfires. Transmission showing excessive wear for only 72000 miles.

A clunking noise in the rear at turns to the right starting up from a stop. Local automotive shop diagnosed contaminated rear differential fluid. Changed fluid and told me to contact dealership. Differential should not have the issue at only 30,000 miles. Dealership confirmed issue and recommended TSB 24-2185 be performed at this time. However RDU vent nose part unavailable at this time and had to pay for a special order shipment when it was produced by third party vendor. Did not change fluid and Escape is clunking at right and left turns now and feels unsafe to drive as I herk and jerk down the road.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after stopping to refuel the vehicle, the front driver’s side door would not fully close shut. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the hinges needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was left at the local dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side front door failed to close properly. Additionally, when the contact opened the door, there was an abnormally loud screeching sound coming from the door and the driver’s side front window would not function properly. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. The VIN was not included.

The front passenger side door hinge welds have failed, and the middle door hinge is loose, making the door very difficult to open or close, causing a safety problem if I had to exit the car in case of an emergency. This is due defective welds on the car door/hinge attach point. My safety is at risk due the defective welds. This just appeared with no warning one day ago. The car is available for inspection, and the problem is very obvious. The repair should be covered completely by Ford Motor Company. I have a service appointment with Heritage Ford of Modesto Ca, on [XXX], to assess the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My car has only 50,000 miles on it. I took it to the dealership for an oil change, and they reported that the rear suspension shocks are leaking. I was only two months out of warranty at this moment.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a diagnostic testing fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

The shift selector locks in park when it gets hot. Several times the car has been disabled due to the shifter being locked in park. The car is in the driveway not allowing for our other car to reach the street. If we had an emergency we were without a car. In addition, no vechicle could get to our house. When the shifter is cooled down it will operate. Meaning that left over night or using some cooling device - like a plastic bag filled with ice water - applied directly can free the shifter up in an hour or so. This issue is mentioned frequently on the internet by other Ford Escape owners. In some cases they claim that Ford actually acknowledged the issue and had a dealer replace the shifter assembly at no cost to the owner. We do not feel safe with no access to transportation due to a disabled vehicle blocking our driveway.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service All-Wheel Drive" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the All-Wheel Drive Module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who replaced the All-Wheel Drive Module and vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,700.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon attempting to close the moon roof, the moon roof failed to close as intended. Eventually, the moonroof was able to close; however, the closing resulted in damage to the overheard liner. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 21,000.

Took in the vehicle to be inspected and Ford said the AWD module isn't working. It states my AWD is off and not functioning.

Driver side door hinge failure, dealer said driver side door needs to be replaced and passenger side needs pins. Hard to accept this isn’t a recall based on all the occurrences I’ve read on various ford blogs. Would have expected it would be. Disappointed in NHTSA, not looking after the consumer. I’ve been a life long Ford customer, but not anymore. Disappointed beyond belief

The car was bought at matt blatt kia in July 2023 certified pre-owned with 164 safety inspection check. 2 weeks ago the check engine light came on and it was code p0420. Kia told me to call ford and they told me I have to pay for the diagnostics and the repair. The car was smoking under the hood and didn't drive safely. It's at a shop and was told the catalytic converter needs to be replaced and it's 2300. He said ford's responsible for it because there's issues and I just found out there's an active recall from BEFORE I bought the car that was never fixed which caused the issue now. Ford refuses to fix the car and I've had to pay for a car rental the past w weeks and my car payment. The cars sitting at the mechanic. Soon as the engine light came on, I tried to take it where I bought it they said I had to pay for it and ford said it's not covered and neither dealer had loaner cars for me

While driving car at highway speeds and RPMs at or below 2500 and either driving uphill or into a strong headwind car seems to get a flat spot in acceleration and does not downshift to compensate. Powertrain malfunction light illuminates and vehicle enters reduced power mode. After turning off ignition and waiting a few minutes the light clears and car drives normally until the next time. Rarely does a DTC pop up on code reader to identify issue. Has happened multiple times and been in mechanic and dealer at least 4 times with no resolution.

The camshaft leaks and has been recalled, but Ford is refusing to fix it….

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle parked, the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted after an hour. On another occasion, while turning left, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced and codes for the PCM, and headlamp were retrieved. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the A/C compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000.

Doors are breaking off of car.

Front driver side door check arm weld failed. Door is hard to close and window will no longer lower.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's side door made clicking sounds while opening. Additionally, the front driver's side window failed to roll down, and the front driver's side door failed to latch until it was firmly pushed closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front driver's side door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Two notifications come up on the screen after vehicle is started. Front camera fault service required. Pre-collision assist not available. This started right after pre collision assist went off on 05/13/2024. There has been no inspection on the vehicle

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shift knob was seized on several occasions. After waiting for hours, the gear shifter was able to operate as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, and the contact was informed that a diagnostic test needed to be performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Front door started making noises about 1 week ago.05/10/2024 Door is hard to close and it seem like it is not latched or closed properly. I don't let window down because its hard to get it closed. I took car to Ford Auto Body Shop, they stated door needed to be replaced , because of broken check arm reinforcement welds. Car is 3.6 years old and has 20,000 miles on it. Ford told me to wait for recall to be initated, or I could pay about $5000 to have door replaced. No warning sign before at all. I have extended warranty but it doesn't cover body.

- My vehicle is affected by the "Broken Spot Welds In The Left Front Door At The Check Arm Attachment Points In The Door Assembly" issue. The damage in the door is becoming more significant with the normal use of the door, to the point that the cracks on the door are now visible and they are also evolving towards becoming holes. - The reference of Special Message Service (SSM) describing this issue and its resolution is: SSM 50150. - According to the ODI Resume from the NHTSA, dated 01/24/2024: "... Ford has provided details on a one-time-repair customer satisfaction (23B56), stating that they will provide customers with a letter, currently targeted for March 2024, to bring the vehicle to a Ford dealership for a proactive repair...". - Today, 05/09/2024, the Ford dealer in our city rejected to provide any service or repairs for this issue, arguing that they have not received instructions from Ford. - The Ford dealer shared with us a communication from the "Chief Engineer Recall and CIDR Service Engineering Operations Ford Customer Service Division", dated 02/22/2024 notifying that "... A complete Dealer Bulletin will be provided to dealers by the end of the 2nd quarter, 2024, to support this customer satisfaction program...". - The damage to the door gets more significant every day and, despite the existence of the Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56, our only option at the moment seems to be taking the car to an independent car body shop and to pay for this ourselves. - We were told that Ford may reimburse us in the future, however, there are no details at all about the requirements to qualify for a refund, so we have no certainty that we would get our money back.

Drivers side door weld problem that could cause drivers side door to come open. My drivers side front door makes a creaky sound when I open it. It seems the internal weld to the door has failed. During my research to determine, if this was a national concern, I read internet articles stating this appears to be a faulty spot weld in the Drivers' side door check arm. For me, this started on [XXX], 2024. I reported the issue, to my local Ford Dealerships auto repair department, Gary Crossley Ford, Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, [XXX]. It told me Ford had not notified it of a recall, nor has it provided repair instructions. I spoke to Jennifer in Houston, TX, at the Customer Support Line 1.800.392.3673 on Friday, [XXX]. She stated parts and repair instructions were available and she was placing an order for them while, we spoke. This turned out to be false information, given the above stated information and Gary Crossley's auto repair department confirming on [XXX], 2024, it did not have the parts, nor did it have Ford how to repair instructions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

Loud cracking noise in driver side door. Door does not close properly. Can not lower window.

Pop welds at front passenger door failing where check arm is attached. Dealer offered to sell us a $3000 door.

This is a safety issue that can occur without warning and a repeated failure, Ford repairs were not effective. The trim piece that goes in between the big and small parts of the glass on the sunroof keeps falling off and has caused over $500 in repairs because it jammed and broke the $15 rail clips that are not covered under the warranty. The cover is the width of the roof and is a cosmetic cap that is insufficiently attached with six double sided sticky squares that do not withstand heat/cold variations. This failure is not related to abuse or wear and tear. It is a cap that once it fails can fall on the driver or passenger if the roof is open or it will jam the sunroof cover and destroy the $15 guide clips attaching the cover to parallel rails. This failure occured at around 30,000 before it was repaired at 32,000 miles in May 2024 and has failed again in July 2024. This is a design failure that is not covered under warranty and owners are subject to expensive repairs for a known and predictable failure due to the insufficient attachment method for something that should never have to be removed.

Driver door is making a loud creaking or popping noise when opening the door. Afraid the door might fall off. Have not taken it to a dealer for assessment yet. No warning signs or symptoms prior to this happening. Have read a lot of other complaints about this and don't know why there isn't a recall on this yet. This needs to be corrected before a serious injury happens if it hasnt already. Car only has 35k miles on it.

Drivers door is popping. The arm attachment in the door is broken. I am told this is a known issue with the 2020 Ford Escapes. This will be costly to fix and should be recalled. If the door does not close properly, there is risk it may open when I am driving.

Ford service center diagnosed a failed AWD module. It was only examined by the Ford techs at the dealership where I bought it. Total price was approx $1200 which was covered by extended warranty plan, but I had to pay a $250 deductible. The mileage when the warning illuminated was approx 38,900. While driving, AWD OFF was illuminated on dash. As well as POWERTRAIN FAULT, HILL START ASSIST OFF, PRE-COLLISION ASSIST UNAVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, AND SEE MANUAL. I was put at risk because all of my safety features seemed to be failing. I have heard many others having the same issue all with low miles.(40,000 or less) I believe this component requires a recall because I had only owned the car 3 weeks when this happened. I havent even made a payment on it yet!!

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact became aware that vehicle front driver door was coming apart due to the door welds. The contact stated that in the event of a crash, the contact could be severely injured. In addition, the contact stated that driving the vehicle with a damage door could become a safety hazard. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle could not be repaired until the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had provided guidance on how to proceed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Left front door has a broken spot weld at the check arm attachment point in the door assembly, occurring on 04/23/24. The weld has completely separated from door component, causing the door to open too wide & barely close completely. This has also caused the sensors in the window to malfunction and the window will not open at all. Has been brought to a dealership and inspected to determine the broken weld is the cause of these problems, and that they have been widely reported by other drivers of this make and model Ford Escape. There were no prior warning lights before breakage, the left front door started making a snapping sound 1 day (04/22/24) before the door weld fully snapped and detached.

At 25,768 miles, multiple warning messages appeared including: service advanced track, 4WD fault, no cruise control ability, no pre-collision assist, hill side assist fault, and no traction control. BC self test was performed by a mechanic. The vehicle was purchased 3 months prior at the same dealership that performed the test. Results: No communication with AWD module found. The issue was AWD module faulty. AWD module was replaced and reprogrammed. The issue was not covered under the power train warranty (available for 5 years, 40,000 miles) due to the problem relating to the electrical system.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the automatic emergency braking system failed to engage while another vehicle had pulled in front of the vehicle from the passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while another vehicle was pulling in front of the vehicle from the passenger's side of the vehicle, but the vehicle responded as needed while another vehicle was pulling in front of the vehicle from the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure started occurring after an unknown software update was performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated because the dealer declined to test-drive the vehicle by driving 25-30 MPH on the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. Additionally, the manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

Door making popping noise, window won't go down. sometimes won't open easily. control arm problem.

transmission problems : High RPMs as vehicle fails to shift up Lurching/“bucking” forward at intervals Hesitation

Driver's side door stated popping when you open or close the door. No warning of any kind 4/18/24. It is harder to open and close requiring more forch than normal. The window also does not always go up or down all the time. The window has been an issue for a couple of months. We tried lubricating the arm, before we read online of the issue. We do have 3 small holes when the apprent tac welding once was. Very concerned that the door will not latch properly or remain closed during operation of vehicle. We have had the vehicle since it was brand new there is approximately 38,000 to 39,000. We can take to Ford dealer if you like for confirmation.

Driving's door hinge is broken. There was a investigation by NHTSA and it was closed due to Ford promising to fix doors to cutsomters satisfaction. Ford will only pay $1200 for at least a $3000 repair. I never received the letter in March that was suppose to go to all 2020 Ford Escapes about this problem. Ford sent to its dealerships an SSM 50150. This issue was known since Sept. 2021 but I was never advised about this. I was told by the dealership that it is out of warranty. It wasn't when the creaking and hard to close issue started. I didn't know that it would eventually break loose. My car was in and out of the dealership for another issue that took months to fix.

Driver side door makes loud noise when opening and closing. Warning messages: car not in drive or park when in the correct gear; door open; and battery saver on in morning. Driver side power window not working properly. Took to dealer for service on 4/15/25. Was informed there is a door issue not recall and no repairs at this time. Cost: $70 to check door. Have not received any notification from Ford about Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver’s side door failed to latch properly or remain closed and unintendedly opened while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

The drivers door has a loud popping cracking like the door is going to break. It won’t shut properly. This is the 2020 escape.

My Escape only has 60k miles on it. I got off work and needed to open my passenger door to get my work bag. Being a single mom, my kids ride in the back and the passenger seat is rarely used. I opened the door and it fell apart. The arm on the door just broke. Now I'm stuck with a hefty bill on a newer car. I am not sure how it broke, it just snapped halfway into opening. Ford told me this should be a recall ad they are seeing tons of it. Now I'm worried will my doors open going down the road with my kids?