2020 Ford Escape Complaint Log

AWD Fault

turn on vehicle dashboard lights up where my AWD not working, my collision assist not working, Trac not working, drive mode not working. This started about a week ago from end of June. I did find a recall for 2020 Escape EcoBoost but my vin is not on there. I cannot access my drive mode my collision light does not work and I am driving in front wheel.

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.

While driving the sunshade cover became detached at the front and fell down. This restricted my view out of the back of the car causing a dangerous situation as I was driving down the highway and the only one in the car. It seems like the adhesive holding it failed.

Rear seatbelt monitoring system came up on dash , which is the drivers seatbelt, then the seatbelt light stays on , had to have the item replaced costing 600 dollars , knowing it’s a safety thing I would like it covers under ford ! And get reimbursed for it ! Safety!!!

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the message "Tire Pressure Sensor Fault" was displayed for the rear passenger's side tire; however, the tire air pressure appeared to be normal upon inspection. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V635000 (Electrical System, Tires). The failure mileage was 78,000.

The sunroof shade rolled all the way back, detaching itself from the motors that move it. The guard plate between the sunroof and the moonroof fell off as it is held in place by double-sided tape tabs, landing on top of the shade which likely caused the issue. Ford will not repair it under my extended warranty even though the vista roof itself is covered they are classifying the sunshade as a trim piece. They are instead, offering to cover 1/2 of the $1800+ dollar repair. There was no warning prior to this happening and had someone been in the rear seat the large panel would have fallen on them potentially injuring them.

Inner shade visor for sun roof has become detached from rail mechanism, causing material to sag and bunch up and get stuck when retracting sunroof. Visibility issues caused could cause safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Edge. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied and attempting close the driver’s side door, the door failed to lock securely. The contact also stated that the driver’s side window failed to work as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: SSM 50150 (Cracked or Broken Spot Welds in The Left Front Door at The Check Arm Attachment Points in The Door Assembly). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while decelerating and coming to a stop, the engine sputtered before the vehicle came to a complete stop. The failure had not occurred while the fuel tank was filled with premium fuel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

I am the owner of a 2020 Ford Escape experiencing two serious issues: 1.My vehicle is exhibiting the exact symptoms outlined in Ford CSP 23B56—specifically, the failure of the driver-side door check-arm welds. The door produces loud popping noises, feels unstable when opening/closing, and has visible signs of structural stress. Despite this, my VIN has been deemed ineligible for the program. Given that the issue matches the failure described in CSP 23B56, I am requesting a re-evaluation of my VIN’s coverage and a formal inspection under this program. 2.My vehicle is also subject to NHTSA Recall 25V467 / Ford Recall 25S76, concerning the potential for a cracked fuel injector leading to fuel accumulation on top of the engine—a serious fire hazard. According to NHTSA, there is currently no remedy available. This adds another layer of safety concern, particularly considering the compounding risks and Ford’s delay in delivering a fix. Between the structural door failure and a pending recall involving potential engine fires, I am deeply concerned about the safety and reliability of my vehicle. I am asking that my concerns be formally investigated and that Ford take appropriate responsibility for repairs, reimbursement (if applicable), or an expanded VIN inclusion under the CSP.

Engine failure at 50,000 miles. 2020 Ford Escape needs full engine replacement due to the faulty 1.5L engine ford put in these vehicles knowing they were bad. Was driving on the highway and my engine started whining and then all of a sudden heard and felt a crash and then white smoke was coming out of the exhaust. I then lost acceleration which was dangerous on a highway.

Driver door popping and not closing. Brought car in and check is broken inside of door.

Shortly after having new tires installed at the dealership the following warnings displayed: AWD Fault Service Required, Hill Start Assist, Pre-Collision and Traccontrol. Mileage was around 10,700, June 2025. Dealer unable to look at until July 2025. Advised that the RDU motor needed replacement. Replacement was completed 7/23/25. The vehicle was 5 months past the Powertrain warranty. So out of pocket was over $1,900. Given the low mileage on the vehicle it seems that this should not have happened. Research here and other websites indicate this is a known issue. The dealer indicated the same.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Months before the NHTSA notification was received, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a fuel-burning odor entering the interior of the vehicle. The local 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 failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifting into reverse, the vehicle drove forward instead of reversing. During the most recent failure, after starting the vehicle, the contact shifted the vehicle into park, and the vehicle collided with the contact's home. No warning lights illuminated. No air bags deployed. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valve body was binding internally, and sticking shift valves assembly had failed. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 33,704.

EVERY TIME I TRIED TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR IT WILL NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately and required several attempts before starting. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal functionality; however, the vehicle drove rough. The check engine warning light and the maintenance warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the fuel injectors and high-pressure fuel pump had failed. The contact stated that the fuel injectors were replaced. The vehicle was pending a diagnostic test by the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V165000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 20 MPH, and failed to accelerate as needed. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the fuel pump twice, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "restraint indicator lamp” was displayed. The contact’s daughter retracted the seat belt and reinserted the seat belt, but the message remained illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. On another occasion while the vehicle was started, the rear passenger’s side window button was depressed, and the window fell inside the door. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that several clips and the window regulator needed to be replaced. The front driver’s side window was previously repaired under a Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,260.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed high-voltage battery. The contact was informed that the high-voltage battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the battery was the original high-voltage battery. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed on two occasions, the powertrain warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on one of the occasions, the message "No Hill Assist" and another unknown message were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that an active shutter switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

Subject: Safety Complaint – TPMS & Trunk System Failure on 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid I’m reporting two ongoing issues with my 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid that I believe are connected to a recall I’ve seen issued for other vehicles of the same make and model year. 1. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): My dashboard only displays pressure readings for two of the four tires. The other two do not register at all, which makes it difficult to monitor tire safety. 2. Trunk Release Button Failure: The button to electronically open my trunk no longer works. I have to manually open the liftgate each time, which is not how the vehicle was designed to function. The last time I took my vehicle in for a recall-related service, I was told I would need to return to complete additional recall work. I never received follow-up communication, and my VIN currently does not show any active recalls, despite these ongoing issues and my earlier service visit. I have since discovered that other 2020 Ford Escape models have been recalled for failures related to the Body Control Module or related systems—which seem directly tied to my problems. I’m requesting a review of my case, as these failures could compromise vehicle safety. I’d also appreciate consideration for repair assistance or further investigation into whether my VIN should be included in the relevant recalls. Thank you for your time and attention.

Power Train Fault Indicator came on indicating that the Turbo Charger was in an underboost condition. This caused the vehicle to lose power on the highway which could have placed my family in a unsafe condition.

The shade on the moonroof dislodged making it difficult to see out of my rear window.

Underneath the transmission is a part that once damaged could emit steel into the transmission which causes damage to the transmission. Small pieces of steel. My technician said it happens to all the Ford vehicles mainly the Ford Escape and Ford has not provided a recall for this and it cost $3,500.00 to be replaced. I am disgusted that this damaged part that puts pieces of steel into the transmission could not be noted by Ford as a legitimate recall. Please see what you can do. It's been reported constantly. Thank you

Driver door issue. Loud popping when opening and closing door.

The panoramic sunroof shade separates from the track and sags down to the back seat, blocking the view from the rearview mirror. This happens while driving.

Inside driver door rivets broke preventing door closing and latch is flopping inside door

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH in the rain, the front windshield wipers failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the windshield wiper motors had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V142000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included in either recall. The vehicle was scheduled for the repair and parts were ordered. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Two issues. 1: transmission shakes, shudders, and loses power intermittently at shift points. 2: check arm spot welds broke loose at the door. Safety issue. Ford has a service bulletin for this SM 51553 And SM 50150

Since the remedy was completed for the last recall for the fuel injectors cracking my Ford Escape 2020 has had many issues resulting in warning lights on in 5 different modules. My escape will not pass NY state inspection and the dealer wants 600$ just to diagnose these issues. I have a powertrain/AWD fault that results in not AWD and vehicle has no power and does not run smoothly. The RPMs jump constantly between 2 and 3. Others warning lights and errors include traction control, tire pressure sensor failure, ABS, electric park fault, and also issues with the power steering. Got an appraisal down by my dealer and was told the escape is only worth $3,000 now. I owe 16,000.

Rotary style gear shift does not go into gear on hot days. Gear shift is stuck in park and will not rotate to drive or another gear, leaving motorist stranded.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact attempted to shift gear, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the traction control, AWD, Forward Collision Assist, and several other warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there was a recall for other model vehicles for a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective purge valve assembly. The contact had the part replaced; however, the check engine warning light became illuminated again. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

This recall has been open since mid 2025 and there is still no solution. My vehicle has been smelling of fuel everyday and is having a hard time starting when I fuel up. Check engine light is on and the code is this issue. Cannot get it fixed until this recall becomes available to be fixed by Ford. It has been WAY too long. The safety of me and my family riding in the my car everyday is unsafe. I cannot afford to fix this on my own and be reimbursed God knows when Ford comes up with a solution.

A module is causing communication issues in the car between its and the key fob causing the car not to be able to start at all. It has been at the Ford dealer [XXX] for over a month now and they are unable to remedy the situation. They claim they can’t update the software or can’t find out what’s wrong with the car. 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 the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was oil leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that after an oil change was performed, the mechanic informed the contact that the oil that was drained was like mud. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

When I attempted to open the panoramic sunroof shade, it became stuck and was drawn into the roller housing, where it is now fully lodged and cannot be retrieved. Repair estimates are in the thousands of dollars because correcting this issue requires removal of the headliner and extensive labor to access and replace the shade assembly. This failure has been reported by numerous other owners, particularly on the 2020 model year, with many describing the same outcome and similarly high repair costs. There was no indication that any component was compromised, no warning once the part detached, and no safety mechanism to prevent the shade from operating while obstructed.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the message "Vehicle Shutting Down - Place Vehicle in Neutral to Restart" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times in one day. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact stated that upon further investigation, the contact noticed on the Ford App that a message "Powertrain Malfunction - Reduced Power" was displayed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Have reported this incident before but we now know what caused the issue. Sunroof on the vehicle malfunctioned causing horrendous loud noise along with inability to retract or open the cover. A large heavy peice was then found sliding around between the cover and the sunroof itself. The peice was in fact the sunrood shade molding design between the front and back sunroof at the top of the car. The peice is quiet weighty so had the cover not been closed could have easily fallen on passengers. From service department that had to basically rebuild my whole sunroof, that peice is only held up by two adhesives, no screws or bolts. Here in the south it gets hot so anything with adhesives will melt and its surprising that there havent been more incidences. Quick Google search will show this is alot more common that I even realized. Sunroof has been fixed but at the cost $3600 and now have a complete bear spot where that molding should be. I will not replace it as I cannot risk it falling again and this time falling on someone in my back seats. I have included the diagrams from the manufacturer and can see how its only held by 2 square adhesives. Image of the car isnt my ford escape (mines having more seevice done) but can see how it sits right over back seat passengers and again this one is also missing the shade molding due to failed adhesives.

When I open my sunroof the headliner sags and it blocks my view of the back window all together. Because of the location it is.

My key fob stopped working due to BCM not being able to communicate.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the message "Low Tire Pressure Fault" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the TPMS sensor needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V635000(Electrical System, Tires); however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the same information. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

Door check Bracket Getting Stuck and Don't Close

Sunroof on the vehicle has not been used in awhile and is rarely used. Started with a vacation attempted to open it and heard a very unpleasant sound. Promptly shut it didn't think much about it as we were out of state. Over next week or so started to hear a rattling from right hind area, then sounded like something was sliding. On the way to work actually heard something above me from under the shade, felt up and felt a large peice of glass or heavy metal part. Immediately brought to the dealership. On investigation a few pieces had broken causing a panel to come loose, it's still currently at the dealer being fixed but if I hadn't had the sun shade that peice would have hurt. I could just have a lemon car but if this is a faulty parts do not want anyone else to get hurt. As of now they are having to completely rebuild the sunroof.

Transmission selector is poking my fingers.

the front camera/ adaptive cruise control, pre collision assist, seems to have spontanteoulsy cut out while driving- a large bump in the road seems to have shook less the coaxial cable connections for the front camera in this car. This caused a fast and immediate deceleration that almost got me rear ended by the truck that was behind me. the car is at the dealership for a faulty cable/ IPMA module. this seems to be a very common issue for these cars. there were no messages PRIOR to the failure but the messages i am getting now are the front camera fault, and pre collision assist is no longer working. Adaptive cruise and even regular cruise control are no longer working either. additionally, i am getting a system off to save battery message, even though i just installed a new battery. This faulty camera/ connection to the camera seems to be creating a parasitic draw. This car is not even 5 years old and only has 40,000 miles. Cruise control and pre collsion are massive safety features that are no longer functioning.

Check engine light came on and car died at stop sign and wouldn’t restart. This happened multiple times after filling up car with gas. I took it to my dealership and they said it was the purge valve. I think should have been covered under warranty.

On hot days the gear shift gets stuck in park. The car interior has to cool down before the shifter will turn in to gear.