Owners have filed 367 complaints
about the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid with NHTSA between 2020 and 2026.
The largest single group is the body & structure.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 100
Against the median year of the Ford Escape Hybrid. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 20
3.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
62% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2020 compares with every other Ford Escape Hybrid
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
8271.3%
Door
1311.3%
Blind Spot Detection
54.3%
Hinge AND Attachments
54.3%
Rearview System Braking
32.6%
Warnings
32.6%
Automatic Emergency Braking
21.7%
Instrument Cluster/Panel
21.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
1112.9%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1922.4%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
1112.9%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
2529.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
89.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
78.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
33.5%
150,000+ miles
11.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2020peak 37Aug 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE23013Opened 7 Jul 2023Closed 24 Jan 2024STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
On July 7, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-013 to investigate instances of check arm bracket failure in the front doors in model year (MY) 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles. At the time of opening, ODI received 118 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging this failure. To date, ODI has received 593 VOQs alleging this failure, with a variety of reported failure conditions. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more difficult to open or close) and the least common was inadvertent door opening. Other reported failure...
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 82,000 milesGrand Island, NE1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #11748752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesGrand Island, NE1 injured
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #11748752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesSmithtown, NY1 injured
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the shifter selector assembly had sharp edges. There were sharp edges on the side of the dial. The contact sustained injuries to her fingers, but medical attention was not provided. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shifter selector assembly knob needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #11567574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesSmithtown, NY1 injured
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the shifter selector assembly had sharp edges. There were sharp edges on the side of the dial. The contact sustained injuries to her fingers, but medical attention was not provided. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shifter selector assembly knob needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #11567574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilroy, CA1 injured
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The edges of the tail light covers are sharp and when I accidentally brush my arms on them while the tailgate is up exposing the edges, I cut my arms badly. I could not upload pictures of the tailgate cover edges or the cuts on my arm which I have.
NHTSA complaint #11561809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilroy, CA1 injured
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The edges of the tail light covers are sharp and when I accidentally brush my arms on them while the tailgate is up exposing the edges, I cut my arms badly. I could not upload pictures of the tailgate cover edges or the cuts on my arm which I have.
NHTSA complaint #11561809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Huntington Park, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I went to [XXX] for the weekend, and on Sunday XXX I just left a restaurant and my car was parked on the street. As I left I was driving down a one way public street. I thought I hit a parked car to my right because I heard a noise that sounding like I hit something. I looked in the mirror and saw I was far from the parked cars and kept going. I went about a mile more and parked, and when I got out of the vehicle my friend/passenger said what happened to your car? and the passenger side top cover of my tailgate was missing. I told him I had a safety recall with ford and they fixed it earlier this year, but when looked at the remaining clip, it was just a square piece of Velcro showing. Cover was gone. It was there in the morning when we left the hotel and put our luggage in the rear liftgate cargo hold. Note; The day prior I was driving 2 and a half miles from [XXX] to [XXX] on the XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesAustin, TX
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the panoramic sunroof center trim piece became dislodged. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 23-213 and stated it was a known issue with the panoramic sunroof center trim pieces being dislodged due to extreme heat and weather. The dealer was contacted and stated that a master technician was needed to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reno, NV
POWER TRAIN
When the outside temperature gets over 95F, the rotary gear shifter locks up in Park and will not let you shift into Drive. Multiple restarts over 30 minutes with the A/C center console pointed down to cool off the rotary shifter dial. This really is annoying. Twice I was late for appointments. I am handicapped disabled veteran and need this car to work, 100 percent of the time. The ford escape online forums, nor Ford have a fix. It's a KNOWN problem on the forums. Ford said they fixed it when I sent it in for an unrelated maintenance stop. DID NOT FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11755477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
La Habra, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE INFORMATION Year/Make/Model: 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Titanium Component: Electrical / Instrument Cluster / Digital Display Unit (IPC) Hazard: Critical Visual Hazard & Operational Safety Defect STATEMENT OF SAFETY CONCERN The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the 2020 Ford Escape Titanium is experiencing severe pixelation and flickering, indicating imminent screen failure. Because this trim lacks mechanical gauges, screen failure blinds the driver to vital real-time operating metrics: Speedometer: Prevents real-time speed monitoring, increasing collision risk. Engine Temperature: Hides thermal warnings, risking sudden engine breakdown or overheating. Fuel Gauge: Obscures fuel levels, risking sudden loss of propulsion in active traffic. Warning Lights: Hides critical alerts for Brake System, Airbags, Tire Pressure, and High-Voltage Hybrid System faults. OPERATIONAL HAZARD ANALYSIS Driving with a malfunctioning instrument panel creates immediate hazards: Driver Distraction: Constant screen flickering directly in the driver's line of sight creates a dangerous visual distraction, especially at night. Power Loss Risk: Lack of fuel/hybrid monitoring increases the likelihood of stalling on highways or busy intersections. Loss of Safety Warnings: The vehicle cannot communicate critical restraint or braking system failures to the driver. REQUESTED ACTION / RESOLUTION This condition represents an active safety defect. I request: Immediate diagnostic and replacement of the digital instrument cluster unit (IPC) or control module under applicable technical/safety service guidelines. Formal documentation of this defect with Ford Motor Company and reporting to federal regulators (NHTSA).
NHTSA complaint #11751650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesGrand Island, NE1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #11748752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesGrand Island, NE1 injured
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #11748752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Changed 12V battery because liftgate was inconsistently opening. Would click but not release. I have tried the resetting the system with accessory mode, pressing brake and flashing highbeams, have disabled liftgate and reenabled liftgate, have even tried the emergency release under access panel and it still will not open but clicks.
NHTSA complaint #11748234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aransas Pass, TX
POWER TRAIN
Our 2020 Ford Escape Titanium began making a flutter noise at lower speeds. An independent mechanic checked for codes and none were present. He advised to drive until the check engine light comes on. Two days later the car had a knocking noise in the engine compartment. Driving home, accelerating onto a hiway the engine made a loud metallic noise as the engine started to overspeed. The car shut itself off and we pulled over to the shoulder. We were stuck on a 65 mph 4 lane hiway for 3 hours trying to work with roadside assistance for a tow. We towed it to McGraw Ford in Aransas Pass, TX and it sat in their back lot for 8 weeks with no diagnosis. We then had it towed to a Ford certified mechanic near our home and he wanted many hours of labor as the transmission needed to be removed to provide an estimate. He was throwing numbers approaching $10k as a guess. We elected to sell the car to a private party for far less than its value.
NHTSA complaint #11747622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Augusta, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The panoramic sunroof cover, it is available for inspection upon request my safety was jeopardized while driving my car at the time, the problem has not been reproduced, but it has been confirmed by dealer the Ford dealer told me that it would cost me $2000 plus a $200 labor fee to get it repaired and I did tell him that I had looked on a site and saw that this happened happened to a lot of Ford escape buyers. There weren’t any warnings as I was driving, and I pushed the button to open up the sunroof. The cover just flapped and went all the way back as I was driving and came off of the track and the black plastic part that’s in the middle fell down and I could never get that to stick back up again. I first noticed when I would have my sunroof slanted. I never would open it all the way, but just slanted. I would hear a rattling noise so I would close it and I opened my sunroof all the way up twice and the third time when I decided to open it all the way up while I was driving that’s when the whole thing just fell, fell the middle black part and the cover while I was driving and it scared the daylights out of me while I was driving on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11747278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesLos Gatos, CA
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the sync screen intermittently displayed an inverted image. The contact added that the inability to properly use the display posed a safety risk, as it may increase the likelihood of a crash. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
NHTSA complaint #11734867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Groveland, FL
ENGINE
Sluggish acceleration, car would not go faster than 37 MPH at full throttle, appeared to be running on hybrid motor only, not on engine power. 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. 2.5 L engine. Only got 1 mile, returned home. No smoke, no fire, just not accelerating. Car was completely fine the day before. Got towed to Ford dealer next morning.
NHTSA complaint #11682471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesSpringfield, OR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal coolant consumption was noticed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #11649296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crown Point, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I recently found out through a Ford dealer that there was a recall on the door on my Ford escape. I never received anything in the mail. I had the issue fixed by my local mechanic and he used Ford parts. I would like A reimbursement.
NHTSA complaint #11648987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesWickliffe, OH
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong odor of mold and mildew was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who discovered that rainwater had leaked into the trunk and spare tire well, causing mold and mildew to develop inside the vehicle. The contact was informed that the carpet needed to be replaced. The exact cause of the water intrusion was unknown. The vehicle was not yet repaired. There was no illness or sickness reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11645477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Round Rock, TX
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle is just under 37K miles. I was operating the vehicle normally, and the wrench icon came on, indicating a powertrain issue. There are recalls for this for some vehicles but not all, and it seems to occur just after warranties expiring. I am concerned my vehicle falls under this service bulletin but has not been properly added: SSM 49157 - 2020 Escape - Illuminated MIL With DTCs U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, And/Or P0919 Some 2020 Escape vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, and/or P0919. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator lamp. This may be due to the software in the gear shift module (GSM). To correct the condition, reprogram the GSM using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part number 7P155 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual. APPLICABLE VEHICLES 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE
NHTSA complaint #11644872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Round Rock, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle is just under 37K miles. I was operating the vehicle normally, and the wrench icon came on, indicating a powertrain issue. There are recalls for this for some vehicles but not all, and it seems to occur just after warranties expiring. I am concerned my vehicle falls under this service bulletin but has not been properly added: SSM 49157 - 2020 Escape - Illuminated MIL With DTCs U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, And/Or P0919 Some 2020 Escape vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, and/or P0919. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator lamp. This may be due to the software in the gear shift module (GSM). To correct the condition, reprogram the GSM using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part number 7P155 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual. APPLICABLE VEHICLES 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE
NHTSA complaint #11644872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof cover came down and blocked my rear visibility. It took a few attempts to get the cover back up because I need to see what is behind me for safety purposes. Then, when I was sesrching online for the solution, I realized a lot of people with 2020 - 2022 Ford Escapes were also having issues with the sunroof cover. It is quite dangerous for it to fall.
NHTSA complaint #11639520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The sunroof cover came down and blocked my rear visibility. It took a few attempts to get the cover back up because I need to see what is behind me for safety purposes. Then, when I was sesrching online for the solution, I realized a lot of people with 2020 - 2022 Ford Escapes were also having issues with the sunroof cover. It is quite dangerous for it to fall.
NHTSA complaint #11639520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The hybrid battery coolant line has a leak and is available for inspection. Driving the vehicle with this leak can compromise the battery resulting in overheating which could cause the vehicle to break down, fire, or burn. The dealer confirmed the leak. The dealer was a manufacturer dealer and they inspected the vehicle. There were no indications of a leak.
NHTSA complaint #11633447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
La Habra, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car has a panoramic roof with automatic open/close sunshade that cover the interior of the glass. I was opening the sunshade to open the moon roof and the shade all of the suden came down and did not roll as intended and my visibility while I was driving was gone for a second until my wife helped out quickly so we do not crash. The problem is common for this car in the ford forums online and the dealerships are not concerend or applying any responsbility of the problem and the safety of it. there was no message or warning but it put myself and my family in danger. I went and got it inspected by the dealership but they did not take responsibilty.
NHTSA complaint #11630667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
La Habra, CA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The car has a panoramic roof with automatic open/close sunshade that cover the interior of the glass. I was opening the sunshade to open the moon roof and the shade all of the suden came down and did not roll as intended and my visibility while I was driving was gone for a second until my wife helped out quickly so we do not crash. The problem is common for this car in the ford forums online and the dealerships are not concerend or applying any responsbility of the problem and the safety of it. there was no message or warning but it put myself and my family in danger. I went and got it inspected by the dealership but they did not take responsibilty.
NHTSA complaint #11630667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Xenia, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Gear selector knob silver plating is flaking off and leaving sharp edges.the edges are sharp enough to cut your fingers
NHTSA complaint #11628274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Grove, WI
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While filling the gas tank with fuel the fuel spits back causing an unsafe condition. There is a technical service bulletin for this by Ford (number 22-2433), but no recall. Many people have complained about this condition.
NHTSA complaint #11626906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,400 milesGlendale, AZ
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after driving a short distance and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle responded as needed. The vehicle was driven to the intended destination. The contact stated that the incident was significantly frightening. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V380000(Engine); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,400.
NHTSA complaint #11623623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The shade retraction on the moonroof is malfunctioning, causing the fabric to not retract completely, the sagging fabric is causing visibility obstruction. My Ford dealership have inspected the issue and have quoted me an approximate price of $1700 to fix the issue, which is currently cost prohibitive for me ($400 for the replacement part + approx 6 hours of labor), unfortunately this will not be covered by my warranty. There were no warning messages prior to failure, I pressed the button to open my moonroof one day and this happened, if I was driving this would have caused an accident because my visibility of rear view is blocked, luckily I was parked when I discovered this issue. This issue first appeared in June 2024. I went to the dealership in July 2024, because it was cost prohibitive to fix I have not used the moonroof since then because it affects visibility.
NHTSA complaint #11622531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.