May 20, 2022Crash
The vehicle has a safety system called hill assist start and auto hold braking. When activated the driver can take their foot off the brake pedal when fully stopped and the car should stay stopped until the accelerator is engaged. The first incident occurred about 5 months ago. I had started the vehicle and put it in drive. A warning then appeared on the dashboard saying hill assist start fault and then immediately switched to auto hold fault and the car started moving on its own. After stopping the car and resetting the transmission the fault message went away and the car held in place. About 2 weeks later this same fault happened but I was unable to stop the car in time before hitting a pole on the left front quarter panel. This caused a large dent. I was able to take a picture of the fault message on the dashboard. I had to take the car in for another issue and told the service advisor about the auto hold faults. The dealer ran a diagnostic and found no issues. The issue did continue after this visit. About 2 months ago the fault occurred when the car was next to a wall and the front left side was heavily damaged when it hit the wall. I was able to take another picture of the fault message. At the same time, we had issues with getting the car into reverse on the transmission dial Returned to the dealership and informed them of the continued issues. I also opened a case with Ford over the issue. The dealer again ran a diagnostic, drove the car but could not reproduce any of the issues or faults. I showed them the pictures of the fault message and they did not take it seriously. A Ford engineer also inspected the car and could find no issue. We reluctantly took the car back. Now the auto hold will turn on and off by itself when the car is stopped. The car will start to roll forward until the brake pedal is engaged. I informed Ford of this, and they said there is nothing else they can do for us. All of these issues happen at random. The car is unsafe.
NHTSA ODI 11465404
Jan 12, 2022BrakesCrash
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.
NHTSA ODI 11447172
Dec 9, 2021AirbagsCrash1 injury
I was involved in a collision with a pick-up truck in Gallup, NM on 12/3/21. We hit the truck mid-section. Front of my Escape was pretty much destroyed. Our airbags did NOT deploy. Mine and my husbands safety was at risk due to the failure of the airbags to deploy in the crash. Vehicle is at the Ford Dealer in Gallup, NM waiting for State Farm to determine the next steps. I had no prior warnings or indications that the airbags were not functional.
NHTSA ODI 11443283
Sep 27, 2021Body & structure1 injury
The liftgate has a mind of its own. It closes without warning and crashes on my head! I can't load anything without holding one hand over my head to catch the door as it closes unexpectedly on my head. Even a shadow causes the liftgate to close - if a child or an animal walks by. If you turn off the automatic liftgate feature you manually have to lift the gate and close it. It is very heavy to lift and close and not practical. It is way too sensitive and needs to be addressed before someone is seriously hurt.
NHTSA ODI 11434552
Aug 19, 2021AirbagsCrash
I was at a red light behind 4 cars, when as I look into the rearview mirror when I saw a white van coming at me at cruising speed. As I turned the steering wheel to the left, purposely trying to avoid the vehicle in front of me, the white van slammed into me and caused me to hit my head on the steering wheel and the window. I had my seat belt on, but I was hit so hard that the car frame was bent and I was hurt. I was informed that the reason not one of my airbags went off in the front of my car was, I was hit in the rear. If I would have let my car hit the car in front of me, I would have been protected by the airbags in the front. This is a serious issue and this complaint is to request the NTSB look into requiring all vehicles to have sensors throught out the car to keep drivers and passangers should remain as steady
NHTSA ODI 11429813
Jul 7, 2021Body & structure1 injury
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the hands-free rear tailgate had on several occasions erroneously opened and closed without the close button being pressed or the open sensors being activated. The contact indicated that while retrieving groceries from the vehicle with the tailgate door raised the door suddenly began to close and hit the contact in the head causing a minor laceration. No medical treatment was required. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no service was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures but no assistance was offered and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 1,000.
NHTSA ODI 11423760
Jun 3, 2021Body & structure1 injury
The rear liftgate, while open (and while I was loading/unloading items), will randomly close on its own. It does signal it is about to through very low volume beeps but it has done this some 20 times randomly in the last week. Several days ago it closed on my head, taking off a slice of skin on my scalp, knocking me down face forward onto/into the rear bumper, injuring my face/upper lip as well. This is a known/documented issue on many vehicles via many Ford Escape forms, which suggest having the key fob in your pocket or on your person is the culprit and sends the car into a frenzy.
NHTSA ODI 11419448
Mar 25, 2021Crash2 injuries
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 1-2MPH WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH STRUCTURE. THE CONTACT STATED ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG. 2 PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND WERE TAKEN TO RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BEING DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11404849
Jan 19, 2021Seats1 injury
THE SPRINGS OR BAR AT THE BACK OF THE BOTTOM SEAT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT IS POKING UP AND I HAVE TO ADJUST CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING AS IT HURTS. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE POSITIONS TO TRY AND NOT HURT. A PICTURE WILL NOT SHOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN THE SEAT IS SAT ON.
NHTSA ODI 11388835
Jan 7, 2021AirbagsBody & structureWheelsCrash4 injuries
12/26/2020 HEAD-ON COLLISION, MOST IMPACT TO PASSENGER FRONT SIDE - PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOYED - INJURIES SUSTAINED BY PASSENGER AND DRIVER. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON CITY STREET (50 MPH ZONE).*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT
NHTSA ODI 11386920
Jul 31, 2020AirbagsSpeed controlDriver assistanceCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. DURING THE CRASH FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE COLLISION ASSISTANCE SAFETY FEATURE DID NOT ACTIVATE TO AVOID THE CRASH. DURING THE INCIDENT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED CHEST WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER ROYAL OAK FORD LOCATED AT 27550 WOODWARD AVE, ROYAL OAK, MI 48067. AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
NHTSA ODI 11342512