What 1,479 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Escape Gas

The driver door welds have broken. The door has been investigated by Courtesy Ford, Hattiesburg, MS. They stated the door would have to be replaced at a cost of $2600. No warning lamps were indicated. Also, the breaks squeal when in reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11573496

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.

NHTSA ODI 11566112

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.

NHTSA ODI 11563753

The car stops while I’m driving isn’t the first time almost got hit couldn’t turn the wheel or press breaks engine light kept coming on and so does the battery

NHTSA ODI 11554863

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.

NHTSA ODI 11540324

I lost my ability to steer my vehicle. I attempted to step on the brakes and nothing happened. I hit a box truck in front of me going at least 30mph and only my shin airbag deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11539046

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

NHTSA ODI 11524801

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.

NHTSA ODI 11461783

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 .

NHTSA ODI 11451256

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

THE CAR CAMERA GOES BLACK WITH SQUIGGLY LINES WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATES FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THERE IS A HUGE BACK ORDER ON GETTING A REPLACEMENT. NOW I HAVE A WHIRLING SOUND WHEN SPEED IS BETWEEN 25 MPH - 39 MPH. ONCE YOU LET UP ON ACCELERATION IT STOPS OR ONCE THE SPEED HAS GONE BEYOND 39 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ON GROVES HIGHWAYS YOU CAN FEEL BACKEND OF THE CAR MOVING AROUND. I HAD THIS ISSUE WITH A FUSION AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND DUE TO NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN THE WINTER. MY 2017 ESCAPE DOES NOT DO THIS. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SIDE TRIM DOES NOT FIT SNUG, AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS WELL. LASTLY, THE BRAKES MAKE A LOUD SQUEALING NOICE WITH A HEAVY MORNING DEW OR WHEN RAINING.

NHTSA ODI 11344126

MOST STATES REQUIRE TRAILERS OF 3,000LB GVWR, AND SOME STATES ONLY 1,500LB, TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRAKING SYSTEM ON AT LEAST ONE AXLE OF THE TRAILER. FORD SELLS VEHICLES WITH FACTORY TOW PACKAGES RATED AT 3,500LB, BUT DOES NOT SUPPLY EVEN AN OPTIONAL ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER. FURTHER, THEY DON'T SUPPLY A "PLUG 'N' PLAY" HARNESS FOR AN AFTERMARKET CONTROLLER AS DO MANY MANUFACTURERS. THIS SITUATION HAS PREVAILED FROM AT LEAST 2013 ONWARD. WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR 2020 ESCAPE SEL WITH FACTORY TOWING, WE FULLY EXPECTED THAT THIS SHORTCOMING WOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. IT HAS NOT. AND THAT IT HAS EXISTED FOR TWO GENERATIONS OF THE ESCAPE SPANNING EIGHT MODEL YEARS LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE FORD IS WILLFULLY IGNORING THE LAWS OF MANY STATES, AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERING THE DRIVERS OF THESE CARS AND OTHER DRIVERS SHARING THE ROADWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11301659