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

There has been a safety recall for this vehicle for the same issue for far too long. Fords temporary remedy has made my vehicle be even more unsafe to drive causing faults with AWD, Traction control, hill assist, power steering, alternator producing to high voltage, etc. the vehicle was not legal to drive from ‘at to February do to this issues. Fords temporary remedy issued a new recall 25S76 replacing recall 22S73. Supposedly this was going to fix problems with first recall update but the vehicle still experiencing the same faults. And is not legal or safe to drive in NY. When will Ford have to make right in these issues?

NHTSA ODI 11729040

Powertrain malfunction/ reduced power hill start assist warning Pre- collision assist not available

NHTSA ODI 11725986

Thumb was deeply cut using gear shift selector knob due to peeling chrome on the knob.

NHTSA ODI 11724275

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and started, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle while reversing. The contact stated the sound started shortly after the vehicle was purchased. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,800.

NHTSA ODI 11722978

One day just had a ton of issues. Sometimes when vehicles is started it will not go into drive or reverse. Rpm’s respond to gas pedal like the vehicle is in park or neutral with little resistance. CEL 4WD hill start and maybe another light alert come on when the vehicle starts. When this first began to happen there was a rev condition between 1st and 2nd gear, car hesitated to shift. When auto start stop would engage it would not move forward. Eventually the car may catch gear and begin to move under its own power again. Brought it into a car repair shop and was told I needed a whole new transmission. Said it could have been from the transmission fluid leaking in the car from a previous recall on my car. Car is only at 66,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11722754

System failures with lights and warnings include: hill start assist, All wheel drive fault, precollision assist, advanctrac. Rear differential and AWD module had to be replaced. Car has 57,000 miles on it and is a 2020. Safety is put at risk with a failing rear differential. There were minor vibrations that could've turned into wheel lock. All of the different drive modes were unavailable, and with heavy snow and ice in the area where I live, it made driving more difficult. The car was diagnosed and 2 dealers and one independent service center and the work was ultimately done at a dealer because the all wheel drive module has to be programmed.

NHTSA ODI 11722514

Turbo failed due to oil lines clogged. Failed again after repair two weeks later on highway almost causing a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11718693

I have had 22 recalls to date on this vehicle and received 1 recall notice. Engine light comes on alot, makes noises and then goes away after a couple days. Windshield washer stopped working on front windshield, now back stopped working. Tire pressure monitor & sensor default stays on (previous recall) Window on driver side stopped working, back passenger door on drivers side don't shut correctly like the weld come loose. Back brakes make a crazy noise when backing up. Back up camera warning comes up. I've only had this vehicle since 09-2023 and purchased from Ford as a Ford Blue Certified and have nothing but issues. Most of these recalls risk is a fire. If I'm involved and live through a fire I will make sure FORD is held accountable. The open recall with risk of fire currently has been open since July 2025 and no repair yet. This is totally unacceptable if they want me to keep paying for it. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11718804

The transmission shifting got increasingly rough over time, and then suddenly refused to shift into gear/reverse. The Ford shop told us it was the reverse solenoid, but it ended up requiring a full transmission rebuild. Safety of the car refusing to shift gears led to loss of power several times, unable to accelerate in traffic, until total failure occurred. Problem was inspected by Ford dealership, then repaired by independent service center due to cost. Not inspected by insurance, as it did not result in a collision. Warning lamps did not turn on until total failure occurred. Then lights on gear shift dial blinked, refused to allow us to put the car in gear. Dash lights also indicated "check engine" at that time, but no earlier.

NHTSA ODI 11718222

Summary of Problem: Following the mandatory software update for NHTSA Recall 22V859 (Ford 22S73) on my 2020 Ford Escape 1.5L, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic electrical failure. The vehicle is now subject to the expanded NHTSA Recall 25V467 (Ford 25S76) with a status of 'Remedy Not Available'. Safety Failures: Continuous Overcharging: A multimeter test confirms the alternator is overcharging at 15.5V or higher, posing a severe risk of battery explosion or vehicle fire. Safety System Collapse: The overvoltage has forced multiple safety modules into 'fail-safe' mode, disabling the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control, and AWD Powertrain. Network Communication Failure: Diagnostic reports confirm a U3000 critical control module fault and 'Lost Communication' with the Battery Energy Control Module, indicating a software-induced network collapse. Undriveable Status: The vehicle has been unusable for over 30 days and cannot pass NY State Inspection due to persistent EVAP and module communication codes triggered by the recall update. Dealer Negligence: [XXX] (Dealer #XXX) confirmed that all physical communication lines are functional but refused a free recall-related diagnosis, demanding a $600 fee instead of honoring the federal safety recall mandate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11715848

Shuddering transmission, vehicle struggles to change gears smoothly resulting in loss of acceleration. Rough gear changes from 1-3 gears Transmission fluid changed. Same issues. Issues go in hand with the current class action lawsuit of Ford Escape and Ford Focus over transmission issues. Failure of transmission and exorbitant repair cost over a safety critical issue should automatically require a NHTSA investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11715223

The vehicle is subject to an open federal safety recall involving a fuel injector that may crack and leak fuel onto the top of the engine. According to NHTSA, liquid fuel or fuel vapor may accumulate near hot engine or exhaust components, creating a risk of an under-hood fire and injury. I purchased this vehicle after the recall had already been issued. The recall was not disclosed to me at the time of sale, and the vehicle was presented for service multiple times after purchase without any disclosure of the recall or safety warnings. When I contacted an authorized dealer to ask whether there were any open recalls, I was initially told there were none. After I specifically referenced the recall, I was told that parts were not available and that no repair had been completed. The safety risk is that the vehicle may leak fuel near hot components without warning, creating a fire hazard while driving or after the engine is shut off. I have not been provided interim safety guidance or a timeline for repair. NHTSA records currently show the recall remains open, unrepaired, and without an available remedy.

NHTSA ODI 11713764

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. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from under the hood, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. However, it was unclear if the failure was recall-related. The parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11712155

The AWD module failed with less than 60,000 miles on the vehicle. I live in the Northeast and we get some brutal weather, especially snowstorms. I believe this part should be under a broader recall as it was the same grounding issue as reported in the other current recall for a certain production date escape for its awd module this year. I have always owned a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle, and we love to take scenic trips especially in winter for something to do. The only inspection of the module was the Tunkhannock ford dealer that replaced it. The system did warn me after filling up with gas that there was an issue. I feel that this could have gone really bad if we had been in lake Seneca, Killington or driving up to Bangor. It is the whole idea of it not working because of a single bad grounding wield that shuts all the traction control off to get stuck out in very little snow... I don't even know if the ABS would react the same under this condition.

NHTSA ODI 11711878

Total failure of transmission. The transmission on this car failed while driving making it unable to move and creating a risk of collision with other vehicles. No warning displayed on dash until after failure. Noticed some minor vibrations when decelerating at speed was at 25mph. Mileage was approx 80,000 miles. Mechanic diagnosed the possible cause as the failure of the transmission fluid pump or failure of "lifetime" transmission fluid. Cost to replace was $9,000

NHTSA ODI 11708051

I completed my 70,000 maintenance on my vehicle on Monday. Friday when I got in my car after shopping, the dash light for parking brake kept coming on. When I put it in drive, the engine light, park assist light, collision assist light, and multiple warning lights kept cycling on my car’s screen. I drove back to the dealership and they kept the car from Friday morning until Monday afternoon before a diagnosis was handed to me. The write up states that the vehicle is “is slipping in every gear” due to “internal mechanical failure.” I am at 70,000 miles and I purchased that car on Jan 4, 2021. Therefore I am out of warranty. I have only had the dealer work on my car except for purchasing tires from an outside source. This is a catastrophic failure of a part that should not be failing. The tech is not even guaranteeing that this will fix the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11707681

I am smelling gas every time I put gas and it won't start after putting gas there's a strong smell of gas inside my vehicle the recall has not been fixed yet I am a single mother and this is a safety risk issue how do I go forward powertrain is also still coming up I have other things popping up saying recalls were never fixed please help

NHTSA ODI 11703340

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.

NHTSA ODI 11702259

At about 95,000 miles, I began experiencing transmission issues. On several occasions, the transmission would not go into second gear and left the vehicle unable to move forward unless I let off the accelerator and it shifted back into first gear. At about 96,000 miles, when placing the vehicle into Park, the Park light would flash and a growling/grinding noise is present for about 5-10 seconds. In my experience, the park light flashing is an indication that the vehicle has not shifted into the Park gear yet. On 11/25/2025, my local Ford dealer confirmed these issues, stating the vehicle had “harsh engage, shift flare 1-2 shift”. The fluid sample was dark and contained metal shavings. The Ford dealer has recommended a complete transmission replacement. The dealer stated they have seen numerous Ford Escapes/Broncos/Mavericks with my model years and mileage experience similar failures. Because the transmission lags between 1st and 2nd gear, the vehicle could be at low speeds during a lag, and may roll back during a lag, causing a collision. Additionally, it is possible that the vehicle may not be properly engaging its parking gear due to these issues, which may leave the vehicle in an unsafe condition.

NHTSA ODI 11701738

By dong my own research, I found out it was the AWD Module. It's not grounded correctly. There are multiple, long detailed forum posts on this. Here is one: [XXX] I verified my AWD drive module was indeed not getting enough power do to the grounding issue, which sends a cascade of other faults including the anti lock breaks, collision detection, driving modes, cruise control, auto hold, hill park assist. ALL are non-operational. Now my AWD module does not even show up with a OBD scanner. This should be a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11698445

the transmission experienced total failure. Ford repair claimed that the failure was due to the torque converter caused the failure. the car experience issues with not shifting into a higher gear at highway speeds and failure to go into neutral when going from forward to reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11694620

UnknownOn my dash my AWD fault warning has showed up followed by hill assist not available and traction control not available. I have looked for in formation online about it and it seems that it’s a recurring issue with 2020 Ford Escape and many others. I’ve seen that there was a customer satisfaction effective on April 9,2021 through April 30, 2022 but I have just gotten this car last year and dealer states that I am responsible for fixing a manufacturing issue. I’m not sure where my car was manufactured but my car is affected. I have about 83,600 miles and don’t seem to understand why I have to pay since in the customer satisfaction program it states that the module needs to be replaced before sale and customers that have already purchased the vehicle should have it replaced no charge to them. I’ve only just gotten this car last year February 2024 and not sure if the owner before got the notice or not but I have not received a notice stating anything about the AWD system malfunctioning. It is definitely a safety risk if I was to be driving in a snow or ice storm and my traction control stopped working; without the AWD the car is harder to accelerate and control sometimes. I haven't gotten if fixed since they want me to pay for something that they failed to make sure was working correctly. I can't afford to fix it since money is already tight but it is my only way of transportation. I have some photos of the lights/warnings and I have a document of the customer satisfaction Program from 2021.

NHTSA ODI 11694162

Upon starting our vehicle, we received several warning lights relating to collision control and that the AWD system had failed. This happened on a Saturday so we had to wait until Monday to bring the car in to the dealer for service. The service department told us that the diagnostic testing indicated that the AWD module and the PTU actuator motor needed to be replaced. Our vehicle is under six years and under 29,000 miles, along with being garage kept and having regular maintenance.

NHTSA ODI 11692156

When the interior of the car gets hot, the gear select dial will not rotate out of park. This has occurred on 5 separate occasions. Eventually the interior of the car cools down enough to shift, but that can take anywhere from minutes to hours, leaving the vehicle and its passengers stranded until the selector shifts. This same problem has been reported by several others on the Ford Escape forum.

NHTSA ODI 11692185

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle hesitated while attempting to start, with the power train warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,474.

NHTSA ODI 11691691