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

Front windshield failed sporadically under mild thermal shock. Outside temperature was in the range of 10°F and inside cabin had been warming up for about 30 minutes. Heat was not set to defroster. While stopped at an intersection, the windshield suddenly cracked across about 70% bottom edge emanating from a wiper contact point. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Has not been reproduced. I’ve received anecdotes that this exact same break type and location has occurred under very similar circumstances in other Ford Escapes.

NHTSA ODI 11449461

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 65-70 MPH, water started leaking from the air conditioner onto the brake and accelerator pedals and his foot. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who cleaned the air conditioner drain line however, the failure persisted. The contact stated the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer several times and the drain line was cleaned however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The contact stated his foot was wet from water leaking onto it, and it slipped off the brake pedal almost causing the vehicle to crash. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the drain line was replaced as a Ford service hotline recognition of the problem however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11425560

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

THE REAR VIEW/BACKUP CAMERA HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE DAY WE DROVE IT HOME. IT WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT SHOWS WAVY LINES ACROSS THE SCREEN. OCCASIONALLY AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAMERA WILL START WORKING BUT THE REAR VIEW PICTURE WILL REMAIN ON THE SCREEN EVEN WHILE IN DRIVE! THERE IS ALSO A STRANGE HUMP IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS IF SOMETHING IS PUSHING UP FROM UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE AND WE WERE TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR INSPECTION. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WE ARE GETTING NO HELP FROM THEM EITHER. WE HAVE A BRAND NEW, EXPENSIVE, DEFECTIVE, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS THE STRANGE LUMP IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED.

NHTSA ODI 11342696

THE REAR SAFETY CAMERA DOES NOT WORK GET WAVY LINES SIMILAR TO A BAD TV PICTURE.PROBLEM IS BY SOME REPORTS DUE TO HOT WEATHER (+ 70 FARENHEIGHT) THIS IS BS I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER VEHICLES SAME LOCATION SAME WEATHER NO PROBLEMS. RUNING AC DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM.WENT TO DEALER TECH FOUND LOOSE CONNECTION.BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY FAILURE THAT IS NOT FIXED BY FORD.PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN MOVED TO REVERSE FROM PARK .HASOCCURED EVERY DAY SINCE DELIVERY

NHTSA ODI 11341486

WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN 'PARK' ON A FLAT SURFACE, THE E-BRAKE TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY, BUT WHEN I PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME, I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE SCREENS AND IT TOLD ME THAT THE AUTO START/STOP WAS DISABLED DUE TO BEING ON A SLOPE (BUT I WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE). ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT OF THE LINES, BUT THE PUMP IS WORKING BECAUSE I CAN HEAR IT, POSSIBLE CLOGGED LINES. LASTLY, INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY WITH APPLE CARPLAY ' SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, USUALLY RANDOM.

NHTSA ODI 11341020

MY 2020 FORD ESCAPE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKES ODD WHIRRING SOUNDS AND SHIFTS HARD OFTEN WHILE DRIVING. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STILL HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING SMOOTHLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES BEEN WARMED UP AND DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. EVEN WHEN IT IS WORKING THE FEED IS USUALLY TERRIBLE QUALITY. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE REAR VIEW CAMERA, THE IMAGE QUALITY TURNS GREYISH AND IMAGES LAG.

NHTSA ODI 11337274

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET...BUT A FEW VERY CLOSE CALLS....THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ATTACHED TO IS HUGE AND THE MIRROR IS SUCH THAT IS BLOCKS A MAJOR PART OF THE VIEW TO THE RIGHT...ESP WHEN I AM ON A CURVY ROAD...IT LITERALLY BLOCKS ANYTHING IN THAT AREA...ANYONE ON A SIDEWALK ETC ETC....WHEN I NEED TO LOOK TO THE RIGHT I HAVE TO BEND DOWN OR LEAN OVER...I AM GOING TO HIT OR KILL SOMEONE....I HAVE TRIED CALLING FORD....BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY HAVE NO SAFETY DEPT...I AM SPOKEN TO PEOPLE IN EVERY COUNTRY WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET ME TO THE RIGHT DEPT...I HAVE LEFT MY PHONE NUMBER ETC...I ALSO ASKED IF THE MIRROR CAN BE SWAPPED OUT FOR A SMALLER ONE....I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO PUTTING THE MIRROR UP AND DOWN...VS THE WAY IT IS SOLD.....ALSO, THIS CAR WAS MAD WITH NO COVER FOR THE CARGO AREA....I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS..APPARENTLY THEY ARE WAITING FOR QUOTES FROM MANUFACTURERS....I OFTEN PUT MY CAR ON TRANSPORTERS...I MOVE ARTWORK AND ANTIQUES...I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT A CAR WITH NO CARGO COVER.....I AM OFTEN IN S FL...CARS ARE BROKEN INTO OFTEN...YET, AT THE CAR SHOW THERE WAS ON ON DISPLAY...TRICKING THE PUBLIC....THEY ARE HIDING FROM THESE ISSUES...PLEASE HELP ME GET ANSWERS...HAVE LEASED A FORD OVER 8 YEARS...NEVER AGAIN...AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THESE ISSUES SO THEY CAN RETHINK THE PURCHASE...SAFETY SHOULD COME FIRST.......I AM NOT INCLUDING PICS NOW...JUST SIT IN ANY 2020 ESCAPE.....

NHTSA ODI 11321562

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP COVERS WERE FOGGY ON THE INSIDE HOWEVER, THE HEADLAMPS PROVIDED ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE BULBS WERE LOCATED ABOVE THE HEADLAMP COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVEN'S JERSEY CITY FORD 740 NJ-440, JERSEY CITY NEW JERSEY 07304 PHONE NUMBER (201)432-7272 TO BE INSPECTED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE HEADLAMPS AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURES WITH THE HEADLAMP COVERS. THE CONTACT ALSO FOUND THAT WATER PENETRATED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR, AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGERS DOOR. THE DEALER REALIGNED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER REATTACHED THE DOORS METAL MOLDING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11309242