Home · 2020 Ford Escape Gas · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,479)Crash / fire / injury (36)Body & structure (603)Transmission & drivetrain (226)Fuel system (182)Electrical system (149)Engine (107)Driver assistance (60)Visibility & wipers (59)Latches & locks (39)Brakes (37)Backup camera & sensors (26)

603 of 1,479 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters · page 1 of 25

Jul 7, 2026Body & structure

LIFTGATE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED. THERE IS A GAP DIFFERENCE FROM THE LEFT REAR TO THE RIGHT REAR ON LIFTGATE. THERE IS ALSO RUST APPEARING ON THE BOLTS. CONDENSATION TUBE HAS DETACHED UNDER THE LIFTGATE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MALL OF GEORGIA FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON COMMERCE DRIVE IN BUFORD GEORGIA. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP AND STATED IT MAY NEED TO GO TO THEIR BODY SH0P.

NHTSA ODI 11748876

Jul 7, 2026Body & structure

I opened my passenger door & it made a terrible noise like it’s falling off the hinges. Door feels like I shouldn’t open it all the way or it may get stuck or just fall off

NHTSA ODI 11748914

Jun 10, 2026Fuel systemBody & structureBackup camera & sensors

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11743223

Apr 27, 2026Body & structure

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V829000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11734120

Apr 23, 2026Body & structure

The outside door window seals began rotting and crumbling apart on the front passenger and both rear door windows. The driver’s door window seal is not affected as the entire door was replaced due to a factory defect. This is allowing heavy amounts of water to run down inside the doors, threatening interior equipment corrosion and failure.

NHTSA ODI 11733303

Apr 9, 2026Visibility & wipersBody & structureBackup camera & sensors

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V123000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION), 26V117000 (VISIBILITY) and ( 25V829000 (STRUCTURE); and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ODI 11730194

Apr 8, 2026Fuel systemBody & structureBackup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 25V829000 (Structure), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer and the dealer were not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11729866

Mar 21, 2026Body & structure

Door is making a popping noise when opening and closing the door. Does not close smoothly. Appears to be a known issue with spot welds that go bad.

NHTSA ODI 11726109

Mar 18, 2026Body & structureBackup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V829000 (Structure) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11725169

Mar 5, 2026Body & structure

The door locking mechanism on the front driver and passenger side door fails to operate. When attempting to lock vehicle the front doors will make a sound attempting to lock but does successfully lock the doors. Safety is put at risk because anyone can enter the vehicle without a key at any time. Problem has not been inspected by manufacturer or independent service advisor. Has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representative, or others. No warning of problem prior to failure. Problem first appeared after Ford dealer performed customer satisfaction program 23B56 for the front door check-arm reinforcement welds that can crack and pull away from door structure.

NHTSA ODI 11722356

Feb 28, 2026Body & structure

When I attempted to open the panoramic sunroof shade, it became stuck and was drawn into the roller housing, where it is now fully lodged and cannot be retrieved. Repair estimates are in the thousands of dollars because correcting this issue requires removal of the headliner and extensive labor to access and replace the shade assembly. This failure has been reported by numerous other owners, particularly on the 2020 model year, with many describing the same outcome and similarly high repair costs. There was no indication that any component was compromised, no warning once the part detached, and no safety mechanism to prevent the shade from operating while obstructed.

NHTSA ODI 11721160

Feb 26, 2026Body & structure

Both front doors started making a severe cracking noise and are difficult to open and close. The popping noise grows more severe with time. The problem has caused major functions with the entire door alignment to include the driver's side windows to malfunction, refusing to go up or down if the door is opened or closed to often. My car is less than 5 years young with less than 27,110 local miles, one owner, purchased new 2020 and shouldn't be falling apart.

NHTSA ODI 11720712

Feb 26, 2026Body & structure

When opening the driver door, it pops and sometimes won't close or open all the way because of the door check arm bracket.

NHTSA ODI 11720788

Feb 25, 2026Fuel systemBody & structure

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. While starting the vehicle, the engine made a choking sound. The failure was more prevalent after fully refueling the vehicle. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. While approaching a red light and attempting to stop, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road, where the vehicle started to shake. The contact waited for a while before restarting the vehicle. When the vehicle was restarted, the engine started choking and the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was restarted after a while and driven to the residence. The next day, while starting the vehicle, the engine was choking, and the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact decided not to drive the vehicle to prevent the failures from occurring while driving. The dealer was contacted and informed that parts were not available for the recall repair. The contact was informed that any diagnostic test or repair would be out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,014.

NHTSA ODI 11720332

Feb 2, 2026Body & structure

Took my 2020 Escape into dealer due to recall #23B56/23V502 . Dealer stated that the door needs replacement , this was on Oct 22 ,2025. As of Jan 30 , 2026 Ford has yet to send part. I contacted Ford Customer Service on Jan 26 , 2026 and again on Feb 2, 2026 . They can't give me a date as to when part will arrive .

NHTSA ODI 11715075

Jan 23, 2026Body & structure

Windshield glass on lift gate shattered spontaneously. Car was not on, windshield had no previous notable cracks or damage. Weather was fair, not extremely hot or cold when incident occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11712889

Jan 21, 2026Body & structure

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the driver's front door, and the inside plastic door hinge and rivets detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11712425

Jan 9, 2026Fuel systemBody & structure

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 38,697.

NHTSA ODI 11709892

Dec 30, 2025Body & structure

The driver side door is popping and cracking when I open it. It literally sounds like it's going to break and fall off at any moment.

NHTSA ODI 11707723

Dec 23, 2025Fuel systemBody & structure

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11706828

Dec 21, 2025Body & structure

My vehicle was subject to Ford Campaign 23B56 (front door check-arm reinforcement spot weld inspection). The dealership marked the campaign as completed and claimed the left front door failed inspection and was replaced. However, the door still does not close properly, and the check-arm area appears unchanged or improperly repaired. I believe the recall repair was not performed correctly or was misrepresented as completed. This is a safety concern because the door does not operate properly. I am requesting investigation of improper recall completion.

NHTSA ODI 11706362

Dec 16, 2025Body & structure

there was a door weld recall on my vehicles' door. I took it to the service shop. Was told Ford had no doors for replacement and to check back. i checked back after almost a year. service shop said Ford had indefinitely suspended fixing the door. Meanwhile, i am unable to roll down the drivers side window more than 2 inches. The recall does not show up as unrepaired, yet the door is broken. I don't know the next steps to take.

NHTSA ODI 11705346

Dec 15, 2025Body & structure

I exited my 2020 Escape and as I walked around the car to go into my house, as ai was passing the back of my car the Liftgate glass completely shattered. In the days prior I noticed the defroster was not defrosting all the way. I just got this car a month ago. Glass was everywhere thankfully no one was hurt nor were any of my kids in or around the vehicle at the time the window shattered.

NHTSA ODI 11705210

Nov 30, 2025Body & structure

Driver door broke off the hinges and is inoperable The door almost slammed on my child’s hand No warnings

NHTSA ODI 11702072

Nov 27, 2025Body & structure

Drivers door check makes loud popping sounds , hard to open door .

NHTSA ODI 11701816

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Working with the data? Download all 1,479 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2020 Ford Escape Gas verdict →