Home · 2020 Ford Escape Hev · Complaints

What 281 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Escape Hev

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 (281)Crash / fire / injury (6)Body & structure (104)Engine (64)Electrical system (42)Transmission & drivetrain (29)Fuel system (8)Visibility & wipers (7)Backup camera & sensors (6)Brakes (6)Lane Departure (6)Driver assistance (5)

8 of 281 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Nov 22, 2024Fuel system

While filling the gas tank with fuel the fuel spits back causing an unsafe condition. There is a technical service bulletin for this by Ford (number 22-2433), but no recall. Many people have complained about this condition.

NHTSA ODI 11626906

Sep 19, 2024Electrical systemEngineFuel system

I have received 2 letters from manufacturer, than I had appointment dealer service, I went there and worker sad to me we don't have it, than I tried another services , they same answer, than I contacted ford, ford told to me car is good condition don't need replacement

NHTSA ODI 11615422

Aug 14, 2024Fuel systemEngine

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle at the gas station, fuel was splashing out of the fuel filler neck. The contact stated that upon attempting to refuel the vehicle again, the gas pump nozzle unintendedly stopped several times and fuel splashed onto the contact; however, the fuel tank was not full. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Service Engine Soon" and other unknown messages were displayed on the Ford Mobile App. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the canister purge valve was blocked and was obstructing the fuel circulation. The dealer determined that the fuel lines, the fuel system valves, and the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 43,578.

NHTSA ODI 11608505

Mar 5, 2024EngineFuel system

My vehicle is continuously triggers a check engine light, which goes on and off. It states on the FORD APP that the engine is detecting that the exhaust gas recirculation system flow is higher than expected for the operating conditions. I have repeatedly requested that this be evaluated but every time I go in for service they tell me that they will not look at it unless the check engine light is on (Which it goes on and off all the time with the same record) and they refuse to go off the check engine history on my APP. There is also a sound coming from my driver side tailpipe that is low sound at idle but increasing whines/chirps during acceleration. I can't say for sure, but I believe these are tied together and the dealership tells me that i have to leave my car with them for at least 4 weeks for them to even take a look. I supposedly got an OTA update to resolve this issue, but it hasn't worked. Check engine light is still on and off.

NHTSA ODI 11575510

Aug 21, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Recall came out in May. Still no remedy....

NHTSA ODI 11539862

Jul 24, 2023Fuel systemEngine

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V380000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 stated that there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11534109

May 26, 2023Fuel system

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, fuel started to spill out of the filler pipe onto the ground. The contact stated that during the failure, no fuel had entered the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank filler pipe had failed and needed to be replaced. The fuel tank filler pipe was replaced, and the vehicle was fixed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,400.

NHTSA ODI 11523988

Apr 10, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

MY CAR HAS SUFFERED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT FULL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THESE WERE VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. EACH TIME IT WAS ONLY THROUGH GOOD LUCK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS TWO LANES OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC IN A CAR WITH NO ENGINE POWER TO PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT RESTARTED EACH TIME. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN JUNE, 2020, WHILE DRIVING WITH MY CHILD. I NOTICED RIGHT AFTER THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL/UPDATE NOTICE FOR MY CAR THAT SEEMED TO BE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A "20B14 POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE UPDATE". I HAD THIS RECALL/UPDATE DONE BY A FORD DEALER ON JULY 24TH, 2020. I ASSUMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A DEFECT IN THE CAR'S OPERATING SYSTEM, BUT THAT THE RECALL/UPDATE HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEN, YESTERDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2020, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER, AND IT WAS ONLY THROUGH GOOD LUCK THAT THEY AVOIDED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AND GOT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I NOTICED THAT NIGHT THAT FORD HAD SENT ME AN AUTOMATIC MESSAGE TO MY PHONE SAYING "THE HYBRID POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAS DISABLED THE GASOLINE ENGINE FUNCTION DUE TO AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN BEING DETECTED." I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALER TODAY AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY UPDATED THE OPERATING CODE OF THE VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH "OPERATION NO. 212080A" TO SUM UP, MY CAR HAS NOW STOPPED DEAD ON THE HIGHWAY AT FULL SPEED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM ERROR. THERE MUST BE A DEFECT IN EITHER MY INDIVIDUAL CAR OR IN THIS MODEL OF CAR FOR A PROBLEM THIS SERIOUS TO HAPPEN TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11407409

Working with the data? Download all 281 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 Hev verdict →