2020 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 24 NHTSA recalls and 1,831 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2020 Ford Escape
The 2020 Ford Escape shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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24
NHTSA Recalls
24 recalls on record
1,831
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
21
Crash Reports
5 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Ford Escape (24)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window
In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules, free of charge. An interim letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed August 3,…
🔧 Electrical System: Body Control Module/Bcm
Low tire pressure may lead to poor vehicle handling and a possible loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the BCM, free of charge. Owners are advised that two key fobs are required for the repair to be completed. The recall…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission
Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters…
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level….
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Oil/Lubrication
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18,…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on July 12, 2022. Owner notification letters were…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety…
Showing 10 of 24 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Ford Escape
Based on 1,831 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford Escape VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Ford Escape
Is the 2020 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Ford Escape has 24 recall campaigns and 1,831 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Escape have?
The 2020 Ford Escape has 24 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Ford Escape are: Structure, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2020 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 24 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2017.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.