2020 Ford ESCAPE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Ford ESCAPE has 2011 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 25.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: 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 jers. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 9 crash reports 26 injuries

2011

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

25.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

671 complaints

33%

• 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 JERS
• THE RUBBER /PLASTIC AROUND THE WINDSCREEN HAS RELEASE FROM THE GLASS.
• 12/26/2020 HEAD-ON COLLISION, MOST IMPACT TO PASSENGER FRONT SIDE - PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOYED - INJURIES SUSTAINED BY PASSENGER AND DRIVER. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON CITY STREET (50 MPH ZONE).*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 JERS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

300 complaints

15%

• THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS BEEN CHECKED AND "REPAIRED" TWICE. THE MONITOR WITHIN THE LAST FIVE DAYS HAS RAN A GAMETE OF PROBLEMS RANGING IN NOT DISPLAYING AN IMAGE TO THE IMAGE BEING DISTORTED WITH A SERIES OF LINES THAT MOVE VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH THE STATIONARY AND MOVING POSITI
• THE ELECTRICAL IN THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 2000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE HAD IT ABOUT A MONTH AND I'VE HAD 4 ISSUES WITH IT. THE FIRST ISSUES THE CRUISE CONTROL EPULD NOT WORK. I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FIXED IT. MY BOTTOM CUP HOLDER BROKE TWICE NOW AND IT'S LIKE THE B
• 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 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS BEEN CHECKED AND "REPAIRED" TWICE. THE MONITOR WITHIN THE LAST FIVE DAYS HAS RAN A GAMETE OF PROBLEMS RANGING IN NOT DISPLAYING AN IMAGE TO THE IMAGE BEING DISTORTED WITH A SERIES OF LINES THAT MOVE VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH THE STATIONARY AND MOVING POSITI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

212 complaints

11%

• SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, IT HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEN APPROACHING 25MPH THEN THE VIBRATION CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO 75MPH. ALSO AT APPROX. 25MPH AN LOW HUMMING SOUND STARTS. THE HUMMING SOUND GETS LOADER AS SPEED INCREASES ALONG WITH THE ROAD NOISE. THE HUMMING AND VIBRATION STOP AS SO
• 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
• ON THE 1.5L ENGINE WHEN YOU ARE ACCELERATING IN THE NORMAL DRIVING MODE YOU EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL SIMILAR TO A FLAT TIRE. THE 2.0L ENGINE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, IT HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEN APPROACHING 25MPH THEN THE VIBRATION CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO 75MPH. ALSO AT APPROX. 25MPH AN LOW HUMMING SOUND STARTS. THE HUMMING SOUND GETS LOADER AS SPEED INCREASES ALONG WITH THE ROAD NOISE. THE HUMMING AND VIBRATION STOP AS SO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

178 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE FROM HERTZ RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA WAS OFF CENTERED. THE VE
• Lo que pasa es que se prende la luz del check engine por unas horas y se apaga pero la falla siguen en el vehículo y el código que marca cuando lo cheque P04F0 es una válvula de emisión evaporisantes en una FORD ESCAPE 2020, si tiene la falla por que se apago el check engine cuantos automóviles est
• There's a recall that may cause my car to explode and there's no solution and I can't get an inspection done until April

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE FROM HERTZ RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA WAS OFF CENTERED. THE VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

148 complaints

• MOST STATES REQUIRE TRAILERS OF 3,000LB GVWR, AND SOME STATES ONLY 1,500LB, TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRAKING SYSTEM ON AT LEAST ONE AXLE OF THE TRAILER. FORD SELLS VEHICLES WITH FACTORY TOW PACKAGES RATED AT 3,500LB, BUT DOES NOT SUPPLY EVEN AN OPTIONAL ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER. FURTHER, THEY DON'T S
• BACKUP SAFETY CAMERA AND WARNING SYSTEM FAILS OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 70 DEGREES AND AIR CONDITIONING HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING LONG ENOUGH TO COOL THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE SUMMER THE BACKUP CAMERA WILL NOT WORK UNTIL THE AIR CONDITIONING RUNS FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MOST STATES REQUIRE TRAILERS OF 3,000LB GVWR, AND SOME STATES ONLY 1,500LB, TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRAKING SYSTEM ON AT LEAST ONE AXLE OF THE TRAILER. FORD SELLS VEHICLES WITH FACTORY TOW PACKAGES RATED AT 3,500LB, BUT DOES NOT SUPPLY EVEN AN OPTIONAL ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER. FURTHER, THEY DON'T S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2011 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 JERS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS BEEN CHECKED AND "REPAIRED" TWICE. THE MONITOR WITHIN THE LAST FIVE DAYS HAS RAN A GAMETE OF PROBLEMS RANGING IN NOT DISPLAYING AN IMAGE TO THE IMAGE BEING DISTORTED WITH A SERIES OF LINES THAT MOVE VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN. THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH THE STATIONARY AND MOVING POSITI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, IT HAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEN APPROACHING 25MPH THEN THE VIBRATION CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO 75MPH. ALSO AT APPROX. 25MPH AN LOW HUMMING SOUND STARTS. THE HUMMING SOUND GETS LOADER AS SPEED INCREASES ALONG WITH THE ROAD NOISE. THE HUMMING AND VIBRATION STOP AS SO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 FORD ESCAPE FROM HERTZ RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA WAS OFF CENTERED. THE VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)