Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 21, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

1524 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
462

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 6 mention an injury.

transmission slipping 88software faults 77
A recent report: These are the failed systems since the recall was being repaired since July 27th 2026. The car is presently still at the dealer today. Sept 18 2026. Sync Screen goes black Instrument cluster goes…
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These are the failed systems since the recall was being repaired since July 27th 2026. The car is presently still at the dealer today. Sept 18 2026. Sync Screen goes black Instrument cluster goes black. Auto-hold fails Pre-collision emergency assist not available Forward camera not available Drive mode not available Powertrain Control Module fails with error to Ford App Service Engine light on at all times We have all repair times it went back total of 4 times. No replacement vehicles was provided. Here are the additional files in this link there are approximately 16 repair files 3 are Ian pictures below uploaded https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:4e092f62-ba12-4fac-888f-d529227f810a

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764876 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
114

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 74sudden stalling 12
A recent report: After a dealership diagnostic visit involving my 2020 Ford Escape, I discovered that a connector in the vehicle's Smart Data Link/Gateway area underneath the dashboard had been left disconnected when…
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After a dealership diagnostic visit involving my 2020 Ford Escape, I discovered that a connector in the vehicle's Smart Data Link/Gateway area underneath the dashboard had been left disconnected when the vehicle was returned to me. The vehicle had been at Gullo Ford of Conroe on September 9–10, 2026 for an intermittent idle/sputtering concern and a rear-suspension concern. The dealership performed electronic diagnostic work and documented no DTCs. After pickup, I inspected the vehicle and photographed the disconnected connector before reconnecting it. I am concerned that releasing a vehicle with a vehicle-network/diagnostic gateway connection disconnected could affect diagnostic communication, stored fault reporting, or other electronic/network functions. I am submitting this report as a potential safety/electrical-network concern. I am not asking NHTSA to adjudicate my billing dispute with the dealership. Photographs showing the condition as discovered and the dealer service invoice are available.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763600 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
33

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 6 mention a crash, 4 mention an injury.

loss of braking 11unintended acceleration 4
A recent report: I had complete brake failure while driving my vehicle yesterday I had new brakes installed on XXX by Mr tire auto service centersStore Number: #XXX ([XXX]) ​Invoice Number: XXX ​Guest ID: XXX…
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I had complete brake failure while driving my vehicle yesterday I had new brakes installed on XXX by Mr tire auto service centersStore Number: #XXX ([XXX]) ​Invoice Number: XXX ​Guest ID: XXX ​Vehicle details: 2020 Ford Escape Titanium. They have deemed that PARTS were defective ( calipers and pads) . This situation ended up okay however if I was on open road I could have killed myself or others. The manufacturer of these parts needs to be flagged. We have requested a detailed list of the parts that were used to do this job and have also reached out to Monro who is their corporate affiliate. We have not heard back from them yet. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759343 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
41

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

software faults 11loss of steering 10
A recent report: White foggy smoke from exhaust. Backing sensor or driving sensor are off when sensing environment. Car suspension not fully stable sorta drift to left or right.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11762391 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
20

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 8 mention a crash, 8 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 9software faults 6
A recent report: A nagging seat belt monitoring fault occurred with this vehicle. After researching this particular problem, I found that it is a well known issue to Ford (over several forums and owners websites)…
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A nagging seat belt monitoring fault occurred with this vehicle. After researching this particular problem, I found that it is a well known issue to Ford (over several forums and owners websites), which is caused by a seat belt sensor. This fault comes up as a rear seat belt fault, but it is actually the driver's front seat belt sensor that is the problem. This fault causes the airbags to be turned off which poses a danger to any occupant in the vehicle if it is involved in an accident. This sensor has gone bad in hundreds of vehicle spanning over several different models and years.(this is taken directly from NHTS's metadata) The part number is LJ6Z-7861203-BC (specifically the left/front driver-side buckle end). It is used in the following vehicle models: Ford Escape: Model years 2020–2025 (including Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants). Ford Bronco Sport: Model years 2021–2025. Ford Maverick: Model years 2022–2025 (including Hybrid variants; specifically for units built from February 27, 2024, onwards as a direct replacement for earlier suffixes). Ford Mustang Mach-E: Model years 2021–2023.This part supersedes previous versions LJ6Z-7861203-AA, LJ6Z-7861203-BA, and LJ6Z-7861203-BB. Versions of parts are usually only superseded due to problems with the original part. Did NHTSA seriously never cross reference their own materials?

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752710 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
793

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 9 mention an injury.

premature wear 47software faults 5
A recent report: The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The…
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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the windshield wipers failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11760242 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
61

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 12premature wear 4
A recent report: While I was driving on a highway the ADAS (IPMA) suddenly stopped working creating a dangerous situation as I was using adaptive cruise control at the time. It has never worked since. Ford has told…
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While I was driving on a highway the ADAS (IPMA) suddenly stopped working creating a dangerous situation as I was using adaptive cruise control at the time. It has never worked since. Ford has told me that there is no software fix and the hardware needs to be replaced at a cost of $1500. Unless I pay that amount I will lack key safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11755454 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 1524 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2019 and 2026, roughly 224 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.