VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL07/20/2026
VEHICLE INFORMATION Year/Make/Model: 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Titanium Component: Electrical / Instrument Cluster / Digital Display Unit (IPC) Hazard: Critical Visual Hazard & Operational Safety Defect STATEMENT OF SAFETY CONCERN The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the 2020 Ford Escape Titanium is experiencing severe pixelation and flickering, indicating imminent screen failure. Because this trim lacks mechanical gauges, screen failure blinds the driver to vital real-time operating metrics: Speedometer: Prevents real-time speed monitoring, increasing collision risk. Engine Temperature: Hides thermal warnings, risking sudden engine breakdown or overheating. Fuel Gauge: Obscures fuel levels, risking sudden loss of propulsion in active traffic. Warning Lights: Hides critical alerts for Brake System, Airbags, Tire Pressure, and High-Voltage Hybrid System faults. OPERATIONAL HAZARD ANALYSIS Driving with a malfunctioning instrument panel creates immediate hazards: Driver Distraction: Constant screen flickering directly in the driver's line of sight creates a dangerous visual distraction, especially at night. Power Loss Risk: Lack of fuel/hybrid monitoring increases the likelihood of stalling on highways or busy intersections. Loss of Safety Warnings: The vehicle cannot communicate critical restraint or braking system failures to the driver. REQUESTED ACTION / RESOLUTION This condition represents an active safety defect. I request: Immediate diagnostic and replacement of the digital instrument cluster unit (IPC) or control module under applicable technical/safety service guidelines. Formal documentation of this defect with Ford Motor Company and reporting to federal regulators (NHTSA).
STRUCTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION07/07/2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. Additionally, a piece of interior ceiling trim fell and struck the contact's arm, resulting in a minor injury. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer's request for a diagnostic fee for the recall remedy inadequacy. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer, where it was informed that the vehicle needed an unknown oil. The vehicle was repaired, but the check engine light continued to be illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM07/03/2026
Changed 12V battery because liftgate was inconsistently opening. Would click but not release. I have tried the resetting the system with accessory mode, pressing brake and flashing highbeams, have disabled liftgate and reenabled liftgate, have even tried the emergency release under access panel and it still will not open but clicks.
POWER TRAIN07/01/2026
Our 2020 Ford Escape Titanium began making a flutter noise at lower speeds. An independent mechanic checked for codes and none were present. He advised to drive until the check engine light comes on. Two days later the car had a knocking noise in the engine compartment. Driving home, accelerating onto a hiway the engine made a loud metallic noise as the engine started to overspeed. The car shut itself off and we pulled over to the shoulder. We were stuck on a 65 mph 4 lane hiway for 3 hours trying to work with roadside assistance for a tow. We towed it to McGraw Ford in Aransas Pass, TX and it sat in their back lot for 8 weeks with no diagnosis. We then had it towed to a Ford certified mechanic near our home and he wanted many hours of labor as the transmission needed to be removed to provide an estimate. He was throwing numbers approaching $10k as a guess. We elected to sell the car to a private party for far less than its value.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER06/29/2026
The panoramic sunroof cover, it is available for inspection upon request my safety was jeopardized while driving my car at the time, the problem has not been reproduced, but it has been confirmed by dealer the Ford dealer told me that it would cost me $2000 plus a $200 labor fee to get it repaired and I did tell him that I had looked on a site and saw that this happened happened to a lot of Ford escape buyers. There weren’t any warnings as I was driving, and I pushed the button to open up the sunroof. The cover just flapped and went all the way back as I was driving and came off of the track and the black plastic part that’s in the middle fell down and I could never get that to stick back up again. I first noticed when I would have my sunroof slanted. I never would open it all the way, but just slanted. I would hear a rattling noise so I would close it and I opened my sunroof all the way up twice and the third time when I decided to open it all the way up while I was driving that’s when the whole thing just fell, fell the middle black part and the cover while I was driving and it scared the daylights out of me while I was driving on the road.
BACK OVER PREVENTION04/30/2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. 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 the sync screen intermittently displayed an inverted image. The contact added that the inability to properly use the display posed a safety risk, as it may increase the likelihood of a crash. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
ENGINE08/22/2025
Sluggish acceleration, car would not go faster than 37 MPH at full throttle, appeared to be running on hybrid motor only, not on engine power. 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. 2.5 L engine. Only got 1 mile, returned home. No smoke, no fire, just not accelerating. Car was completely fine the day before. Got towed to Ford dealer next morning.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING03/19/2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal coolant consumption was noticed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER03/18/2025
I recently found out through a Ford dealer that there was a recall on the door on my Ford escape. I never received anything in the mail. I had the issue fixed by my local mechanic and he used Ford parts. I would like A reimbursement.
STRUCTURE02/28/2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong odor of mold and mildew was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who discovered that rainwater had leaked into the trunk and spare tire well, causing mold and mildew to develop inside the vehicle. The contact was informed that the carpet needed to be replaced. The exact cause of the water intrusion was unknown. The vehicle was not yet repaired. There was no illness or sickness reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM02/25/2025
The vehicle is just under 37K miles. I was operating the vehicle normally, and the wrench icon came on, indicating a powertrain issue. There are recalls for this for some vehicles but not all, and it seems to occur just after warranties expiring. I am concerned my vehicle falls under this service bulletin but has not been properly added: SSM 49157 - 2020 Escape - Illuminated MIL With DTCs U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, And/Or P0919 Some 2020 Escape vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U0100, U0401, P166B, P1753, P0929, and/or P0919. The vehicle may also exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator lamp. This may be due to the software in the gear shift module (GSM). To correct the condition, reprogram the GSM using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part number 7P155 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual. APPLICABLE VEHICLES 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE 2020 CAR: TC CX482N ESCAPE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER01/29/2025
The sunroof cover came down and blocked my rear visibility. It took a few attempts to get the cover back up because I need to see what is behind me for safety purposes. Then, when I was sesrching online for the solution, I realized a lot of people with 2020 - 2022 Ford Escapes were also having issues with the sunroof cover. It is quite dangerous for it to fall.
Showing 12 of 282 complaints.