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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,643 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Ford Escape drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2020 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #83

May 242024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Premature failure of valve cover gasket and transmission. Valve cover gasket allowing oil to seep in to spark plug -??tubes-?? causing misfires. Transmission showing excessive wear for only 72000 miles.

- West Blocton, AL, USA

problem #82

Jul 102023

Escape

  • miles
last year in the summer of 2023 I first experienced my 2020 Ford Escape not being able to shift from park to reverse, neutral, or drive. It was a very hot day and my car had sat idle for 8 hours in the sun while I was working. I got into my vehicle and started the car. I tried to turn the dial type shifter to drive and it was locked. I immediately looked online on my phone to see if this was something like turning the wheel one way and then the other and it would unlock. I found some people said to press on the brake and release because maybe it had not completely disengaged when the vehicle was turned off, but that did not work. I then found something else that said to to engage the parking brake and then disengage, that did not work either. Now while stuck in the parking lot alone since all have left and I could not move, a client of the agency I work at, starts banging on my window and screaming at me. Luckily security was still inside and came out to assist me, but it could have gotten ugly because my car that is now only 4 years old, but was 3 years old then, won't function properly. I called the Ford Dealership I deal with, and they tell me that they have never heard of this problem. All the while I am sitting in the car now with the AC on, because it is so hot, and now my car shifts into gear when I try after 10-20 minutes. I found a forum where many people have had this issue and yet, Ford still tells me they have no idea what this is. Now this summer 2024 I have had this issue multiple days in row when it is hot and my car has sat for hours. I again called my local dealership and they still say that they have never heard of this issue and told me to have my car towed to the service center. And yet here is this [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #81

May 212024

Escape

  • 74,700 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service All-Wheel Drive" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the All-Wheel Drive Module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who replaced the All-Wheel Drive Module and vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,700.

- Salyersville, KY, USA

problem #80

May 202024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took in the vehicle to be inspected and Ford said the AWD module isn't working. It states my AWD is off and not functioning.

- Lakeville, MN, USA

problem #79

May 312024

Escape

  • miles
I am getting the following error messages: awd fault service required/ service AdvanceTrac /pre collision assist not available / hill assist not available/ AWD off / powertrain malfunction/ reduced power.

- Houston , PA, USA

problem #78

Jun 012024

Escape

  • miles
The transmission of the car makes a loud rattling noise only on cold starts, almost sounds like metal is rubbing together. Car has 63K miles, and drives fine but will make rattling noise at cold start, typically around 1.3K RPM. Once the car has ran for a bit in idle, the RPM drops to around 1K and the noise subsides. There are no warning lamps and the vehicles has not been inspected. I am unaware how my safety could be at risk, the problem seems to only be during the cold start for now. This problem has been reported by the NHTSA in SSM 49411, but I wanted to notify that I have had a similar issue with the same vehicle.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #77

May 182024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving the car when it suddenly went dead with the following message on the screen: -??Vehicle network communication error-??. By chance I happened to be able to coast off the road otherwise i would have been stranded on a very busy road. The vehicle was towed to a Ford dealer where the problem was reproduced, the car has been at the dealer for 1 week now with no idea what the problem is. There was no warning prior to the error appearing and the vehicle completely stopping. Reviewing Ford forums there are at least two other instances of this happening. Do not have any repair information yet as it is not fixed and the solution is unknown at this time.

- Eureka, MO, USA

problem #76

Apr 112024

Escape

  • miles
I was driving home and all error lights came on. When I got home, my ford app said transmission failure, awd failure, hill start failure and pre collision failure. All of these are necessary to not get in an accident. I called the ford dealer and brought the car in for diagnosis ($200). Ford called a few hours later and said the AWD module is bad and needs to be replaced ($1k).My ford only has 36k miles over 4 years and I-??m the original owner. The vehicle has never been off road or abused in anyway. I see hundreds of people online complaining about this module going bad at such a short time. This should be a recall since ford knew about it with the 2020 vehicles but won-??t replace with their 5year 60k mile power train warranty. It-??s actually affecting my cars performance as I cannot use AWD and car runs sluggish.

- Port Monmouth, NJ, USA

problem #75

Apr 292024

Escape

  • miles
Ford service center diagnosed a failed AWD module. It was only examined by the Ford techs at the dealership where I bought it. Total price was approx $1200 which was covered by extended warranty plan, but I had to pay a $250 deductible. The mileage when the warning illuminated was approx 38,900. While driving, AWD OFF was illuminated on dash. As well as POWERTRAIN FAULT, HILL START ASSIST OFF, PRE-COLLISION ASSIST UNAVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, AND SEE MANUAL. I was put at risk because all of my safety features seemed to be failing. I have heard many others having the same issue all with low miles.(40,000 or less) I believe this component requires a recall because I had only owned the car 3 weeks when this happened. I havent even made a payment on it yet!!

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #74

Apr 232024

Escape

  • miles
At 25,768 miles, multiple warning messages appeared including: service advanced track, 4WD fault, no cruise control ability, no pre-collision assist, hill side assist fault, and no traction control. BC self test was performed by a mechanic. The vehicle was purchased 3 months prior at the same dealership that performed the test. Results: No communication with AWD module found. The issue was AWD module faulty. AWD module was replaced and reprogrammed. The issue was not covered under the power train warranty (available for 5 years, 40,000 miles) due to the problem relating to the electrical system.

- Bowling Green, OH, USA

problem #73

Mar 152024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle 4 years old under 100,000 miles now having transmission issues, vehicle took into for dealership for review (check engine light on)car owner informed service member that specializes in transmission repair not in for 3 weeks as of March 2024. Vehicle now experiencing slipping when acceleration/ deceleration, slipping to stop. Vehicle showing signs of issues as reported with current Ford Lawsuit Accusing Automaker of Concealing Fusion, Escape 6F35 Transmission Problems.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #72

Mar 052024

Escape

  • miles
AWD control module needs to be replaced at nearly $1000. Just replaced the emissions sensor for $500. Both are known issues and one was a recall but not for my VIN.

- Sullivan, OH, USA

problem #71

Apr 092024

Escape

  • miles
All wheel drive control module controls the powertrain but is apparently not covered under powertrain warranty. Very expensive repair on a relatively new vehicle.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

problem #70

Apr 032024

Escape

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to hesitate and jerk. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission, requiring the transmission to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 118,000. The VIN was not available.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #69

Mar 082024

Escape

  • miles
While driving home from work the car stopped reacting to the gas pedal and I was going fast enough to coast into a parking lot. Had I been on the bridge or turnpike it could have been a disaster.

- Haddon Heights, NJ, USA

problem #68

Sep 032022

Escape

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that she had parked the vehicle in the driveway and went to manually open the garage door to reverse inside the garage. The contact stated that while opening the garage door, the vehicle started rolling back. The contact stated that the front driver's side door knocked her down, and the front driver's side tire rolled up her right foot. The vehicle crashed into the contacts residential garage. The contact stated that she sustained a crushing wound on the heel of her right foot that was 7 inches long and 1 inch wide. The contact stated that her right heel blew wide open and the tendons and muscles were detached from the bone. The contact stated that she underwent surgery and 3 months of basic bed rest. The vehicle was taken to an autobody repair shop, where it was repaired. The vehicle was also taken to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined, and the dealer informed the contact that she might have failed to park the vehicle before the incident. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

- Minneapolis, MA, USA

problem #67

Mar 052021

Escape

  • miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the vehicle made a howling noise coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle was also emitting a clicking noise when the brake pedal was depressed to shift out of park(P). The failure was intermittent. The contact's spouse, an independent mechanic, stated that it seemed as though there might have been a failure with the parking brake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the howling noise while the vehicle was shifted into reverse due to not being able to duplicate the sound. The dealer stated that the clicking noise while depressing the brake pedal was diagnosed as a parking brake failure. The vehicle had not been repaired due to not being covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure where it was confirmed that the repairs were not covered by a recall or warranty. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Saint George, UT, USA

problem #66

Feb 082024

Escape

  • 129,485 miles
The vehicle without warning lost power as I was driving in the middle of a road way. The engine stayed running but only revs. No check engine lights or messages. Thankfully I was headed down hill and was able to coast through the intersection that was turning yellow and had just turned red as I coasted through. I coasted and pulled over to a side street and proceeded to put vehicle in park and shut it off. I then tried to start and put it back into drive. Nothing. I shut it off again waited 10 minutes then started and it started driving. Then lost all ability to give power to the wheels. Vehicle was taken to the dealership where they said it had metal in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was scheduled to have a fluid exchange for the transmission the next day. They couldn't get it out of park either then it did slam into drive for them. They said it needed a new transmission. For the cost of $7,500 it now has a new transmission from ford. The only warning I finally got was through the Ford pass app after the vehicle has finally been at the dealership for a couple days. That is when it indicated a power train fault and problem with transmission.

- Billings, MT, USA

problem #65

May 132023

Escape

  • 52,189 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the gear shifter was shifted into reverse(R), but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the electronic selectable one-way clutch (SOWC), was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Schicker Ford of St. Louis (3300 S Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63139) where the electronic selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) was replaced a second time; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the second dealer, where it was determined that the transmission 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 approximately 52,189.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #64

Jan 162024

Escape

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact started the vehicle, and the power train malfunction indicator lamp warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed gear shifter module. The contact was informed that the gear shifter module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

- Euless, TX, USA

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