Your vehicle report
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 290
- Received Jan 2020 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Rear door latch fails to open or close77 complaints · 27% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion11 complaints · 3.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps11 complaints · 3.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #25V881000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick Hybrid and 2020 Escape Hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Rearview backup camera fails or goes blackFirst signal: Oct 2026
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 1 crash, 1 fire, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 18 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 109 |
| 2024 | 103 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 14 |
| Total | 290 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 77 | 27% | – | |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 11 | 3.8% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 11 | 3.8% | – | |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 10 | 3.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 10 | 3.5% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 7 | 2.4% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 6 | 2.1% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 6 | 2.1% | 4.3× | |
| Battery drains and dies when parked | 6 | 2.1% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 5 | 1.7% | 4.6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 3.0% |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 3 | 1.0% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 3 | 1.0% | – | |
| Instrument cluster or speedometer fails | 3 | 1.0% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 3 | 1.0% | – | NHTSA recall #25V881000 |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #25V881000December 18, 202587 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick Hybrid and 2020 Escape Hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S33. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 15, 2026. This is an expansion of Recalls 24V330 (24S33) and 25V133 (25S16).
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN