499 complaints reported

2020 Ford Escape Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
499
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2025

My door start making a crunching noise i looked it up on YouTube and learned its called the door check bracket it looks like the dealership i bought it off put rivets in to band aid it up the window won't go down either very upset about this situation as it is my first purchase from a dealership

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2025
May 2025

Driver door issue. Loud popping when opening and closing door.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2025
May 2025

Door check Bracket Getting Stuck and Don't Close

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2025
May 2025

Sunroof/Sunshade - Plastic trim piece approximately 28"x5" in between the Sunroof and Shade across the middle is held in by double face tape. Tape weakens and piece falls down potentially striking a rear passenger. In addition it can get caught in the shade fabric dislodging it and falling potentially obstructing the drivers rear view. Mine has been repaired once by Ford already but has failed again. Estimated cost is approximately $2000 plus labor. This is a known defect by the Ford Motor Company and they claim it out of warranty. Basic internet search revealed it is a common problem for more that one years models.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2025
Apr 2025

The door weld just broke.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2025
Apr 2025

My drivers door started 2days ago, April 11, 2025 to make loud cracking noise when opening and closing out of no where. Then on April 12 while out running errands the door became detached. After several attempts to close I was able to close it but I'm having to get in and out from passenger side.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2025
Apr 2025

I reported my 2020 Ford Escape last year. It went into the shop for inspection at Cook ford in Texas City after the ford recall for the doors. I also had reported it here. Kyle at Cook ford did a thorough inspection but advised me that their dealership did not have a paint and body shop and referred me to other dealerships with the ability to fix my car. After going to two dealerships, I ended up at Maik Haik in Pasadena Texas. They said they had two doors in stock and three months later my car was still in the shop and not fixed. They had put me in a rental and said in early December that the rental was not being covered by Ford and they were having to "eat" the expense. So, they returned my car in December with hopes of getting parts for it in the future. It now has been two months and no call from them Now your website says I do not have an open recall on my vin, but it does! My car is still not fixed! I am [XXX] and the windows don't work and the locks also have been effected by the problem with the doors! My [XXX] brother and I got locked out of and In the car several times and I had to use my app to unlock the door or climb in the back to get in! During the time the dealership had my car they wiped off all the history in my app and I am not able to reconstruct the history of my car! Including the recalls! I am very upset! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2024
Mar 2025

Front Drivers door became hard to open and close. Loud popping noise heard while opening and closing. Window also will not roll down. Inspected door check and discovered spot welds holding internal bracing broke loose. Due to difficulty closing the door, I believe the door may not latch properly. Doing research, I discovered that this is a common problem on 2020 Ford Escape models.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2025
Mar 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear quarter windows' chrome piece had detached. The contact was concerned that the failure could become a road hazard for other drivers. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who attempted to reseal the chrome but was unable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2025
Feb 2025

Faulty welds on door hinges, particularly where the check arm connects. This happened yesterday, loud cracking and grinding noise when the front driver door is opened or closed. Ford has known about this issue and refuses to issue a recall. And getting in touch with my local Ford dealer's service department is difficult.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2025
Jan 2025

Driver door hinges are loose. Door makes loud cracking noise when opening and closing. It’s very hard to close. My window will not go down either.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2024
Dec 2024

Driver side door check arm bracket has completely broken off due to bad spot welds. Makes driver side door function very poorly. The check arm completely broke off while opening the door in my driveway.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2023
Dec 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while opening the front driver's side door, the door made an abnormal loud popping sound. The contact also stated that the door failed to close completely. The contact stated that the door had to be slammed for the door to securely close. Additionally, the contact stated that the front driver's side window failed to roll down as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the door check arm welds were fractured due to improper welding. The dealer referred the contact to an auto body repair shop. The vehicle was taken to two auto body repair shops, where it was determined that the door needed to be welded or an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2023
Dec 2024

The driver's door suddenly became hard to open and close and makes loud noise when doing so. The door does not sound like it is closing well which is a huge concern. I took it to dealer and they knew immediately what the problem is as it's a known issue documented by Ford "SSM 50150 - 2020-2021 Escape - Cracked Or Broken Spot Welds In The Left Front Door At The Check Arm Attachment Points In The Door Assembly". They gave a quote of $3,200 to replace and repair. It is not covered as my car has 39,000 miles and warranty expired at 36,000 miles. I DON'T BELIEVE MILEAGE SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH DOOR FAILURE!!! Ford Motor should step up and fix this known issue - it is a manufacturing defect that welds are failing

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2024
Dec 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while opening the front driver's side door, the door made an abnormal popping sound and failed to close securely. The contact inspected the door and noticed that the spot welds had fractured on the side of the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the front driver's side door needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened; however, no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 39,300.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2024
Dec 2024

My car is what is being investigated under PE23013. The welds on my driver door have come undone.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2023
Dec 2024

I own a 2020 Ford Escape. While entering the vehicle through the driver's side door, the door made an abnormal popping sound while being opened. The passenger’s side front door also made the abnormal popping sound while being opened. I have been informed by my repair shop that the doors will need to be replaced. I took to my local dealership, Kindle Ford and they informed me that the vehicle is out of warranty as the mileage is at 40,000 miles.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2024
Nov 2024

I have a Ford recall notice 23B56. I have been waiting three months for replacement parts. Ford provides dealership NO status on parts to repair the recall.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2024
Nov 2024

See attached document for complaint

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2023
Nov 2024

Heard a cracking or popping when opening or closing front driver side door. Took our 2020 Ford Escape to Authorized Ford Dealership for routine service. While the vehicle was at the dealership we were told that the front drivers door would not close shut. The technician managed to "jimmy rig" the door to get it to close. The door temporary closes but now the drivers window will not operate. Was instructed to take the vehicle to the dealership owner's body shop but due to the mileage on the vehicle it was not recovered under warranty. At the body shop we were asked if the car had been in an accident or if a strong wind had blown on the door. Neither applied. The car has not been in a single accident nor a strong wind pulled or pushed on the door. Was told that we would incur a cost of nearly $3,000, because the whole door would need to be replaced. Was told again that this was not covered by factory warranty. On the estimate from the body shop they listed "t-boned" as reason for damage. We reached out to our extended warranty and they wanted to talk to the body shop but the body shop refuses to work with the warranty company and only speak with our auto insurance. We are in the process of looking for another body shop that might reach out to the warranty company to see if there is any chance this is covered. We contacted Ford Motor Company Customer Service and was told that there is not a recall on the defect and there was nothing they could do. Research on the internet shows that this is not an isolated incident as it relates to the 2020 Ford Escape.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2024
Oct 2024

Front drivers side door makes loud popping sound when opening or closing. Now it doesn't shut completely. One of the spot welds near the door check has torn through the metal frame, and is causing the window to not roll up or down. When driving over any small bump or uneven road, door cracks loudly, and twice has popped open in transit, then would not close until I pulled over, stopped, and manhandled the door to a close.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2024
Oct 2024

The driver’s side front door mades a creaking/popping sound when opening, hard to open drivers door due to an issue with the welding First noticed when getting into the car where car was parked

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2024
Oct 2024

Drivers front door began popping when opening and now will not close and window is now not operational. While traveling down highway the door wouldn't latch fully as well. Window now will not go down and door is making a heck of a popping noise

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2024
Oct 2024

Popping noise coming from drivers side door. There is resistance when shutting the door and window will not go down. No incidents occurred that would have caused this to happen.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2024
Oct 2024

This is 1 of 3 2020 - 2021 Ford Escapes that my company owns and is affected by this known issue with NHTSA and Ford Motor Company as it relates to Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) SSM 50150. The spot welds at the check arm attachment points on the driver door have failed. This has lead to a horrible noise and feeling when opening and closing our door. Sometimes the door does not shut all the way making this a safety issue. The door is now hard to open and close. The window is also inoperable as it either won't roll down at all or, if it does roll down, it will now roll back up. This issue has been inspected by 2 dealerships and they are not allowing our PremiumCARE extended Warranty to cover this. We have had 10's of Escapes with 100,000+ miles and this has never been an issue. This has occurred in this 2020 Escape and 1 other 2020 Ford Escape and 1 other 2021 Ford Escape (I will file complaints separately for them so NHTSA understands this is a massive issue Ford needs to fix ASAP and reimburse any customers who have paid out of pocket to get this fixed). NHTSA needs to issue a recall immediately.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2023

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2020 Ford Escape has 499 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.