Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. While starting the vehicle, the engine made a choking sound. The failure was more prevalent after fully refueling the vehicle. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. While approaching a red light and attempting to stop, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road, where the vehicle started to shake. The contact waited for a while before restarting the vehicle. When the vehicle was restarted, the engine started choking and the vehicle shut off. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while closing the front driver's side door, added pressure was needed why closing the door. The contact stated that she had to apply pressure to the front passenger's side door to close the door securely. As a result, the front driver's and passenger's side windows rolled down halfway and failed to operate as designed. The vehicle as taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front driver's and passenger's side spot welds had cracked, and the front driver's and passenger's side doors needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed by the dealer to take the vehicle to a local repair shop to have the door welded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the mileage on the vehicle was over the warranty mileage coverage. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when she opened the driver's side door, she heard an abnormal sound when the door welds suddenly cracked and failed without warning. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to latch closed securely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side door spot welds had cracked at the check arm attachment points door assembly and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she was advised by the dealer to take the vehicle to another location. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spot welds had cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle received a temporary fix, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while opening the driver's side door, he heard an abnormal popping sound. The contact stated that the popping sound was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. Additionally, the driver's side window failed to open and close normally. The contact observed four missing spot welds on the door hinge. The contact also stated that the passenger's side door had started making the popping sound while opening the door. There were several spot welds missing. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side door needed to be replaced, but at the owner's expense. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23013 (Structure). …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the front driver's side door was making abnormal loud banging sounds while opening and closing. Additionally, the contact stated that the front driver's side window could only roll down half-way. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the front driver's side doorstop was internally fractured and was hitting the front driver's side window runner. The dealer advised the contact to take the vehicle to an auto body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 11,300. The contact stated Sprit Ford Collision in Dundee, Michigan putting on a new drivers side door, caused by faulty weld to the door stop at the owners expense. The contact wants to be reimbursed for the repairs.
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.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of Customer Satisfaction Program number: 23B56. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the driver's side door made an abnormal sound while opening or closing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the door was removed and inspected. The contact was informed that the welds had failed, and the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The door was ordered. The contact stated that since the removal of the door, the window failed to roll down as needed; however, the sound persisted. The door failed to open all the way. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in Ford Customer Service Program Number: 23B56 (Warranty - Front Door check arm weld). There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was no prior failure experienced with any of the doors. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer stated that the front driver's side door needed to be replaced; however, the door was not available due to the programming part being limited and not available. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to remain with the dealer until the part was available because the vehicle could present a risk to the driver. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer denied the contact a loaner vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,131.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated the front driver's side window failed to roll up intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the front driver's side door was opened all the way to inspect the window failure; however, after the inspection, the dealer attempted to close the front driver's side door, but the door failed to close securely. The dealer informed the contact that the front driver's side door hinge attachments had fractured, which was a known failure. The dealer determined that the door needed to be replaced at the contractor's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: SSM 50150. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while opening the front driver's side door the contact felt the door falling off the hinge. When the contact entered the vehicle and attempted to roll down the window, the window failed to roll down. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated that the front driver's side door was defective and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion while opening the front passenger's side door, the contact heard a popping sound coming from the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again and the contact stated the that the door was defective, and that the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that a half of the repair cost would be covered. A case was filed. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Related recalls
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Hinge and attachments
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026.
Structure › Body › Bumpers › Active shutters/grill
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair, and 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.
NHTSA investigations
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
On July 7, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-013 to investigate instances of check arm bracket failure in the front doors in model year (MY) 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles. At the time of opening, ODI received 118 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging this failure. To date, ODI has received 593 VOQs alleging this failure, with a variety of reported failure conditions.
Body complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2020 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 670 complaints about the body & structure of the 2020 Ford Escape, 42% of the model year's 1,612 complaints. The component named most often is body (493 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Ford Escape body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 25V-829 (hinge and attachments, Dec 1, 2025); NHTSA recall 22V-484 (active shutters/grill, Jul 7, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2020 Ford Escape body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 12 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.