2020 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  2
• Exhaust system › Emission control
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  923%
• 25k–50k
  513%
• 50k–75k
  718%
• 75k–100k
  1128%
• 100k–150k
  718%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH and coming to a stop with his wife in the front passenger seat and daughter in the rear seat, the coolant temperature warning light illuminated; however, the temperature gauge indicated that the vehicle temperature was normal. The contact then saw smoke coming out of underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact and his family immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle burned significantly. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was totaled. The Chevrolet dealer, where the vehicle was purchased was notified of the failure. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clanking noise coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the exhaust cap and catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. …

On Sunday May the 31st, I was driving home from the store, when I smell gas, but was unaware that it was coming from my vehicle, since I was driving behind another vehicle and passed a gas station. I heard a noise and then saw smoke and fire coming from my vehicle in the engine area. I pulled over and exit the vehicle and called 911. The fire destroyed the whole front of the vehicle, including the engine, wheels, windshield, etc. The emergency officials came. After the incident, I contacted my insurance company. Someone then notified me of a recall on my vehicle, that can cause fire (25V467000). I called the Ford Motor company. They told me initially to go through my insurance provider, and the insurance provider will deal with them directly. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the DPFE sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred approximately five months later when the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated, and several minutes later, the power train warning light illuminated and a message to "Refer to the Owner's Manual" was displayed and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle went into "LIMP Mode". The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on separate occasions while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that on multiple occasions he was able to restart the vehicle. The service engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that on another occasion he smelled a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine control software needed to be updated along with unknown repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he became aware that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V859000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) from the Low Jack App. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown repair was completed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to respond while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, one of the rear seat belts was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V859000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact pulled into a parking lot and the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission fluid was black, and the transmission was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that after shifting to reverse the vehicle failed to respond. Additionally, while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter valves were rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, there was excessive smoke coming from the exhaust, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who observed a hole in the cylinder #1 piston, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 97,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately restart. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal continuously, the vehicle started. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the fuel was not reaching the engine. The mechanic determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from under the hood, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. However, it was unclear if the failure was recall-related. The parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000. The VIN was not available.

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other Escape years