2020 Ford Escape Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
  4
• Automatic transmission
  3
• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  2
• Automatic transmission › Control module › Software
  1
• Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
  1
• Driveline
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1726%
• 25k–50k
  1523%
• 50k–75k
  1828%
• 75k–100k
  711%
• 100k–150k
  812%
• 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 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 contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifting into reverse, the vehicle drove forward instead of reversing. During the most recent failure, after starting the vehicle, the contact shifted the vehicle into park, and the vehicle collided with the contact's home. No warning lights illuminated. No air bags deployed. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valve body was binding internally, and sticking shift valves assembly had failed. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 33,704.

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. …

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 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. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25-35 MPH, the steering wheel shuddered significantly between 1200 and 1500 rpms. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a transmission shudder; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. Additionally, the contact received a recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V859000 ( Fuel System, Gasoline), however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The stated that there was a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. …

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and going over a bridge, the vehicle lost traction. The vehicle spun 360 degrees and spun off the bridge and then back onto the roadway. The contact attempted to steer the vehicle in a forward direction; however, the vehicle failed to steer forward direction while turning the steering wheel. The contact that she heard an abnormal "thumping" noise coming from underneath the floorboard. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the AWD, Pre-Collision Assist, and power train malfunction" warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the AWD Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …

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 that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning the steering wheel, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed with an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was stopped before resuming normal driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the failure was associated with the rear differential. The contact stated that four repairs had been performed on the rear differential; however, the failure persisted. Recently, the contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be repaired, and that the repair was not covered under warranty. The dealer reached out to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer agreed to cover a portion of the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

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.

Related recalls

Transmission complaints in other Escape years