2020 Ford Escape driver assistance & safety tech problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V123000Mar 3, 2026889,950 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

  Risk: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

• Recall 25V442000Jun 27, 2025200,237 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

  Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

• Recall 20V575000Sep 23, 2020620,246 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

  Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 23, 2026MNDriver Assistance & Safety TechTransmission & Drivetrain

   There is a malfunction in the AWD system that gives a code for low voltage. I tracked down the issue to a factory defect where the connector to the AWD module doesn’t have a ground wire. Ford has acknowledged the issue under “Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21B19” but it has since expired. (Expired after the vehicle was purchased) As a result of the fault, It disables AWD, hill start assist, forward collision assist.

   NHTSA complaint #11766344 · source
2. Filed Sep 17, 2026ILDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   These are the failed systems since the recall was being repaired since July 27th 2026. The car is presently still at the dealer today. Sept 18 2026. Sync Screen goes black Instrument cluster goes black. Auto-hold fails Pre-collision emergency assist not available Forward camera not available Drive mode not available Powertrain Control Module fails with error to Ford App Service Engine light on at all times We have all repair times it went back total of 4 times. No…

   NHTSA complaint #11764876 · source
3. Filed Sep 1, 2026UTDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown

   I consistently get an AWD failure warning and then it turns off multiple different safety features of the car, traction control, hill assist, AWD, collision detection etc. I have seen a lot of people complain about the same thing. This is dangerous and ford needs to provide a solution to the bad ground of the AWD module.

   NHTSA complaint #11761180 · source
4. Filed Aug 25, 2026DEBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   I had complete brake failure while driving my vehicle yesterday I had new brakes installed on XXX by Mr tire auto service centersStore Number: #XXX ([XXX]) ​Invoice Number: XXX ​Guest ID: XXX ​Vehicle details: 2020 Ford Escape Titanium. They have deemed that PARTS were defective ( calipers and pads) . This situation ended up okay however if I was on open road I could have killed myself or others. The manufacturer of these parts needs to be flagged. We have requested a…

   NHTSA complaint #11759343 · source
5. Filed Aug 7, 2026MDDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   While I was driving on a highway the ADAS (IPMA) suddenly stopped working creating a dangerous situation as I was using adaptive cruise control at the time. It has never worked since. Ford has told me that there is no software fix and the hardware needs to be replaced at a cost of $1500. Unless I pay that amount I will lack key safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

   NHTSA complaint #11755454 · source
6. Filed Aug 7, 202671,000 miMADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. While the contact’s son was driving approximately 45 MPH, the screen on the radio went black. The vehicle was pulled over to the side…

   NHTSA complaint #11755413 · source
7. Filed Aug 6, 2026ORDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   My husband I originally purchased this vehicle around October 2020. We are the only owners and when we purchased it, it had 78 miles on it. Since I purchased it I have had to pay out of pocket for all the tire sensors to be replaced, I have had to purchase a new heater fan, and a sensor for a seat belt that prevented my adaptive cruise control from working. A while back, a warning light came on saying my adaptive cruise control was no longer working. I took it to Ford and…

   NHTSA complaint #11755348 · source
8. Filed Jul 19, 2026FLCrashDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   The cross traffic did not alert me. The opposing vehicle was parked in a parking spot at the Jacksonville Dermatologist office near the Martinez dental office 32216. She caused over $8900 dollars in damage. She indicated she did not see me in her rear view camera. Her vehicle from 2017 Kia did not have the cross traffic alert system. She did not believe me there was such an alert system. I showed the police officer my vehicle 2020 Ford escape did have it. I did have an…

   NHTSA complaint #11751356 · source
9. Filed May 26, 2026KSDriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionVisibility & Wipers

   Several recalls on my vehicle and now ford is calling the expensive ones "customer satisfaction notice". Theres nothing satisfying about bad fuel injectors. Also , the wiper motor Description On your vehicle, the front windshield wiper Motor may become inoperative or may operate intermittently. Safety Risk This may result in reduced visibility or loss of visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Parts are not available. Ford Motor Company is…

   NHTSA complaint #11740127 · source
10. Filed May 14, 2026OHDriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that she received a recall letter for NHTSA Campaign Number 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. There had not been a failure experienced.

    NHTSA complaint #11737833 · source
11. Filed May 6, 2026VADriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionVisibility & Wipers

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V117000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…

    NHTSA complaint #11736124 · source
12. Filed Apr 27, 2026MIDriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionVisibility & Wipers

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention), and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not…

    NHTSA complaint #11734023 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology