Illustrationhi, I don't feel secure anymore driving this car with this fire recall, what can I do? Nobody want to buy that car with this failure. Best Regards [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escape Hybrid years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 67 of 288 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
64 reportsFord Escape 2020 Hybrid 51,000 miles. Left front door pops and makes crunching noise when opened. The window does not go down now. just saw that repairs will be handled under customer satisfaction program. Door 'hinge' just started making noises. If FORD doesn't follow thru I will send another complaint.
The spot welds in the left front door at the check arm attachment points in the door assembly broke. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety is put at risk because the door check arm is broken and the window won’t roll down as a result. The door has nothing to stop it from closing or opening, and if I were to requ…
Read full complaint
The spot welds in the left front door at the check arm attachment points in the door assembly broke. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety is put at risk because the door check arm is broken and the window won’t roll down as a result. The door has nothing to stop it from closing or opening, and if I were to require my window to roll down in the event of an accident my safety is jeopardized. This issue was confirmed at my dealership and they even provided me with a Ford memo SSM 51553 that acknowledges this problem. No one besides the dealership has inspected it yet. There were no warning lamps or messages. The issue started when the door suddenly made a loud popping noise when opened or closed, along with some resistance doing so. Then without warning the noise stopped, but now the door flings open and closed without any catching and my window will only roll down about 3 inches before stalling out. The first popping noise started three days ago, then it stopped and the door became non functioning yesterday. Dealership acknowledged this is a known issue, but Ford refuses to cover it.
Door stop check broke in cold weather. No wide swinging of door and no weight on door has occurred. Dealership is stating entire door needs to be replaced and paint matched. Charges are estimated between $2500-$3100.
The driver's side door has been making creaking and popping sounds for over a year and most recently the driver's side door window only goes down half way. Took the vehicle to the Ford dealership where the car was purchased and informed them of the problem and the SSM 50150 for 2020-2021 Escapes. After inspecting the interior …
Read full complaint
The driver's side door has been making creaking and popping sounds for over a year and most recently the driver's side door window only goes down half way. Took the vehicle to the Ford dealership where the car was purchased and informed them of the problem and the SSM 50150 for 2020-2021 Escapes. After inspecting the interior of the door, they found that the check arm had detached and that what was causing the noise and the window to not be able to lower. The vehicle has 29,347 and was purchased in May 2020. They said the vehicle is out of warranty on the date (not mileage) and would not be covered although it's apparent the failure was occurring over several months.
Yesterday when I opened my driver side door there was a grinding/popping noise. I looked on-line and saw that it is the door check defect on the 2020 and 2021 escapes that is an issue with the welding. I called the dealership today and they said because it is over the milage for the warranty that it will not be covered. Ford …
Read full complaint
Yesterday when I opened my driver side door there was a grinding/popping noise. I looked on-line and saw that it is the door check defect on the 2020 and 2021 escapes that is an issue with the welding. I called the dealership today and they said because it is over the milage for the warranty that it will not be covered. Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin TSB-SSM 50150 but there is not a recall and there are several class action lawsuits regarding the issues. I was told to file a report with your agency.
While driving the car on a busy fast-flowing road the message "Stop Safely Now" appeared on the dashboard. The car lost power and could only be driven at 20 mph and would not speed up. I pulled over and when I stopped but did not power off, the car would not start moving again. After turning the car off for five minutes it drove…
Read full complaint
While driving the car on a busy fast-flowing road the message "Stop Safely Now" appeared on the dashboard. The car lost power and could only be driven at 20 mph and would not speed up. I pulled over and when I stopped but did not power off, the car would not start moving again. After turning the car off for five minutes it drove again properly with no issue. This is the second time this has happened in two months.
Drivers side door spot welds for the door check bracket broke off the door having me to unable to close the door as I was out Christmas shopping at the Mall. I had to drive back home where I could park the car in a safe location and figure out what happened. Upon inspecting the drivers side door and watching videos of the same i…
Read full complaint
Drivers side door spot welds for the door check bracket broke off the door having me to unable to close the door as I was out Christmas shopping at the Mall. I had to drive back home where I could park the car in a safe location and figure out what happened. Upon inspecting the drivers side door and watching videos of the same issue that other Ford Escape drivers have experienced I used a 6" wheel grinder to cut of the door check bracket in order to be able to close the door. It was dark at this time other wise I would have taken the door panel out and removed the complete bracket and door check. Ford is aware of this situation and has no recall on this. Not buying anymore Ford Products!
2020 Ford escape with 37k miles The drivers door started making horrible noises. And became difficult to close properly. All of the spot welds that hold the limiting arm bracket in place have broken and now the arm hangs loose. Window will only roll down part way. This all started 4 weeks ago! I know there is already an NTHSA i…
Read full complaint
2020 Ford escape with 37k miles The drivers door started making horrible noises. And became difficult to close properly. All of the spot welds that hold the limiting arm bracket in place have broken and now the arm hangs loose. Window will only roll down part way. This all started 4 weeks ago! I know there is already an NTHSA investigation into this issue. I want to help push it forward to force ford to issue a recall and develop a solution to this defect that is clearly caused by poor manufacturing processes.
My vehicle is exhibiting the issues described in SSM 50150. The driver's side door spot welds have failed on my 2020 Ford Escape hybrid. The issue began as a creaking sound as I opened and closed my driver's side front door. The door was also stiff and difficult to operate. 2 days later the door became even more difficult to ope…
Read full complaint
My vehicle is exhibiting the issues described in SSM 50150. The driver's side door spot welds have failed on my 2020 Ford Escape hybrid. The issue began as a creaking sound as I opened and closed my driver's side front door. The door was also stiff and difficult to operate. 2 days later the door became even more difficult to open and close. A day after that the door welds failed. After the weld failure the door moved freely except the door catch would jam due to it floating. To allow proper door operation of the door the catch had to be unbolted at the body. After the failure I noticed the door panel around the area of the welds is pushed outward and no longer flush with the door along the edges. Also, since the issue began, the window strains whenever I try to raise and lower it and the window cannot be lowered all the way. My assumption is that the catch is tied to the window track. The window track and door catch appear to be associated with the broken welds. I brought the matter to the Ford dealership's attention, citing SSM 50150. They advised me that the vehicle was out of warranty, that the repair was not part of any mandatory recall and that the estimated repair cost was $2,083.14. They noted the possibility of Ford contributing a couple hundred dollars to defray the repair costs.
Official recalls
125V881000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Dec 18, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick Hybrid and 2020 Escape Hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S33. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 15, 2026. This is an expansion of Recalls 24V330 (24S33) and 25V133 (25S16).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE23013 · Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
Opened Jul 7, 2023 · Closed Jan 24, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door ; Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments
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. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more difficult to open or close) and the least common was inadvertent door opening. Other reported failure conditions include inability to latch and inability to open. Three VOQs reported injuries, one of which requiring medical attention. ODI conducted a consumer survey which yielded an additional 44 injuries (although the VOQs did not indicate any injury), none of which requiring medical attention. All these injuries were bumps/bruises from the door closing on occupants’ arms and legs while entering and exiting the vehicle. The function of the check arm system is to provide hold-open assist at specific angles and to assist with door closing energy. It does not provide vertical support of the door and is independent of the latching mechanism. This failure is progressive and detectable by vehicle occupants. Consumers commonly report hearing a popping or snapping noise when opening and closing the door. This noise is caused by some of the welds between the bracket and door structure failing and detaching. There may also be visible damage present to the welds in the door structure. Continued use of the door may result in all welds separating and the bracket fully detaching from the door structure, which could lead to increased resistance in closing and opening the door, restrained window operation, and the door freely rotating when open. ODI inspected 3 consumer vehicles in the field, and 2 test vehicles at Ford’s testing facility. The test vehicles were retrofitted with the failed component. ODI observed an increased door closing resistance, however, was unable to reproduce an inadvertent open while parked or driving, or a failure to latch or open condition. Testing also verified this failure did not affect the door ajar warning system. This system provides an audible and visual warning in the event a door did not achieve primary latch position. Ford has provided details on a one-time-repair customer satisfaction program (23B56), stating that they will provide customers with a letter, currently targeted for March 2024, to bring their vehicle to a Ford dealership for a proactive repair. Dealers will inspect the door check arm welds for damage and will either provide a rivet plate to reinforce the existing door check arm or will provide a replacement door, depending on the level of damage present. Customers will be eligible for reimbursement if they previously paid to repair this issue. In view of the high detectability of failure, low potential hazard to drivers, and Ford’s customer satisfaction program to provide a proactive repair, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure:body:door
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. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more difficult to open or close) and the least common was inadvertent door opening. Other reported failure conditions include inability to latch and inability to open. Three VOQs reported injuries, one of which requiring medical attention. ODI conducted a consumer survey which yielded an additional 44 injuries (although the VOQs did not indicate any injury), none of which requiring medical attention. All these injuries were bumps/bruises from the door closing on occupants’ arms and legs while entering and exiting the vehicle. The function of the check arm system is to provide hold-open assist at specific angles and to assist with door closing energy. It does not provide vertical support of the door and is independent of the latching mechanism. This failure is progressive and detectable by vehicle occupants. Consumers commonly report hearing a popping or snapping noise when opening and closing the door. This noise is caused by some of the welds between the bracket and door structure failing and detaching. There may also be visible damage present to the welds in the door structure. Continued use of the door may result in all welds separating and the bracket fully detaching from the door structure, which could lead to increased resistance in closing and opening the door, restrained window operation, and the door freely rotating when open. ODI inspected 3 consumer vehicles in the field, and 2 test vehicles at Ford’s testing facility. The test vehicles were retrofitted with the failed component. ODI observed an increased door closing resistance, however, was unable to reproduce an inadvertent open while parked or driving, or a failure to latch or open condition. Testing also verified this failure did not affect the door ajar warning system. This system provides an audible and visual warning in the event a door did not achieve primary latch position. Ford has provided details on a one-time-repair customer satisfaction program (23B56), stating that they will provide customers with a letter, currently targeted for March 2024, to bring their vehicle to a Ford dealership for a proactive repair. Dealers will inspect the door check arm welds for damage and will either provide a rivet plate to reinforce the existing door check arm or will provide a replacement door, depending on the level of damage present. Customers will be eligible for reimbursement if they previously paid to repair this issue. In view of the high detectability of failure, low potential hazard to drivers, and Ford’s customer satisfaction program to provide a proactive repair, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments
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. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more difficult to open or close) and the least common was inadvertent door opening. Other reported failure conditions include inability to latch and inability to open. Three VOQs reported injuries, one of which requiring medical attention. ODI conducted a consumer survey which yielded an additional 44 injuries (although the VOQs did not indicate any injury), none of which requiring medical attention. All these injuries were bumps/bruises from the door closing on occupants’ arms and legs while entering and exiting the vehicle. The function of the check arm system is to provide hold-open assist at specific angles and to assist with door closing energy. It does not provide vertical support of the door and is independent of the latching mechanism. This failure is progressive and detectable by vehicle occupants. Consumers commonly report hearing a popping or snapping noise when opening and closing the door. This noise is caused by some of the welds between the bracket and door structure failing and detaching. There may also be visible damage present to the welds in the door structure. Continued use of the door may result in all welds separating and the bracket fully detaching from the door structure, which could lead to increased resistance in closing and opening the door, restrained window operation, and the door freely rotating when open. ODI inspected 3 consumer vehicles in the field, and 2 test vehicles at Ford’s testing facility. The test vehicles were retrofitted with the failed component. ODI observed an increased door closing resistance, however, was unable to reproduce an inadvertent open while parked or driving, or a failure to latch or open condition. Testing also verified this failure did not affect the door ajar warning system. This system provides an audible and visual warning in the event a door did not achieve primary latch position. Ford has provided details on a one-time-repair customer satisfaction program (23B56), stating that they will provide customers with a letter, currently targeted for March 2024, to bring their vehicle to a Ford dealership for a proactive repair. Dealers will inspect the door check arm welds for damage and will either provide a rivet plate to reinforce the existing door check arm or will provide a replacement door, depending on the level of damage present. Customers will be eligible for reimbursement if they previously paid to repair this issue. In view of the high detectability of failure, low potential hazard to drivers, and Ford’s customer satisfaction program to provide a proactive repair, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.