2020 Ford Escape Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (71) · Engine (46) · Power Train (27)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
68 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2025-12-18 · campaign 25V881000 · 87 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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).
Service bulletins (18)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-03-06 · SSM 54631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020-2026 escape and 2022-2026 maverick 2.5l duratec hybrid vehicles may require various repairs on the exhaust system. this may require removal of the exhaust heat exchanger. wsm, section 309-00 exhaust system > 2.5l duratec hybrid > removal and installation > exhaust heat exchanger has been r
Power Train 2024-03-19 · TSB 24-2078 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 23-2244 to add 2024 model year. some 2020-2024 escape hybrid vehicles equipped with a 2.5l (fhev) full hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and 4-wheel drive (4wd) may exhibit a grinding or rubbing noise while braking at or below 10 mph (16 km/h) from the front of the vehic
Electrical System 2024-02-01 · SSM 52229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
2020-2023 escape/explorer, 2021-2023 f-150 and 2022-2023 maverick vehicles equipped with a full hybrid electric vehicle (fhev) powertrain may exhibit a cable connection error screen from the midtronics xrc-3363 high voltage battery rescue charger. the xrc-3363 will prompt the technician to verify th
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-01-24 · SSM 52201 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020-2023 escape, 2021-2023 corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5l engine full hybrid electric vehicle (fhev) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (phev) powertrain and 2022-2023 maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5l engine fhev powertrain may exhibit a condition where the 12v battery voltage is low
Hybrid Propulsion System 2023-10-27 · SSM 52024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020-2023 escape/2021-2023 corsair equipped with 2.5l engine full hybrid electric vehicle (fhev) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (phev) powertrain and 2022-2023 maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5l engine fhev powertrain may exhibit a condition where the 12v battery voltage is low or discha
Power Train 2023-10-27 · TSB 23-2335 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2021-2023 bronco sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5l engine built on or before 30-nov-2022, 2021-2023 bronco sport vehicles equipped with a 2.0l engine built on or before 28-feb-2022 or 2020-2022 escape/corsair non-plug in hybrid electric vehicle (phev) vehicles built on or before 30-apr-2022 m
Showing the 6 most recent of 18 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-23 · Visibility · 74,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving during rainy weather, the windshield wipers became inoperable and operated slowly. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 26v117000 (visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the dealer was contacted, but the vehicle w…”
2026-10-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while driving down the road the vehicle lost all power and left my wife in a dangerous position on the road. the vehicle was just in for service 4 days before and we were told the vehicle had no error codes. the vehicle has lost power on multiple occasions and we have had it at different dealer service departments where ford trained technicians con…”
2026-09-16 · Unknown Or Other“brought vehicle in for manufacturer recall number26c11 nhtsa recall number26v123 during the recall, the reprogramming procedure was unsuccessful and left my apim non-operational. fremont ford returned the vehicle to me without a functioning display screen or backup camera while waiting for the replacement part to arrive. i was also informed that …”
2026-08-29 · Unknown Or Other“the thin metal gear shift dial has peeled extensively beginning in 2022 leaving razor sharp edges that cause constant skin lacerations as it's impossible to change gears and not to touch the sharp edges. i understand this is a very common problem with 2020 ford models. ford has now corrected the problem with newer models and the gear shift does not…”
2026-08-27 · Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking“the rear cross traffic sensors are not detecting cross traffic when in reverse every time. it will work sometimes, but it failed to work at all for weeks. i have video showing it not working properly. i brought this to the dealership and was told that this is something that i will be required to fix out of my own pocket. this safety feature should …”
2026-08-19 · Unknown Or Other“i went to [xxx] for the weekend, and on sunday xxx i just left a restaurant and my car was parked on the street. as i left i was driving down a one way public street. i thought i hit a parked car to my right because i heard a noise that sounding like i hit something. i looked in the mirror and saw i was far from the parked cars and kept going. …”
2026-08-17 · Structure · 90,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the panoramic sunroof center trim piece became dislodged. the contact associated the failure with technical service bulletin: 23-213 and stated it was a known issue with the panoramic sunroof center trim pieces being dislodged due to extreme heat and…”
2026-08-07 · Power Train“when the outside temperature gets over 95f, the rotary gear shifter locks up in park and will not let you shift into drive. multiple restarts over 30 minutes with the a/c center console pointed down to cool off the rotary shifter dial. this really is annoying. twice i was late for appointments. i am handicapped disabled veteran and need this car t…”
2026-07-20 · Vehicle Speed Control“vehicle information year/make/model: 2020 ford escape hybrid titanium component: electrical / instrument cluster / digital display unit (ipc) hazard: critical visual hazard & operational safety defect statement of safety concern the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the 2020 ford escape titanium is experiencing severe pixelation and flic…”
2026-07-07 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 ford escape. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for nhtsa campaign number: 26v123000 (back over prevention). the dealer performed the software reprogramming; however, a week after the recall repair, the display screen and rearview camera shut off again. additionally, a piece of interior ceiling t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.