2020 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

120Engine complaints

7.5%Of all 1,593 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE:BODY493 · 30.9%

Unspecified / other306 · 19.2%

POWER TRAIN224 · 14.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM152 · 9.5%

ENGINE120 · 7.5%

Share of the 1,593 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“the auto start stop engine feature stops functioning intermittently no set pattern it randomly doesn't work. Never know if the engine will shut down when…”NHTSA complaint 11461038 — filed 04/16/2022

“THE ENGINE LIGHT IN MY 2020 FORD ESCAPE KEEPS COMING ON. I TOOK IT TO ADAMSON, NOW STIVERSON DEALERSHIP, A PART WAS INSTALLED ON THE…”NHTSA complaint 11365881 — filed 10/23/2020

“TODAY, 4/19/2020, TWO OF MY CO-EMPLOYEES NOTICED THAT MY 2020 FORD ESCAPE WAS MAKING A TICKING SOUND. I DIDN'T HEAR THE TICKING SOUND UNTIL I…”NHTSA complaint 11321583 — filed 04/20/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Ford Escape have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2020 Ford Escape: 120 of 1,593 complaints on file (7.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Ford Escape have in total?

1,593 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 28 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.