| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Escape FWD HEV Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 44 MPG | 37 MPG | 41 MPG | — | $1,500 / yr |
| Escape FWD PHEV Plug-in Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 114 MPGe (43 MPG) | 91 MPGe (38 MPG) | 102 MPGe (41 MPG) | 37 mi EV (530 mi total) | $1,500 / yr |
| Escape AWD HEV Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 43 MPG | 37 MPG | 40 MPG | — | $1,550 / yr |
| Escape FWD | 1.5L 3-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 27 MPG | 33 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Escape AWD | 1.5L 3-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 26 MPG | 31 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,200 / yr |
| Escape AWD | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 31 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2020 Ford Escape provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 37 miles on a single battery charge.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV FWD | | | | | 16.900000000000002% |
| PHEV SUV FWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| SUV AWD | | | | | 17.4% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2020 Ford Escape models.
View complete 2020 Ford Escape crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2020 Ford Escape problems & component breakdown (198 categories) →
Affected Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect Summary: 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."
Free Manufacturer 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.
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD6. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.
View all 2020 Ford Escape recalls & campaign history (24 campaigns) →
