2018 Ford Escape vs 2020 Ford Escape
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Escape | 2020 Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,792 | 1,596 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 23 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 173 | 271 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 26–41 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 46,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,146 | 120 |
| Structure | 20 | 670 |
| Power Train | 269 | 236 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 342 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 53 | 157 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 118 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 75 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 66 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 557 | 61 |
| Overheating | 474 | 10 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 353 | 0 |
| Stalling | 157 | 43 |
| Vibration / shaking | 129 | 33 |
| Loss of power | 84 | 25 |
| Hesitation / surging | 56 | 37 |
| Clunking / rattling | 21 | 26 |
2018 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Escape
Compare all Ford Escape vs Ford Escape years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.