2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Ford Escape | 2020 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,595 | 314 |
| Recall campaigns | 23 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 272 | 186 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–41 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,000 mi | 30,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 670 | 29 |
| Power Train | 236 | 125 |
| Electrical System | 157 | 18 |
| Engine | 120 | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 118 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 75 | 19 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 66 | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 33 | 37 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 61 | 7 |
| Stalling | 43 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 37 | 20 |
| Vibration / shaking | 33 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 26 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 25 | 6 |
| Shifting problems | 12 | 0 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Ford Escape vs Toyota Highlander 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.