2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Ford Escape
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Ford Escape | 2021 Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,595 | 343 |
| Recall campaigns | 23 | 19 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 272 | 203 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–41 | 26–41 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,000 mi | 39,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 670 | 92 |
| Power Train | 236 | 43 |
| Electrical System | 157 | 34 |
| Engine | 120 | 43 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 118 | 44 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 75 | 27 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 66 | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 33 | 40 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 61 | 14 |
| Stalling | 43 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 37 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 33 | 14 |
| Clunking / rattling | 26 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 25 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 12 | 6 |
| Overheating | 10 | 5 |
2020 Ford Escape
2021 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.