2020 Ford Escape, 2020 Ford Transit Recall: Affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side…
NHTSA campaign 20V415000 · Air Bags · filed Jul 17, 2020 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain air bags which may result in the diffuser detaching from the inflator in the event of an air bag deployment.
The risk
In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules, free of charge. An interim letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed August 3, 2020. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S35.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Ford Escape recalls
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- 2020–2022 Ford Escape and 3 other models — Windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield…
- 2025 Ford Bronco and 8 other models — Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting…
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Other campaigns involving Ford vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 20V415000 (manufacturer number 20S35). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.