2020 Ford Escape: engine overheating

Filed Nov 11, 2025 · Engine · WA

Head gasket got damaged and there was coolant leakage to the engine. There was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes and we did not want to drive the car. So we towed the car to the Ford dealership and they confirmed the issue. Currently they are repairing the car.

Filed Jul 15, 2025 · Engine · WI

The "check engine" light came on so took in to be checked. Independent mechanic indicates that there is coolant leaking into one of the cylinders as the result of a casting defect and repair requires complete engine replacement. He tells me this is a common problem. I spoke with a local Ford dealership's service person who tells me this is a known defect in other Ford models as well and, in those models, Ford has extended the warranty to cover this repair. Ford is not covering it for this model, however. Since it is the same problem -- a manufacturing defect, Ford should cover/replace since continuing to drive it will result in a complete engine falure

Filed Jan 20, 2025 · Body, Driver assistance · MS

My wife and I bought our 2020 Ford Escape new from a dealer in 2020. We are the first owners of this vehicle. In the time that we have had it, we have experienced the following issues: 1- the forward camera module that provides collision prevention, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, etc has failed. The dealer claims that the unit “overheated”. The module is no longer covered under warranty due to mileage. The result is that our vehicle no longer has the safety features that we paid extra for upon initial purchase. 2- the evaporative canister purge valve failed, causing difficult starts after refueling. This was not covered under warranty, due to mileage. 3- the driver door hinge check arm welds have all broken loose and no longer hold the door when opening, and the loose arm is now preventing the door from closing properly and, when closed, causing the drivers window to not roll down fully. This is not covered under warranty because of mileage AND (while it is a manufacturing defect), it has not been subjected to any recalls, so the dealership will not repair/replace it.

Filed Jan 6, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

I was driving for uber and I smelled something biting along with my passengers, we had just gone through an area with a lot of smoke, so we figured it was that. After I dropped them off I noticed smoke billowing from my engine. The next day I had noticed my car was low on coolant, so I drove to Ace Hardware to grab some. After I put the coolant in the car I went to Publix to get some groceries and when I got back I smelled the smoke again. I did some research and there was a class action lawsuit against for Ford for the Escape with 1.5L engines and the fuel injectors cracking which caused coolant intrusion damaging the engine and causing them to over heat. I had my car towed to the dealership and the ECT light came on along with a parking brake warning.. This car has been nothing but a headache, nothing but repairs since I’ve had it. There is also a CSP, Customer Satisfaction Protocol for The fuel injectors cracking and I was never told about it all the times I’ve been to the dealership. I’m thinking that’s what caused the overheating..

Filed Jan 1, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

This 2020 Ford Escape-with less than 67k miles on it-is mostly inoperable, as of this date. This car was financed, from a Fort Lauderdale. FL used car dealership, on or around [XXX]. The check engine light was on. I went to Autozone to see what codes this could be attributed to. I was given printouts, reflecting codes P0171 & P2BF1 [air flow ratio and/or fuel injector related issues]. Additionally, the oil life on the car was at 0%. I then checked to see if there were any open recalls. There were and on 12/3/24, 2 recall repairs were done at Grieco Ford (Oil separator Pan: 22V191; Drain Tube replacement: 22S73). The car was fine. An oil change took place on 12/14/24, where the engine coolant was topped off. There were no issues and the car was driven periodically, since its purchase, to Miami, because my Mother suffered a stroke on 10/21/24 and was in her 2nd intensive rehab. As her only child, I am her POA and advocate. However, on [XXX] serious overheating occurred, when I drove less than 1.5 miles away from home, and no engine coolant was in the reservoir. The car was sputtering and losing power. I had to pull over several times just to make it back home. Additionally, a seemingly oily/milky substance was around the radiator. As of [XXX], the motor mounts are worn causing the engine to violently shake and the original radiator is warped due to potential oil/coolant leaks the vehicle could have experienced, well before these recall repairs were executed. Also, there is another recall on this vehicle regarding fuel injector leaks. Ford has failed at any meaningful strides in fixing the litany of engine malfunctions; electrical system failures; and this car's computers disconnect in diagnosing issues adequately. I found out all of these AFTER financing this car due to limited options had due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. I already paid $270 for January's-full coverage-insurance payment & have to pay a $410 CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Oct 30, 2024 · Engine · CT

The engine failed and the symptoms were all the coolant was gone, hot indicator, large amounts amounts of smoke coming out of exhaust and a burning smell. Once coolant added, ck engine light came on with codes P300 and P301 (I think). The vehicle was under warranty and has been fixed with a new engine by dealer. The warranty company did inspect car before being fixed. Initially the only problem that was noticed was hesitation when increasing speed. Once on the highway the overheating light came on and was able to exit off highway before it stalled out. Was able to restart car and drive to gas station where I added 2 gal of coolant and slowly drove a short way to home. The dealership would not tell me the exact problem but just said all the fluids went into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. Other mechanic friends said it was a cracked head gasket.

Filed Sep 13, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MI

The vehicle is a 2020 Ford Escape SE with 53,000 miles. Recently, The message screen began flashing messages AMD OFF, Hill Start OFF, Collision Warning OFF. Based on social media, this appears to be a common problem with the 2020 Escapes. According the Escape owners, dealers first check software and if not the issue a electronic module is replaced at a cost of up to $1100. Some of the failures reported were on vehicles with 20,000 miles or less. Aside from cost , there is a safety concern that module overheating may cause engine fires. The vehicles should be recalled for this concern.

Filed Aug 25, 2024 · Engine · FL

Casting of the turbocharger failed, leaking coolant into the wastegate and exhaust. the turbo coolant passages cracked. I thought I blew a head gasket at first. Pulled plugs and changed oil, all looked good. Cooling system held pressure. No warnings except a small coolant leak over months and months. not even on the ground. Large white smoke clouds coming out of the exhaust.

Filed Aug 19, 2024 · Engine · 85,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge indicated that the engine had overheated. While inspecting under the hood the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine coolant had leaked into cylinders #1 and #4, causing severe damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Apr 8, 2024 · Engine · CA

78,000 miles second vehicles of this make/model that our business had the head gasket destroyed by - Coolant leaks into the engine -causing a need for an engine replacement that ford will not cover.

Filed Mar 10, 2021 · Electrical · 1,400 miles · OH

Display is overheating and inoperable