2020 Ford Escape visibility and wiper problems
74 of the 1,891 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Escape name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the wipers, glass and mirrors
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 74 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 8 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 25
Half of the 24 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 20,000 and 50,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,891 complaints in all about the 2020 Ford Escape, 25 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Visibility/Wiper” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Escape visibility and wiper problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the wipers, glass and mirrors. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The sunroof cover came down and blocked my rear visibility. It took a few attempts to get the cover back up because I need to see what is behind me for safety purposes. Then, when I was sesrching online for the solution, I realized a lot of people with 2020 - 2022 Ford Escapes were also having issues with the sunroof cover.
The car has a panoramic roof with automatic open/close sunshade that cover the interior of the glass. I was opening the sunshade to open the moon roof and the shade all of the suden came down and did not roll as intended and my visibility while I was driving was gone for a second until my wife helped out quickly so we do not crash.
The shade retraction on the moonroof is malfunctioning, causing the fabric to not retract completely, the sagging fabric is causing visibility obstruction. My Ford dealership have inspected the issue and have quoted me an approximate price of $1700 to fix the issue, which is currently cost prohibitive for me ($400 for the replacement…
I was trying to crack my panoramic sunroof to move some air and the sunroof shade jumped its track and sagged down into my back window view while driving. It blocked my field of view and would not retract.
1.) My backup camera has failed, and it is static and then continues today will not display and shows black. I can no longer use it or see out of it for backup purposes. 2.) I use my back up camera everyday as I live in a busy city and use it when parking and to assist me when there is a lot happening with parking on the side of the road…
What is on file about the wipers, glass and mirrors
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 26V117000 HighMar 3, 2026 · 604,533 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Ford Escape
Source: the same files- body and structure problems 781 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 273 complaints
- electrical problems 203 complaints
- fuel system problems 202 complaints
- engine problems 198 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre visibility and wiper problems common on the 2020 Ford Escape?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 74 owner complaints naming the wipers, glass and mirrors on this model year (4% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the 2020 Ford Escape?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 26V117000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do visibility and wiper problems show up on the 2020 Ford Escape?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 20,000 and 50,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Visibility/Wiper" heading cover?
Windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.