The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles. The rear brake pads may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can reduce brake function in the event of a brake booster malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
The risk
Reduced brake function can require the driver to apply more brake pedal force, and the distance required to stop the vehicle may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the front brake pads, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C31. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 13, 2025. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V922.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2020 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2020 | 1,612 | 23 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2025
37 of the 891 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2025 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 25V873000 17 Dec 2025 | Suzuki Motor USA, LLC |
| 25V859000 11 Dec 2025 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 25V846000 9 Dec 2025 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 25V823000 1 Dec 2025 | Ford Motor Company |
| 25V768000 6 Nov 2025 | General Motors, LLC |
| 25V564000 29 Aug 2025 | Tuff Trailer USA Inc. |
| 25V550000 26 Aug 2025 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 25V544000 22 Aug 2025 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2025