Recall 25V829 covers 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025 Ford Escape SUVs for loose liftgate hinge covers. Repair will be free at Ford dealers once available.
Ford is recalling 108,762 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 Escape vehicles because improperly secured liftgate hinge covers can detach from the vehicle. A loose cover can distract other drivers or become a road hazard, increasing crash risk; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The liftgate hinge cover on the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025 Ford Escape is the trim piece over the liftgate hinge at the rear roof. It covers the hinge hardware and is supposed to stay seated against the roof while the liftgate opens, closes, and the SUV is driven.
On affected 2020, 2021, and 2022 Escapes, the cover attachments were not fully engaged during assembly. On affected 2025 Escapes, the DUAL LOCK attachment feature can lose adhesion to the panoramic roof frame, and an over-flush cover position can let the liftgate contact the cover during opening. Once the cover is loose, it can detach from the SUV instead of staying secured to the roof.
Owners can see or hear signs before it comes off. The cover can look not fully seated or not flush with the roof, and drivers can hear wind noise or rattling while driving.
Who's affected?
Scope is not a continuous model-year run: it includes 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025 Escape SUVs using the same liftgate hinge cover.
| 2025 Ford Escape | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Escape | body structure |
| 2021 Ford Escape | body structure |
| 2022 Ford Escape | body structure |
| Units affected | 108,762 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
A loose liftgate hinge cover can distract you or fall into traffic as a road hazard, increasing crash risk. If the cover is not flush with the roof, or you hear wind noise or rattling while driving, schedule inspection soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 Ford Escape is included in this recall.
- Wait for Ford's final remedy letter before scheduling the dealer repair; interim letters have already been mailed.
- Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about timing, and reference recall number 25V829.
- Watch for loose or missing liftgate hinge covers, since a detached cover can become a road hazard.
- Ask a franchised Ford dealer about the free liftgate hinge cover inspection and reinstallation once the final remedy opens.
What happens at the repair
Ford has sent interim letters about the safety risk, and additional owner letters are due once the final remedy is available. Once the repair opens, a Ford technician will inspect the liftgate hinge covers, reinstall covers that are loose, and replace any covers that are missing. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Ford uses its standard reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you already paid for a related liftgate hinge cover repair, keep your documentation and ask Ford customer service or the service desk how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 1, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 3, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 3, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 15, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V829?
Recall 25V829 covers 108,762 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025 Ford Escape vehicles with liftgate hinge covers that are not secured correctly and can detach. Ford dealers will inspect and reinstall the covers, or replace missing covers, free of charge once the remedy is available.
What should I do if my 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 Ford Escape is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Escape is included in recall 25V829. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for current instructions. Reference recall number 25V829 and Ford recall number 25SD6 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Ford to repair this defect at no cost. Ford dealers will inspect and reinstall the liftgate hinge covers, or replace missing covers as needed, free of charge once the final remedy is available.
What is the safety risk?
A liftgate hinge cover that detaches can distract another driver or become a road hazard, increasing crash risk. The repair path is dealer inspection and reinstallation, or replacement of missing hinge covers, at no cost once Ford opens the final remedy.
When will Ford notify owners about recall 25V829?
Ford mailed interim owner letters on January 19, 2026. Those letters notified owners about the safety risk. Ford will send additional letters once the final remedy is available, so use your VIN now to confirm whether your specific Escape is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V829000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V829 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V829000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →