Service bulletin SSM 50168

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10202610
Published by NHTSA	2021-10-29
Manufacturer's number	SSM 50168
Manufacturer's date	2021-10-04
NHTSA component	STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS:ACTIVE SHUTTERS/GRILL; UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NHTSA's summary

Some 2021 Escape/Escape Hybrid vehicles built on 10-Aug-2021 through 20-Sep-21 may exhibit a front-end flutter/rattle noise at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher. Engineering is aware of this concern and a repair procedure should be available late October. Using the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS), command the active grill shudders open and closed to see if the flutter/rattle noise changes. If the flutter/rattle noise does not change, continue with normal Workshop Manual, Section 100-04 for diagnostic and repair information. If the flutter/rattle noise does change, advise the customer that the vehicle is safe to drive in the meantime. Schedule a follow-up appointment for late October and when the repair procedure becomes available, contact the customer to arrange repairs. Monitor OASIS for updates.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Body and frame

Vehicles listed
FORD ESCAPE	2021
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID	2021 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
2025665	2025-12-01. Structure
25V829000	2025-12-01. STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
22V484000	2022-07-07. STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS:ACTIVE SHUTTERS/GRILL; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
TSB 26-2092 V2	2026-10-01. Service bulletin. This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a headliner rattle or sagging condition around the roof opening panel. This may be due to the adhesive separating from the headliner substrate.
SSM 54601	2026-02-27. Service bulletin. Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k
23B56	2025-12-30. Other. Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 - Supplement #2 Certain 2020 - 2023 Model Year Escape Vehicles Inspect Front Door Check-Arm Reinforcement Spot Welds REF: Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 - Supplement #1 Published December 18, 2024 New! REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT • RENTAL VEHICLES: Link to CRC Dealer Portal Job Aid added. • CLAIMS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION: Sublet claiming updated. • LABOR ALLOWANCES: Explanation of labor operations that will close the Field Service Action (FSA). PROGRAM TERMS This program will be in effect through May 31, 2027. There is no mileage limit for this program.
23B56 S1	2025-08-01. Service bulletin. Certain 2020 - 2023 Model Year Escape Vehicles Inspect Front Door Check-Arm Reinforcement Spot Welds On all of the affected vehicles, the front door check-arm reinforcement welds can crack and may eventually pull away from the door structure. If not repaired, the check-arm reinforcement may eventually detach from the door structure. This can cause a rattling noise and increased door opening/closing efforts. It may also interfere with door glass operation and the ability of the check arm to hold the door in the open position . Submitting Owner reminder letters
23B56	2024-06-06. Service bulletin. Certain 2020 - 2023 Model Year Escape Vehicles - Inspect Front Door Check-Arm Reinforcement Spot Welds
SSM 51553	2024-03-20. Service bulletin. Some 2020-2021 Escape vehicles may exhibit cracks or broken spot welds in the left front door at the check arm attachment point in the door assembly. Ford has been provided feedback from fleet customers of this condition on some vehicles with high usage profiles. The door assembly replacement is the appropriate repair for this condition. Refer to the parts catalog and Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-03 as required to complete the repair. For claiming, use casual part 7820124 and the applicable labor operations of Section 12 and 13 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
SSM 51908	2023-10-04. Service bulletin. Some 2020-2023 Escape/Corsair vehicles may exhibit a door ajar warning indicator or higher than expected efforts to fully close doors. Verify the hood/liftgate are not open. Confirm all doors are fully closed and latches are fully engaged. Doors will not fully close when lightly letting go of the door or letting it swing closed from a short distance under its own weight. Push/pull effort must be applied to doors while closing to fully engage latch and turn off the ajar signal warning. If doors are still not fully latching closed, manually adjust door striker position to allow for proper alignment and engagement to the door latch. The door hang position may also need to be slightly adjusted to achieve the same effect. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-03.
SSM 51536	2023-05-04. Service bulletin. For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using the correct VIN.
SSM 51553	2023-05-04. Service bulletin. Some 2020-2021 Escape vehicles may exhibit cracks or broken spot welds in the left front door at the check arm attachment point in the door assembly. Ford has been provided feedback from fleet customers of this condition on some vehicles with high usage profiles. The door assembly replacement is the appropriate repair for this condition. Refer to the parts catalog and Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-03 as required to complete the repair. For claiming, use casual part 7820124 and the applicable labor operations of Section 12 and 13 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
SSM 51318	2023-02-02. Service bulletin. Some 2020-2022 Escape/Corsair vehicles may exhibit a door ajar warning lamp or higher than expected efforts to fully close doors. Verify the hood/liftgate are not open. Confirm all doors are fully closed and latches are fully engaged. Doors will not fully close when lightly letting go of the door or letting it swing closed from a short distance under its own weight. Push/pull effort must be applied to doors while closing to fully engage latch and turn off the ajar signal warning. If doors are still not fully latching closed, manually adjust door striker position to allow for proper alignment and engagement to the door latch. The door hang position may also need to be slightly adjusted to achieve the same effect. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-03.