2017 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 2,686 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 39 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 56 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, power window devices and controlsJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
Campaign 26V374000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Jun 10, 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, power window devices and controlsAug 24, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.
Campaign 16V617000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
155 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, A WARNING BELL CHIMED AND A "SHIFT TO "P" RESTART ENGINE MANUALLY" MESSAGE DISPLAYED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK POSITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BATTLEFIELD FORD, 8820 CENTERVILLE RD, MANASSAS, VA, 20110), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, TO TURN THE AUTO SWITCH OFF. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE COULD GET A SECOND OPINION BECAUSE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 09/27/17*LJ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 10, 2017
AT 100 MILES CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE NO WARNING LOST ACCELERATOR PRDAL NO RESPONSE SEWRVICE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY TURN CAR OFF ON SIDE OF THE ROAD RESTARTED DID IT AGAIN AT ABOUT 3800 MILES AND THEN AT ABOUT 11500 MILES. DEALER DOESNT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH IT. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON FIND NEUTRAL AND RESTART WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE BAD BUT CANNOT REPRODUCE ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. YOU LOSE FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE. LAST TIME I HAD MY 14 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. I AM DONE WITH IT. FORD SAYS DRIVE IT AS IS AND KEEP PAYTING FOR IT. I SURRENDERED THE IRREPAIRABLE VEHICLE BACK TO BOZEMAN FORD. I AM AFFRAID THIS CAR WILL END UP IN SOME YOUNG MOMS HANDS AND THERE WILL BE FATALITIES.
Electrical system, Jun 23, 2017
CHIME VOLUME LEVEL WHEN POWER LIFT GATE IS OPENING OR CLOSING IS VERY LOW. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE FOOT ACTIVATED OPEN/CLOSE BEING ACTIVATED UNINTENTIONALLY AND THE LIFT GATE COMING DOWN ON MY HEAD, RESULTING IN A BRUISE AND BUMP FROM THE LATCH. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER AND FORD MANAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. I THINK THE VOLUME LEVEL SHOULD BE INCREASED SO IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS GOING UP OR DOWN TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY. THANK YOU.
Electrical system, Apr 11, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ACTIVATING THE AUTOMATIC PARALLEL PARKING ASSIST, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PARALLEL PARK AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC PARALLEL PARKING ASSIST DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.
Electrical system, Apr 10, 2017
MY FORD ESCAPE 2017 DEVELOPED HEATING AND A/C PROBLEMS. PURCHASED FORD ESCAPE 2017 ON 08/22/2016. ON 10/13/2016, MORNING, I LEFT HOME ON I-40 EB TOWARD WESTERN NY. I WAS ON THE ROAD ROUGHLY 2-HRS BEFORE I DETECTED BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. WITHIN MINUTES OF BURNING SMELL, MY FORD ESCAPE 2017 HEATER OUTPUT BECAME UNBEARABLE ON MY RIGHT FOOT. I ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE HEATER OUTPUT BY REDUCING HEATER'S TEMPERATURE DIAL TO NO AVAIL. AS THE HEAT FROM THE CAR'S HEATER BURNED MY RIGHT FOOT, THE FOOT USE TO MANAGE THE ACCELERATOR & BREAK, I TURNED THE HEAT OFF. USING THE A/C AT MAXIMUM SETTING, WEARING A WINTER COAT & THERMAL UNDER-SHIRT & STEEL-TOE SHOES, I COMPLETED TRIP. ON 10/24/2016, TOOK FORD ESCAPE 2017, TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN WESTERN NEW YORK FOR ENGINE DIAGNOSIS (HVAC), EVALUATION & REPAIRS. FORD DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP STATED TO DETERMINE THE HEAT SOURCE PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE REMOVING CAR'S DASH-BOARD & FRONT DOORS. FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REMOVE CAR'S DASH-BOARD & FRONT DOORS, STATING FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT PAID THE COST. REQUESTED DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR HELP, TO NO AVAIL. UNHAPPY AND FRUSTRATED I SOUGHT SECOND FORD DEALERSHIP'S OPINION. I DEMANDED THE NEW DEALERSHIP CONTACT MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR HELP. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REQUEST HELP & TO DATE FORD ESCAPE 2017 HEAT SOURCE PROBLEM REMAIN UNRESOLVED. *JS