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: engine and engine cooling
508 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start as intended; however, the vehicle then functioned as needed after being started. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Upon further investigation, the vehicle was scanned and diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #4, due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that there was scoring in cylinders 1-4 due to coolant intrusion. The contact was informed that the head gasket was blown due to not being properly manufactured. The contact stated that there was a misfire in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed with NHTSA ID Number: 10169884 (Engine and Engine Cooling); which related to the vehicle failure; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 12, 2025
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was idling rough. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. The dealer related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2229 (Coolant in Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/ Or Illuminated MIL); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 44,800.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and parked in a safe location. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinders #2 and #4. The dealer stated that there was metal inside the cylinder head and pistons. The dealer determined that the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer opened a case for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 1, 2025
The contact's husband owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact was informed that upon starting the vehicle, a message indicating high engine temperature was displayed, stating to pull over as soon as possible. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for a long time after the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving the vehicle around the neighborhood, the failure recurred. The contact's husband drove back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the engine block, which caused coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light was blinking. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 101,261.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a misfire from the engine and the engine was overheating. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the highway and observed that the engine temperature gauge was returning to normal. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the spark plugs and coils. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic who diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had been advised by the mechanic that the coolant intrusion into the engine block was a known failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,700.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started on several occasions, the check warning light illuminated. The vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), and the vehicle shuddered and jerked before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted each time. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and jerked, and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #3 due to coolant leaking into the cylinder. The contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was a hard shift in the transmission when accelerating and decelerating. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally while being started. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust system. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and there was a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was coolant leaking into the spark plugs, causing the spark plugs to fuse inside the cylinder. The spark plugs were removed, and it was determined that there was coolant inside cylinder #3 and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the engine failure and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal roaring sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was rough to start. The vehicle failed to start on the third attempt. The service engine soon warning light was flashing. The light became solid before the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle was idling roughly. Additionally, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated with an engine misfire. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent in the beginning and had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 80,833.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program; however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,919.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, stalled, and was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and waited for towing assistance. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37 (Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming); however, the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart, but the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into several cylinders, resulting in the engine being damaged. The contact was advised to discontinue driving the vehicle until the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not yet repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 96,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service warning light illuminated. Additionally, the heating system stopped blowing hot air. The contact stated that upon checking the coolant level, the contact noticed that there was no coolant in the reservoir. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. Additionally, the contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe while idling and while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the spark plugs and cylinders. The contact related the failure to Ford TSB Number: 19-2375. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle might not be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the heater became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that coolant needed to be added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the heater then became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the engine. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump bearing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the engine overheated while driving at various speeds and was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Weed Family Automotive, where it was diagnosed and determined that a head gasket failure had caused coolant to leak into the engine, causing a misfire while driving. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the cost of the repair would be a significant amount. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,274.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting and driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle hesitated with a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact became aware that the engine oil level was extremely low. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine long block resulting in engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.