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, Apr 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the coolant inside of the coolant reservoir was extremely low, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the message "Transmission Error" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine had experienced coolant intrusion and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,044.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 1, 2025
The contact 's daughter owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while performing an oil change on the vehicle, the contact noticed that the coolant level was abnormally low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the dealer had mis-diagnosed the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated the following day. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the intercooler and the cylinder head had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and assisted in covering the cost of the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 74,035.
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Mar 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was slow to accelerate. There was white smoke coming from the exhaust, with the check engine warning light illuminated and flashing on and off. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a crack in cylinders #3 and #4. The dealer recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that during the initial start-up, the vehicle shuddered for a while before running properly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure due to coolant leaking into the engine. The contact was informed 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 53,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light became illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while leaving her property. The vehicle was restarted, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that there was an abnormal chemical odor coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. The contact stated that the spark plugs, coil packs, and purge valve were replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinders. The dealer determined 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 for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The engine over-temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted; however, while driving 5 MPH, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,200.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle started shaking. The check engine warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a misfire in cylinder #3. The spark plugs and coil pack were replaced; however, the following day, there was no antifreeze in the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that there was no coolant in the oil. The contact checked cylinder #3 and found coolant leaking into cylinder #3. The contact contacted the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,940.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced hard shifting and shuddering, with a pinging sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the manufacturer's Extended Warranty coverage for the engine failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating abnormally upon starting and while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local AutoZone, where a diagnostic test retrieved DTC: P0304. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #4 due to coolant intrusion. The contact stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was misfiring and hesitating to respond. Additionally, there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed that cylinders #2 and #3 were misfiring due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was then taken to an unknown dealer, where it was not diagnosed; however, the dealer performed a visual inspection of the vehicle and informed the contact that the short block had a factory defect and needed to be replaced. 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 159,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated the while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the intended destination despite the failure. The vehicle was then driven to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test indicated that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, resulting in engine failure. The vehicle remained unrepaired with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and then to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the engine had overheated weeks before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the water pump was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the "Engine Overheating Shut Down" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. A dealer was contacted, and the dealer made the contact aware of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,741.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the engine fault warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2375 or 20-2100. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a coolant leak in the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Feb 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, prompting the to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the head gasket, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. 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 39,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was operating the vehicle, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal beeping sound and then unexpectedly shut off. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the "Engine Fault Service Now" message was displayed. The vehicle was restarted, but the engine overheated. The contact added coolant to the reservoir; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a crack in cylinder #3 and 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 a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 19, 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 dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was advised that coolant intrusion had been found in the short block of the engine, and that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,390.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Feb 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her daughter was driving out of the school parking lot at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block was fractured, and there was coolant intrusion in cylinders #3 and #4. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to an undisclosed TSB. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she noticed the water meter gauge was lower than normal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired. Upon further inspection, the contact related the failure to TSB 19-2172; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,511.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Feb 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while it was raining the windshield wipers became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the catalytic converter, windshield wiper motor, and emission coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine briefly shuddered before returning to normal functionality; however, the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion into several cylinders had caused damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. 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 97,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was running roughly. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant in the cylinder. Additionally, the engine block was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,262.