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: power train
391 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 19, 2019
AUTO START STOP SPORADICALLY CEASES TO WORK. IT WILL NOT RESTART AND VEHICLE DIRECTS ME TO PUT THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I MIGHT BE REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WHO EXPECTS ME TO LEAVE A STOP SIGN RED LIGHT, ET AL. QUICKLY. MY WIFE PUTS THE TEMPORARILY DISABLES THE FEATURE EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE. I FORGET WHEN I DRIVE IT AND THEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND (SEE ABOVE). THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN THE 3RD YEAR OF OUR LEASE (SEPTEMBER 2018)
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 9, 2019
CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JANUARY AND HAS HAPPENED 5-10 TIMES SINCE. MESSAGE COMES UP TO PUT CAR IN PARK TO RESTART. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR WILL RESTART AND POSSIBLE REAR END ACCIDENTS.
Power train, Engine, Jan 11, 2019
WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED RECALLS ON ESCAPE VEHICLES IN THE PAST REGARDING THE SAME SITUATION HOWEVER NOTHING HAS BEEN SENT OUT REGARDING THE 2017 MODELS. THIS IS A PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING APPARENTLY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT IS SUCH A NEW VEHICLE. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Power train, Engine, Oct 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FROM FRONT TO BACK. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TUTTLE-CLICK FORD LINCOLN (43 AUTO CENTER DR, IRVINE, CA 92618, (949) 472-5200), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND A CHIME SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUNRISE FORD OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD (5500 LANKERSHIM BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 91601, (877) 510-8967), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS16062115. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,852.
Power train, Structure, Oct 4, 2018, crash
ON OCTOBER 3, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 P.M. MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO OUR 2017 FORD ESCAPE. SHE HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN, BUT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, AS SHE WAS GETTING IN SHE FELT A JOLT, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD, THE DRIVER'S DOOR SIDESWIPED OUR OTHER CAR AND KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND. THE CAR ROLLED ACROSS THE STREET AND STRUCK THE CAR PORT BEAM AT THE ADJACENT HOME. SHE YELLED FOR HELP AND WHEN I GOT THERE SHE WAS TRYING TO STOP THE ROLLING CAR. THE CAR WAS IN PARK, I STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT OFF THE STREET.
Power train, Sep 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V471000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE A DEALER DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000.
Power train, Apr 6, 2018
OUT OF NOWHERE, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SEEMING TO SLIP IN MY 2017 FORD ESCAPE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. A MINUTE LATER, THE SYSTEM MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW" CAME UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 35 MPH. IT HAS SINCE BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. WE WERE OUT OF STATE VISITING FAMILY AS WELL, SO THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED AS MY HUSBAND HAS HAD TO MISS TWO WEEKS OF CLASSES TO TAKE CARE OF THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE HAD TO MISS SEVERAL DAYS OF WORK DUE TO THIS SITUATION. IT BROKE DOWN MARCH 18TH AND IT IS NOW APRIL 6TH AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PART TO FIX THE VEHICLE.
Power train, Engine, Jan 31, 2018
A MONTH AGO I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON. IT RAN REALLY ROUGH AND FELT LIKE I WAS GOING OVER ROCKS THE WAY THE SUV WAS RUNNING. ON MY PHONE I HAD AN APP THAT SAID THERE WAS A MISFIRE. THEY FIXED IT SAYING THEY REPLACED SOME WIRES. A WEEK AGO THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. I FELT A BIT OF A JOLT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I DIDNT FIND TIME TIL 2 WEEKS LATER BECAUSE OF MY SCHEDULE.SO I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. ON MY WAY THERE, THE COOLANT LEVEL WENT HIGH AND I HAD ANOTHER MISFIRE AGAIN. I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SEEN THE COOLANT LEAK AND NOTICE THE MISFIRE. THIS FORD ESCAPE IS ONLY 11 MONTHS OLD AND I ALREADY HAD 2 MISFIRE SITUATIONS AND A COOLANT LEAK. I ONLY GO TO WORK AND ONLY DID ONE TRIP TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK. IT HAS 23,000 MILES ONLY BECAUSE I HAD TO TRAVEL 30 MILES TO WORK ONE WAY. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A LEMON SEEING HOW THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
Power train, Jan 30, 2018
TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT BY ROUTE 23 AUTOMALL. ONCE GETTING IT BACK THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OFTEN TIMES AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR DURING CITY DRIVING. NO ERROR CODES WHEN BRING IT BACK TO DEALER. CAR IS UNSAFE AS I ALMOST GOT HIT WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. ESCALATED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND NO CODES SHOWN ON THE COMPUTER.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 24, 2018
VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE THE FIRST DAY I OWNED IT. IT LEFT ME ON INTERSTATE I 90 HAVING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TRY TO RESTART IT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 12K MILES I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AS THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC PARTS. THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ME AND MY 14 YEAR OD SON. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE AUCTIONED THIS VEHICLE OFF AFTER DISMISSING THE SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT I HAVE FILED ON THIS WEBSITE.
Power train, Oct 24, 2017
I BOUGHT THIS 2017 FORD ESCAPE SE ECOBOOST 4WD IN FEBRUARY, AND SINCE THEN EVERY TIME I CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE, I HEAR A ROUGH 'THUD' NOISE FROM THE REAR. I ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I GO IN REVERSE AND IT NEVER HAPPENS WHILE THE ESCAPE IS IN DRIVE WHILE IN MOTION. IT HAPPENS OFTEN HEARING A HARD KNOCK WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. SINCE THIS IS A 4WD ESCAPE, IM THINKING ITS COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHEN THE REAR WHEELS ARE 'KICKED' INTO GEAR USING THE REAR WHEELS POWER TO PULL IT IN REVERSE. IT DOES HAVE 'INTELLIGENT 4WD' WHERE WHEN THE ESCAPE IS DRIVING ON NORMAL ROADS, THE FRONT WHEELS ARE ONLY ACTIVE, BUT THEN ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE ACTIVATED WHEN GOING ON ROUGHER ROADS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ABOUT THIS AND OTHER OWNERS FROM 2017 WITH 4WD HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM TO AN UNCERTAIN END NOT KNOWING IF THIS IS GOING TO DAMAGE THE ESCAPE IN A FEW YEARS OR IN A YEAR...BASICALLY THE FORD ESCAPE I HAVE MAKES A HARD ROUGH THUD NOISE WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE THINKING ITS A DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD THROUGH THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANY RECALLS ON IT, BUT IT IS STILL IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME AND OTHER FORD ESCAPE 4WD OWNERS. PLEASE FIGURE THIS OUT. THANK YOU.
Power train, Engine, Aug 26, 2017
SUV REGULARLY OVERHEATS WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILL IN WARM WEATHER. THE SUV WAS PURCHASED WITH THE LARGEST ENGINE BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN WARM CALIFORNIA. WHEN CAR OVERHEATS POWER IS LOST AND WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IN AN EMERGENCY SAFETY CONDITION. THE CAR ALSO RUNS ROUGH AND JERKS ONCE IT COOLS DOWN AND POWER REGAINS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL CODES VERIFYING THE PROBLEM HAVE NOT FIXED IT (OR EVEN ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT EACH TIME IT IS BROUGHT IN. THE CAR HAS A 3500 POUND TRAILER RATING. IF A TRAILER WAS ATTACHED WE WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN DANGEROUS WEATHER. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY $36,000 CAR WITH LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT.
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.
Power train, May 16, 2017
MODEL HAS TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NO PROVISION TO OVERRIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALLOWING ENGAGEMENT OF LOWER GEARS TO UTILIZING ENGINE BRAKING. THIS ABILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE MOUNTAIN DRIVING WHERE DOWNHILL GRADES, INCLUDING SHARP CURVES, GO ON FOR MILES. FULL DEPENDENCE ON WHEEL BRAKES, WHICH WILL OVERHEAT, IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CO-EFFICIENT OF FRICTION DECREASES WITH INCREASING BRAKE PAD TEMPERATURES. HAVING DRIVEN THIS MAKE/MODEL AS A RENTAL FOR ~2,500 MILES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS STATES OF AZ, UT, AND CO I SPEAK FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. AS A RETIRED ENGINEER FROM THE U.S. DEPT. OF ENERGY I ASK PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS A DESIGN SAFETY ISSUE.
Power train, Jan 19, 2017
HAVE NEW 2017 FORD ESCAPE 1.5 ECOBOOST SE 4WD. ONLY 800 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN TURNING TIGHT TURNS, HEARING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE THAT IS NOT PRESENT WHEN TEST DRIVING OTHER NEW 2017 ESCAPES ON THE LOT WITH 4WD. ONLY DOES IT FROM A STOP AND BARELY MOVING, THEN SOUND GOES AWAY. CALLED FORD DETROIT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, SAID THE SAME THING. HAVE A FRIEND WHO GOT THE SAME CAR BUT DIFFERENT COLOR. HAS 1000 MILES ON HIS AND IT DOES NOT MAKE THIS NOISE. SOUNDS LIKE AXLE BINDING AND WHEEL HOP BUT NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS SINCE THE NOISE IS NOT BEING DUPLICATED IN OTHER CARS LIKE MINE. SOUND GOES AWAY AFTER VEHICLE SPEEDS UP AND STARTS TO TRAVEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE. *TR