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, Jun 25, 2024
This is my 18 year old daughters vehicle, she was driving on the highway at a high speed of 75 and all of a sudden it dropped to 50 (TERRIFYING), this happened probably a handful of times before we had the vehicle looked at! The vehicle gave her a check engine light, we had someone look at it at, they replaced her high pressure fuel pump, no one said anything about her transmission failing. It lasted 2 more weeks and completely stopped on her. We had the transmission rebuilt and hasn't given her issues for 1 week. NOW my 2018 expeditions transmission is a goner, having it now looked at. Should not happen after 5 years!
Power train, Engine, Jun 23, 2024
Ford dealership performed EEC test and ran OASIS- identified TSB 22-2229 and verified that my 2017 Escape SE 2.0L (purchased in July 2020) met criteria for inspection on 02/27/2024. The vehicle had been experiencing an intermittent engine light, coolant loss x 3-4 months, rough start up, and white exhaust. An OBD code of P0302 was noted one week prior to the dealership appointment and was verified during the inspection. The dealership performed a cooling system pressure test and borescope on the cylinders, and identified coolant intrusion. Along block replacement was recommended at a cost of $7900. I contacted Ford Motor Company for help, as this is a known engineering flaw of the Ecoboost engines that causes (per Ford Motor Company) coolant intrusion in the 2015-2019 Escapes. My extended warranty had expired, and I still owe ~$8500 on my auto loan. I was told there was no help available for me, but to keep receipts in the event of an issued recall. I continued to keep my coolant reservoir filled after each trip ( I have a 35 minute trip to and from work), and the dashboard indicators all came on 2 weeks ago while driving to work (had no other option except to keep using my vehicle). The engine will now not turn over. Luckily, I now have a family member's car for driving to/from work. My question is when will Ford finally issue a recall for the 1.6 & 2.0L Escape engines, as they did in 2022 for the 1.5L engines?? Lots of folks out there with these engines are in the same boat as me, unless the engine is still under warranty. And coolant mixing with the engine oil after the head gasket fails? A fire hazard, correct? Ford needs to step up and take responsibility for this issue already. I have been a loyal customer (my Escape is my 5th Ford vehicle) and have always followed manufacturer recommendations. This will be my last Ford vehicle for sure.
Power train, May 31, 2024
I was driving to work, and I reversed out of my driveway. I stopped, put the transmission in Drive, and proceeded forward. I let my foot off of the accelerator, and the transmission slipped and the car lurched and made a "thunk" noise. I stopped, and then accelerated again. After about 10 minutes of driving (while stopping and going at several stoplights), I was driving at 45 mph. The engine suddenly started revving past 4000 RPM, and the car would not accelerate forward anymore. I let my foot off the accelerator, then pressed on it again. The engine again revved with no forward movement, and several clunking and grinding noises. I was fortunately able to pull over on the shoulder of the road. I put the vehicle in park, then drive again. It would not move. After turning the car off and on again, and putting the transmission in drive, it clunked loudly and lurched forward. I was able to drive another 1/4 mile slowly, and pull into a parking lot. After that, the car would not move in forward or reverse gear. It was towed to the dealership on May 15, and has been there evere since. I am submitting this due to the Ford Motor Corporation's awareness of the issues with the transmissions on these vehicles, and the safety risk that they pose. I was lucky that there was a place to safely pull off of the road and move the vehicle to a parking spot.
Power train, May 31, 2024
My car doesn't have 70,000 miles on it and the flex plate is cracked. There have been other models of Ford ie the edge that have had the same problem. Something needs to be done about this because hundreds of people are reporting the same problem. With a quick Google search you can see that.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, May 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated with an error message of "Vehicle Overheating – Turn Off Vehicle" prior to the engine overheating. The vehicle was able to be moved to the shoulder before the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with 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. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power train, Engine, May 25, 2024
bought a used 2017 Ford escape Titanium in 2022 with 38k miles. Didn't know anything about the issues with the car. Fast forward 8 months ago I started smelling coolant out of my exhaust. Had a friend to check it and coolant levels were low and coolant found it's way into my engine oil. This was around 58k miles on the odometer. Fast forward again end of March 2024 my check engine light came on took it to dealership for a diagnostics. They kept my car all day just to tell me I need a new engine and turbo which would total 14k dollars.
Power train, Engine, May 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was revving as if the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact slowed down and depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle was jolting like shifting gear. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Power train, Engine, May 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, attempting to go uphill, the vehicle failed to shift gear and surged. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was cracked, and there was antifreeze leaking into the engine compartment, causing engine failure. The dealer was informed that the transmission and engine needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,500.
Power train, May 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a ticking noise was present coming from the transmission. Later, the transmission failed, and the transmission shifter would not go into gear and the vehicle failed to go in drive or in reverse. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Power train, Engine, May 13, 2024
The engine was emitting white smoke at approximately 55,000 miles. After a quick inspection a low coolant level was noted and a code for a misfiring cylinder 2 was noted. This issue is likely coolant intrusion into the cylinder. I was made aware of the Customer Service Program 21N12.
Power train, Engine, May 2, 2024
My check engine light came on, so I brought my car into the Ford Dealership within 2 days (their earliest appointment). I had noticed some jumpiness on startup, and white smoke coming from the tailpipe. The dealership service department diagnosed it with a coolant leak into the cylinder, and requested a repair of $9880. This car has only 45,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. This appears to be a manufacturing defect that others have experienced as well.
Power train, Engine, Apr 25, 2024
Bought the car used in December 2023 for my son's first vehicle. Small dealer - had their mechic check everything out and was in good condition. Even had spark plug/coil replaced. Drove vehicle coupld of times a week - small trips 30-40 miles round trip. About 3 weeks ago, check engine light came on. Finally got it to a Ford dealership yesterday and they checked it out. This is one of the 2017 Ford Escapes with the 2.0 Ecoboost engines and it was the coolant intrusion issue. Car looses coolant rather quickly and coolant was present in 1 of the cylinders. Only solution is to replace the enginer - about $7600 solution. Since we've only had the car for 4 months, we haven't made much progress on the loan. So for a first vehicle, he's learning a hard life lesson - and may become upside down on the loan very quickly or we will have to take out another loan to pay for the repairs - even though Ford knows about the issue, issued a recall on the 1.5 Ecoboost (but NOT the 2.0)! Or I have a brand new driver in a very unsafe car - that may or may not accelerate correctly or may catch on fire! We'll be into this car for almost $20,000 when this repair is done - and for that price, I could have brought something newer, with less miles and with no major engine defects!
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 22, 2024
Since last four months I get multiple warning lights with alarm in my car . 1) Engine failure contact dealer immediately announcement 2) steering assist failure announcement ( & steering becomes heavy) 2) Hill assist failure 3) rear park aid failure announcement 4) 911 assist is not operational contact dealer . The odometer and speedometer goes blank and I can not see what speed I am driving at. I have given my car to dealership 4 times so far. For multiple weeks. still the same issue. I am not getting any replacement vehicle . I am concerned about safety of my, my family and other people on the road. I need help to get a reliable vehicle that I can use safely. I have valid extended warranty. I have attached example invoice showing I was asked to pay lot of money out of pocket ispite of having warranty.
Power train, Apr 11, 2024
My vehicles transmission went out while driving which cause my vehicle to abruptly stop in traffic, my vehicle at the time only has about 76,000 miles on it, it is a 2017, from googling more information it appears that transmissions going out on this year and model of vehicle is common, I am wondering if there isn't something more going on with this line of vehicles. I know that recalls have been issued before on certain Ford vehicles in regards to transmissions, I know I had them fix the one recall while it was in the shop, but this doesn't seem like it was a one vehicle issue.
Power train, Engine, Apr 5, 2024
The coolant is leaking into the engine. Mine and my families safety is at risk because if the coolant runs out, it can overheat the engine which could cause a fire. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than the dealer. The initial warning happened about a month ago (March 8th 2024) when we saw that the coolant had lowered. We filled it back up and have had to refill it a couple times so that it would not go below the "minimum" line. Ford knows about this issue and has even released a recall for a software update (which was fixed on this specific vehicle) and release a "Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12". Unfortunately, this program only lasted until November 2022.
Power train, Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, a heavy, blueish-colored smoke would emit from the exhaust pipe as the check engine light would intermittently appear on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that coolant had leaked into an engine cylinder. The dealer replaced the turbo; however, the failure returned soon after the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Power train, Mar 28, 2024
The vehicle has been well maintained. It has a sealed transmission, and the recall item was scheduled to be serviced because a transmission fault. Light triggered after lurching forward into route 114 while oncoming traffic was traveling at 55 mph and nearly Hit the vehicle. Occurred, Then the transmission light came on advising faulty transmission service immediately. I shifted and a few times it would not go into gear, When I did go into gear, made a loud grinding sound. This is due to the recall However, there should be additional information to note for the recall. Rowe Ford would not cover the faulty transmission because they said it was due to debris inside of the system. This is a transmission and debris should not occur unless gears are grinding. I immediately parked the vehicle at my home and called Rowe Ford service center to schedule service. Transmission failure should not have occurred and would not have occurred if the bearing and shifting cable allowed for proper shifting. There are hundreds if not thousands of complaints about 2017 Ford escapes transmissions completely destroyed before it reaches 80,000 miles. This warrants an investigation. This cannot be a coincidence or driver error. This is due to inferior metal and slight grinding from the shifter bushing being faulty - creating the debris that clogs solenoids and plugs the filter. Remember, this is a closed system and there is no way to replace a dirty filter. I believe Ford purposely used inferior grade metal inside of the transmission to create issues that would increase revenue for sales and service. This absolutely warrants an investigation. I am asking for samples of the debris because it is my belief that Ford intentionally used low-grade metal inside the transmission because it would wear away quicker which would cause an uptick in sales and service.
Power train, Mar 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at unknown speeds, the message "Transmission Fault, Service Now" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled shortly afterward. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to another independent mechanic, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contacted stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front end and the rear end of the vehicle were shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission was replaced; however, the front end of the vehicle continued to shudder while starting the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that cylinder #2 was misfiring. The mechanic replaced the shock absorbers and spark plugs; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the cylinders. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to Ford TSB Number: 22-2229. Additionally, the contact related the failure to Ford TSB Numbers: 22-2133 19B37 and 19-2172. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,789.
Power train, Engine, Mar 13, 2024
Good morning, yesterday I noticed that the engine is not running smoothly when starting (i.e. when it is cold). The yellow engine light came on. Errors 0301 and 0316 were detected in the car workshop. Most likely, the engine head was cracked or the head gasket was damaged. Moreover, a week ago I noticed a strange knocking noise in the rear axle. The workshop wanted to change the oil. Unfortunately, there is no drain plug in the rear axle housing. In my opinion, these are design defects of the engine and rear axle. These elements are important for the safety of the car in road traffic. A person cannot be allowed to buy a car that cannot be operated properly. Although the user manual says that it can be done.
Power train, Mar 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with an unstated message displayed on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to inspect the vehicle; the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was then provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the contact was informed that the water pump was leaking, and that the bearing in the water pump was inoperable causing the abnormal sound. The mechanic recommended the removal of the stress belt and replacing the timing belt. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Power train, Feb 26, 2024
When pressing the acceleration pedal, car does not always switch into the next gear. On other occasions, while accelerating the car jerks and does not switch into the next year smoothly
Power train, Feb 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated while shifting into another gear, the contact noticed that the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Power train, Engine, Feb 14, 2024
July 2022, check engine light came on. Vehicle taken to dealer where purchased (Scott Peterson Ford-Sturgis, SD). They found the code indicated #1 cylinder misfire, running and upon start up. They cleared codes and could not duplicate the misfire. Said they could not figure out the issue and sent us back on the road. The vehicle was still under factory warranty. We continued to use the vehicle with check engine light coming on and going off occasionally. The check engine light appeared in Sept 2023. We had the spark plugs changed and the coolant system flushed at our service station. The check engine light went off. It would come on again, go off, sporadically. Then in January 2024 the check engine light came on and the heater wouldn't work. We checked the coolant level and it was almost completely out. We filled coolant back up, the check engine light went off, and all seemed good. Within 2 weeks the check engine light came on again and the coolant was completely out. No leaks noticed anywhere. I researched and found lots of articles/lawsuit against Ford for this very issue. It included potential fire issue from engine overheating and more. We returned the vehicle to the dealership (now Wareing Ford Sturgis) and they indicated it was probably a leak into the engine itself, which was a known problem by Ford and the dealerships. They mentioned some customers were buying extended warranty coverage before having the dealership diagnose the problem and that it could save us a lot of money. I said that was dishonest and not something I would do. They then diagnosed the issue and they were correct, coolant was leaking into the engine and had caused engine failure. The repair estimate is $13,000. I have complaint filed w/ Ford, which is saying the car is out of warranty. They said to keep our receipts in case Ford ends up having to pay. I said I want it covered under warranty, engine only has 56k miles and we brought it in with problem while still under warranty in 2022.