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: structure
62 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Aug 22, 2018
OPEN THE LIFTGATE WITH HANDS FREE TO LOAD GROCERIES INTO CAR. AS I LOAD FROM CART TO TRUNK THE LIFTGATE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BEGIN TO CLOSE HITTING ME ON THE HEAD. AFTER GETTING HIT IT STARTLES ME SO MUCH NOT SURE IF IT GOES BACK UP FROM THE HITTING MOTION OR ME PUSHING IT OR I HAVE REACHED FOR THE BUTTON TO OPEN IT. BUT IT DOES GO BACK UP AND I HAVE NOT BEEN TRAPPED JUST BANGED ON THE HEAD OR SHOULDERS. THERE IS A VERY QUIET BEEPING SOUND HOWEVER IN A PARKING LOT IT IS TOO QUIET TO HEAR. I ASKED AT THE DEALER IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS LOUDER OR A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING I'M DOING OR A SENSOR AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING IT'S IN PARK IN A LOT AND THE KEY FOB IS IN PURSE OR POCKET. I AM MOVING AROUND HOWEVER TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE YOU DO HAVE TO SWING THE FOOT SOMEWHAT UNDER TO GET IT TO OPEN. I HAVE BEEN CAREFUL WHERE MY FEET ARE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT I AM NOT EFFECTING IT TO CLOSE. I LIKE THE HANDS FREE FEATURE OR I WOULD DISABLE IT BUT I DON'T LIKE GETTING HIT IN THE HEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY HUSBAND MYSELF AND BOTH OF US LOADING TOGETHER.
Structure, Jul 20, 2018
I AM EXPERIENCING WATER STAINS ON THE A POST ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER IT RAINS. NO DEALER WILL LOOK AT THE ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE BASIC WARRANTY.
Structure, Wheels, Apr 3, 2018
JUST PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION. HEARD A LOUD BOOM. PULLED INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. DISCOVERED PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN AND KNOCKED THE REAR BOTTOM DOOR PANEL OFF. THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE WAS HORRIFIC! IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. MICHELIN X GREEN 235/55 R17. THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE THE TIRE IS THAT IT LOOKED DRY ROTTED OR AS IF IT HAD BEEN IN A SHREADED. COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE I RECEIVED FROM DEALERSHIP, MICHELIN, AND THE INITIAL CALL TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER. ACCUSING ME OF HITTING A POT HOLE OR OTHER NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART THAT MUST HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIRE BLOWING OUT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME TIRES.
Structure, Jul 22, 2017
I LEASED A NEW 2017 FORD ESCAPE WITH 379 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT MADE A CREAKING NOISE BY MY RIGHT EAR WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS AFTER THE NOISE WAS MADE. THE DEALERSHIP AND A FORD ENGINEER TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX THE NOISE WITH NO RESULTS. THE NOISE REMAINED. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. FORD SENT THE SAME ENGINEER BACK TO WORK ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD ENGINEER FOUND THAT THERE WERE MISSING WELDS BELOW THE FRONT LEFT DOOR. THE MISSING WELDS WERE WHERE THE ROCKER PANEL WELDS TO SEVERAL OTHER PIECES OF STEEL, UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR TOOK ALMOST 2 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. THE VEHICLE ONLY MADE THE NOISE WHEN THE BODY WOULD FLEX(GOING FROM THE STREET INTO THE DRIVEWAY OR SIMILAR PLACES THAT MADE THE BODY FLEX). THE AREA WELDED LOOKS LIKE IT IS A STRUCTURAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. I STILL AM CONCERNED THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE. I ALSO WORRY THAT THERE COULD BE MANY OTHER 2017 FORD ESCAPES THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS STRONG AS THEY SHOULD BE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.
Structure, Jul 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR ABOVE, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND FELT SHAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TOMES FORD (950 S CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERBODY COVER BECAME LOOSE AND BEGAN TO DRAG ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BOB TOMES FORD FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Structure, Jun 24, 2017
MY CAR WAS STOPPED ON THE PROPERTY'S DRIVEWAY, TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR, AND AS I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO GET IN, THE BOTTOM CORNER OF DOOR GOUGED MY LOWER LEFT LEG AND PEELED BACK A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF TISSUE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THIS PIECE OF BLACK TRIM (WHICH COVERS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE ESCAPE) IS DESIGNED TO FLARE OUT TO A SHARP POINT ON BOTH FRONT DOORS OF THE ESCAPE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A GROSSLY NEGLIGENT DESIGN. IT BORDERS ON AN INTENTIONALLY SUBSTANDARD DESIGN, ELEVATING THE CONTINUITY OF THE BLACK TRIM ABOVE SAFETY CONCERNS. IN MY OPINION, THAT HAZARDOUS POINT FAILS TO MEET EVEN THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS OF A COMMERCIALLY FIT AND MERCHANTABLE VEHICLE. RESULT: TEN STITCHES TO REPAIR MY LEG; TETANUS SHOT; ORAL ANTIBIOTICS; COMPLETE DISRUPTION TO QUALITY OF LIFE AS MOBILITY IS AN ISSUE AND I ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE WOUND CLEAN, DRY AND UNINFECTED.
Structure, Apr 27, 2017
SEEMS THAT THE PAINT CHIPS VERY EASILY/// ALSO THE FORD EMBLEM SOMEHOW BROKE // JUST NOTICE CHIPS WHILE WATCHING CAR.
Structure, Mar 22, 2017
FOLLOW UP TO REPORT 10959814. VEHICLE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM WITH DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS. DEALER ADJUSTED LATCHES, NO OTHER CONDITION WITH LATCHES REPORTED TO CUSTOMER AT THIS TIME. REPAIR COMPLETED ON 3/20/17.
Structure, Mar 11, 2017
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCH PERIODICALLY DOES NOT CLOSE - MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SECURELY CLOSE DOOR. SO FAR, IT HAS CORRECTED ITSELF SOMETIMES AFTER ONE OR TWO ATTEMPTS AND OFTEN AFTER MANY MORE. SO FAR, THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN CAR WAS PARKED (NOT YET MOVING). I NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL UNDERWAY FOR FORDS UP TO YEAR 2016 (SO FAR).
Structure, Mar 9, 2017
DOOR LATCH HANDLES ON ALL EXTERIOR DOOR POSITIONS DO NOT RETURN TO THE 'HOME' POSITION, POSSIBLY DUE TO A WEAK OR POORLY ADJUSTED LATCH HANDLE SPRING OR OTHER PART OF THE MECHANISM. WHEN IN THIS POSITION IT IS POSSIBLE TO PUSH THE DOOR OPEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE RELEASE HANDLE FOR THE DOOR LATCH(ES). THIS CAN CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN THE DOOR OPENS UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WAY, OR AN OCCUPANT LEANS ON THE DOOR, CAUSING IT TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CONDITION IS REPLICABLE ON ALL DOORS, AND COULD BE REPLICATED WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING, BUT SAFETY DICTATED THAT WE NOT ATTEMPT A MOVING REPLICATION OF THE HAZARD. A COMPARISON TO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE OF THE SAME MODEL, BUT ONE YEAR OLDER INDICATES THE DOOR LATCHES ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE TO OPERATE. VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR AT AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER ON 3/20/16.
Structure, Jan 6, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,124.
Structure, Oct 10, 2016
SEVERAL TIMES AFTER PULLING THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET IN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, SO THAT WHEN YOU GET INSIDE AND TRY TO SHUT THE DOOR, THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH SHUT AND THE DOOR IS NOT SECURELY CLOSED THOUGH YOU MAY THINK IT IS.