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: other or unspecified
153 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 16, 2025
The coolant leaks into the the cylinders. I bought this car June 7th 2025 and was told it was being sold as is due to hail damage. I have no issue with cosmetic problems but I come to find out that there is major defect with ford escapes. My vehicle started to overheat with my children in the car so I checked the coolant and it was empty. I have been keeping my eye on it and filling when needed but when I went to turn it on a couple days ago it will not start at all. I put 4,000 down on this car and got into payments because I trusted the dealership to put me in a car that was not known for these issues. I had no idea because I am not in the car business and I scrambled to get a car because mine was wrecked. The check engine light even came as the salesman was pumping gas to give me the car after I bought it and told me they would check into. I was told a couple days later it was a loose ignition coil and that they topped off the coolant for me. It was within the same week that I started having these issues because I am sure this issue was preexisting but they did not want to tell me.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 7, 2025
1. On [XXX] the coolant leaked into the engine cylinders causing complete engine failure. Yes, it is available for inspection. 2. On [XXX] my [XXX] son was driving with my [XXX] son and the engine overheated, nearly burning them both when they tried to release the pressurized coolant reservoir. 3. Yes, an autobody shop confirmed this upon inspection this morning (July 7th, 2025). 4. The only warning came while my son was driving on [XXX] and the engine warning appeared. He pulled over to pop the hood and inspect. On June 12th, 2025 my son had an oil change and inspection done where it was reported that the coolant reservoir was filled to a "safe level". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 11, 2025, fire
When driving the vehicle it suddenly lost all acceleration power. I coasted to side of road and opened hood to determine the vehicle was on fire from rear of engine bay. I then proceeded to offload what I was able from behind the vehicle of my tools for my job. There was no over heat warning or other indicators of any major issues with the vehicle prior to the fire.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2025
Misfired on ignition. Diagnostics ran. replaced all spark plugs, coils and gasket. Engine coolant flushed and exchanged. 1 week later misfiring again. 2 diagnostics run...conclusion was coolant intrusion. Upon researching this problem I have discovered many Ford Escapes have this same issue. No recall was ever issued. The customer satisfaction program(21N12) was not widely announced in 2022. I was unaware of it until last week. It was for vehicles made in Louisville between 9/17/2015 and 4/8/2019. My vehicle was manufactured there in Feb. 2017. It was good for 7 years or 84000 miles. I am only 6 months past that time period, however only have 37000 miles on this vehicle. I was told by 2 different mechanics it was not safe to drive in this condition and the repairs could run up to $10000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 7, 2025
Rear power liftgate fails to lift, close or lock properly.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 14, 2025
The windshield paint on both sides is chipping and may cause distraction or paint on windshield making it not possible to see. There was a recall for this---my VIN was not included on recall.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 13, 2025
Catastrophic engine failure; unless it could happen very quickly, the vehicle likely will not be available for inspection. As background, our family purchased this vehicle used from a MI dealer in July 2023. It was a trade-in by the previous owner, and the dealer did not disclose any known issues. This vehicle belongs to our daughter, who is a graduate student in upstate NY. After driving only ~6,000 miles, her safety was put at risk when she lost acceleration as gray smoke poured out of her tailpipe (had she been on a highway, both she and other drivers would have been at grave risk). She had the vehicle towed to a local service station and was told the engine needed to be replaced. After searching Google for problems with this vehicle's engine, a 1.5L Ecoboost, we discovered that not only is this a known issue (coolant intrusion) for which Ford did not issue a recall (instead, "Program #21N12 one-time repair for vehicles included in 19B37"), but there also is a class action lawsuit being litigated by Capstone Law APC. Given this, we towed the vehicle to the local Ford dealer, who also advised we need to replace the engine, we will receive no financial relief from Ford, and it will cost $12,000 for the replacement (we paid $16,000 for this vehicle less than two years ago). We have spoken to various individuals at the national Ford customer satisfaction organization, and they will not help us. So we now have an inoperable vehicle that my daughter can't afford to repair, and since we are not getting any financial relief from Ford, she is forced to buy a much older, high-mileage vehicle that may also put her safety at risk. The only indication of a problem was when the check engine light came on, but since the vehicle was driving fine, our daughter did not realize she should take it for service right way (this is her first vehicle, and she lives close to campus so drives only infrequently). She is unsure how long the light was on, but likely several weeks.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2025
While driving, the transmission shuddered and jerked. I took the car to my garage, where it was diagnosed as needing a new transmission. At the time it had 98,258 miles. The transmission was replaced on 9/1/2023. In September, 2024, the transmission fault message and the check engine light came on. I took the car to Duval Ford where the transmission was rebuilt under warranty. Mileage at that time was 118,754. It took the dealer 3 weeks to get the car back to me. Two weeks ago, again the transmission fault message and the check engine light came on. (Mileage 128,952) Currently I am waiting for a loaner car from Coggin Ford so they can repair the transmission. I have been only driving short distances because I am afraid the transmission will suddenly stop working and I will have an accident or be stranded. I might add that in my 60+ years of driving this is the first time I have ever had transmission problems.
Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2025
Car started to jump while accelerating, then wouldn’t shift or move. Mechanic stated that the torque converter let go and filled the transmission with steel. He also stated that the transmission shop said they are doing on average 2 of these transmissions per week for the same problem.
Other or unspecified, Jan 28, 2025
Upon a routine visit to my ASC certified mechanic it was found that the rear axle AND water coolant pump were close to failure which would cause loss of steering for the former issue and a catastrophic engine failure due to overheating in the second,. Vehicle has a clean title and an odometer reading under 60K. These are components that are expected to have durability that is well in excess of 100K mileage. Note that this car has been service regularly, driven by one owner with a very conservative driving style and meticulous in meeting all servicing intervals.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 3, 2025
My 2017 Ford Escape has a 1.5L EcoBoost engine that has been leaking fuel into my cylinders. My mechanic says I'm lucky it didn't cause a fire while I was driving it. Due to the damage, I now have to replace my long block engine, quoted at $11.2K. A week after I bought the car in late May 2024, the car began to smell of gasoline whenever I used my A/C, which I rarely do. A constant problem I've experienced since purchasing this car is misfiring, specifically cylinder two misfires. Ford needs to recall these engines, as I believe their design is faulty and these problems could have been prevented. The longer they refuse to acknowledge the problem they've caused, the more time unsuspecting people such as myself can drive around their new Fords and potentially have their cars burst into flames.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 16, 2024
Coolant intrusion cylinder 4 no indicator light extremely low coolant level. A pressure leak down test was performed and it's getting in through the head gasket/cylinder wall.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 9, 2024
Check engine light came on while normal driving on highway and car immediately started running rough, power cutting out, engine sputtering. I immediately exited highway & pulled into a Ford dealership that was right off the highway. They hooked up a code reader & got a P0301 code error, misfire in cylinder 1. They said it could be a number of things wrong but couldn't get my car in shop for 2 weeks. Replaced spark plugs& coil, no difference, checked fuel injection & pressure seemed ok. Did some research found that there is a known issue with the 2017 escapes 1.5 liter eco boost turbo engines involving coolant leaking into cylinders causing the same exact problem I am experiencing with my vehicle. I have done regular oil changes & other maintenance on the vehicle since purchasing in 2020 and haven't had any problems really other than having to replace the water pump prematurely in my opinion at much higher costs than I have ever seen for such repair. I still owe a decent amount in the vehicle and this break engine issue is a great hardship to me personally as it is my only vehicle and is greatly hindering my ability to travel to & from work. I cannot afford a high repair bill and by my research I'm looking at a minimum of $750 and possible engine replacement at estimated $10,000 which is more than I owe & more than the car's estimated value. Ford has always been my family's preferred choice of vehicles so I'm counting on that confidence in Ford motor co to determine if my vehicle could indeed be included among the models affected by the published recalls on the 2017 escapes so that my vehicle can be repaired at no costs and I can get back on the road and otherwise avoid losing my job & having to voluntarily surrender the vehicle in lieu of repossession. I understand that repairs are sometimes required but the issue with my vehicle seems sudden with no prior warnings and with so many same model & year escapes having the exact same problem a recall seems very likely.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 30, 2024
For the past two years I have drove a 2017 ford escape. Over the past two years my car has failed me multiple times My question is for ford motor company. Knowing this is a known issue with escapes…why are they doing nothing to help customers who have had a total engine failure due to manufacturing’s flaws ?
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 18, 2024
Driving back home from downtown Tupelo, my transmission completely went out. Vehicle had to be turned off and back on to move a few feet. It took over 45 minutes to drive 4 miles to my house. Cost of transmission more than value of the vehicle. Ford stated there is no recall on the vehicle for the transmission.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 7, 2024
I believe I should not be charged for the needed repairs of my car. The dealership is charging me $7200 for repairs which I had nothing to do with. There are recalls pertaining to my vehicle. I posted the notes sent to me from the dealership. Note from tech: Verified the concern, engine has a misfire, CEL on some white smoke when started and also low on coolant. Hook up the IDS and found codes P0304, P0316 and P051B. Performed a cylinder balance test and found cylinder 4 misfiring. Performed a relative compression test and relative compression is ok. Reviewed mode 6 data and found cylinder 4 has been misfiring. During my visual inspection I found the coolant reservoir was empty/ low on coolant. Removed the cylinder 4 spark plug and the porcelain was cracked. Looked into the cylinder with my bore scope and the piston was clean aluminum indicating it has been steamed with coolant. Pressure test the cooling system and found cylinder 4 is seeping coolant into the cylinder. The short block will have to be replaced to fix the concern. I have contacted Ford corporate, the dealership, and the service/parts mgr has also contacted Ford pertaining to my situation. I bought my car with 41miles on it. My car only has 56,000 miles! Plus it has never had engine probs! Yet Ford corporate has denied the payment of the repairs due to my car's year (2017). I hope you can help in this situation. Ford corporate customer service said I could possibly be reimbursed by NHTSA if I go ahead and pay (because I need my car) the $7200 for the needed repairs. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 26, 2024
I went in for the recall notice I had received and wanted the dealership to check on a concern I had towards my Escape that came afloat the day prior. I had scheduled to bring my car in for the recall/car concerns, except, I ended up bringing it in early. Now, the car was shimmying and the ck engine light came on. After the inspection, I was read the tech's notes. I was then told the cost of its repairs was nearly $7200! My car is only 6/7yrs old with 56,000 miles. I have not had any engine issues. After seeing the NHTSA report concerning my vehicle, I feel the needed repair cost should not be from my wallet. Here is my Escape's VIN [XXX] as well as the notes from my dealer's tech. "Verified the concern, engine has a misfire, CEL on some white smoke when started and also low on coolant. Hook up the IDS and found codes P0304, P0316 and P051B. Performed a cylinder balance test and found cylinder 4 misfiring. Performed a relative compression test and relative compression is ok. Reviewed mode 6 data and found cylinder 4 has been misfiring. During my visual inspection I found the coolant reservoir was empty/ low on coolant. Removed the cylinder 4 spark plug and the porcelain was cracked. Looked into the cylinder with my bore scope and the piston was clean aluminum indicating it has been steamed with coolant. Pressure test the cooling system ond found cylinder 4 is seeping coolant into the cylinder. The short block will have to be replaced to fix the concern." If you can get back to me ASAP. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 24, 2024
The dealership reported that coolant was leaking into the engine cylinders, and now the whole engine needs to be replaced. They also informed us that this was a "known issue" but is not covered via a recall. This is due to a flawed design, and they do not have a way to prevent it from happening again if we were to replace the engine. We started with a check engine light, and the car had issues getting to highway speeds and reversing uphill. Then the temp warning would go off if we used the AC even for short trips.
Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2024
Took my car to a licensed Ford dealership for a large area of paint chipping off the front of my car near the windshield. Area is approximately 12"x2.5". Dealership says the primer under the paint is failing as part of a known factory defect in the painting process from that year.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 9, 2024
Coolant intrusion due to design flaw...motor is skipping really bad and running extremely rough
Other or unspecified, Aug 5, 2024
On [XXX], I was driving on [XXX] south getting ready to turn left when the car wouldn't move. It just stopped. It would shift into reverse and drive but it wouldn't move in either direction. I had it towed to Batesville, MS Ford dealership. Their assessment was that the part that was causing the problem wasn't the part in the recall. I don't believe that to be true. My car is still not repaired. I got it towed back to Memphis and it's just sitting now because I can't afford a $4000 repair. Please help me get my car repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2024
The power steering assist failed suddenly while my wife was driving the vehicle with our children in the car. She couldn’t control any steering. I’ve sought help from the dealer multiple times, but they haven’t been helpful. No prior warnings as far as warning lamps etc.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 30, 2024
After purchasing a 2017 Ford Escape with the 2.0L engine, a check engine light came on, indicating misfires in cylinder 1. Local mechanic found coolant leaking into the engine and advised not to drive more than a few miles as potential for further damage and/or possible engine fire may occur as oil may also be leaking into the cylinders. I found there is a TSB by Ford to it's mechanics as a known problem, but the Ford dealer is indicating they won't cover it as the car is 94k miles and there is no official recall.
Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2024
I noticed my paint peeling bad around the edges of my windshield, I have not done anything to it to make this happen and upon reading further into the forums there is a large amount of escape owners who have the same issue, it is flaking away so bad I can clearly see metal, I would like to make a formal report
Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2024
The Paint is coming off due to Ford forgetting to put primer on first.