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
2,686 reports, newest first.
Engine, May 7, 2025
Check engine light activated and taken to mechanic. Diagnosed as multiple spark plug misfires in engine cylinder caused by engine coolant leaking into cylinder. White smoke from exhaust seen when starting car. Coolant levels dropping quickly; approx 1 gallon per month. With multiple misfires, stability and reliability of car acceleration is decreased, thus increasing the possibility of accidents. With coolant levels dropping, risk of engine overheating is increased. Dependability of vehicle for long trips is compromised. Ford Motor Company is aware of this design flaw in their ECO Boost engines as indicated by their Ford Technical Service Bulletin 19-2208 where the only fix is to replace the engine, however they refuse to take responsibility to repair. A nationwide recall of all Ford vehicles with ECO Boost engines needs to be enacted for inspection of this problem and engines replaced by Ford if coolant leak into engine cylinders is confirmed. The Ford models Escape and Edge have been discontinued, but remaining vehicles on the road need to be made safe.
Engine, May 6, 2025
Bad engine design flaw causes the cylinder sleeve to become unattached and it rises up , damages the head gasket and ruins the engine. There have been multiple repairs of this year engine in escapes in our area. A very well known defect.
Engine, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon driving into the driveway, the vehicle abruptly shut off without warning. The contact called an independent mechanic and was to bring the vehicle for an inspection. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal chugging sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. Upon inspection, the contact was informed that the engine long block was defective, leading to engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that there was no warranty on the vehicle and that the vehicle was not covered under Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2229. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Power train, Engine, May 5, 2025
My Ford Escape has had coolant leak into engine block, causing damage to cylinders and cylinder misfires, detailed in this service bulletin: [XXX] . The car has been checked by my mechanic, who confirms the problem. Dealership acknowledges that this problem is real and has had many customers who have had to replace motors because of it but says there has been no recall or extended warranty in respect to this design flaw and declines to resolve the problem at Ford's cost. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, May 5, 2025
Escape 2.0 Liter check engine light turned on. Code was cylinder misfire. Diagnosis was no issues with spark plugs. However coolant was low after having been checked and topped off during an oil change 2 weeks prior. Technician performed leak test and identified coolant intrusion in number one cylinder (attached photo is diagnosis). Ford Technical Services Bulletin recommends replacing with new long block engine.
Engine, May 5, 2025
The Check Engine light was going on and off. I took it into a repair shop and they told me there was a coolant leak in the engine and a full engine repair needs to be done. After looking this up, I came to realize this is a very common issue with the make and model and ford refuses to pay for it.
Power train, May 4, 2025
The transmission went out and completely immobilized the car while driving. My wife was driving the car on a 45mph public road, approached a roundabout that had a single entry lane where she attempted to enter. After trying to safely enter the roundabout, then engine revved but the car did not move. If she let it sit, the transmission would eventually engage but surge into gear, and she was able to eventually operate the vehicle to get it to a safe spot until it could be towed. I requested a transmission drain and fill from the dealership at about 55,000 miles, but the service writer declined to have the service done because the service interval from ford is listed at 150,000 miles. The service writer told me the transmission fluid was in a sealed system and would not need to be replaced yet based on my usage for the car, which is largely city/suburban driving with longer trips mixed in where i was not towing.
Power train, May 3, 2025
Vehicles transmission, with no warning indicator lights, or any indication whatsoever, failed on me at a busy intersection and nearly caused me and others to be in a possibly fatal accident. It's my knowledge that Ford knowingly produced this 6F35 transmission with a flawed design and with poor engineering. There should be a recall to prevent a possible fatality.
Engine and engine cooling, May 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and parked in a safe location. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinders #2 and #4. The dealer stated that there was metal inside the cylinder head and pistons. The dealer determined that the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer opened a case for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Engine, May 2, 2025
Morning of April 25, 2025 heard unusual engine sound on 2017 Ford Escape, Eco Boost Engine. Evening - check engine light came on. Next morning took to dealer. "Diagnostics: retrieved code P0303, cylinder 3 misfire, pressure test cooling system, cylinder #3 has coolant intrusion, recommend engine assembly." Had we not paid attention to the issue immediately, the engine could have simply stopped running at some point while on the road. 10-11K to replace engine on 8 yr old car with 97K miles on it. Just like that no second car in the family, worthless without an engine, great financial loss and stress. Should be driving it for another 90K miles! Vehicle at home and cannot drive it, sell it, trade it. The 2017 Ford Escape has manufacturing defects (to include the paint)!
Engine, May 1, 2025
I own a 2017 Ford Escape equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. I am experiencing a known issue related to engine coolant intrusion into the cylinders, which has been reported by many owners and acknowledged by Ford through Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. This issue involves coolant leaking internally into the combustion chamber—usually due to a flawed cylinder head casting—which can cause engine misfires, white exhaust smoke, rough idling, overheating, or complete engine failure. In my case, a coolant pressure test was performed, and it confirmed that the cooling system is losing pressure, which is consistent with internal coolant leakage into the engine. Despite this, Ford has declined to cover the repair under the 21N12 program, stating that my vehicle is not eligible by VIN, even though it is the correct model year and engine. I believe this constitutes a safety issue, as the engine could fail at highway speeds without warning, and Ford has failed to provide adequate support for vehicles that clearly exhibit the documented failure pattern. I am requesting the NHTSA investigate this issue further, including why certain 2017 Escapes with the affected 2.0L EcoBoost engine are being excluded from coverage despite confirmed symptoms.
Engine and engine cooling, May 1, 2025
The contact's husband owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact was informed that upon starting the vehicle, a message indicating high engine temperature was displayed, stating to pull over as soon as possible. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for a long time after the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving the vehicle around the neighborhood, the failure recurred. The contact's husband drove back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the engine block, which caused coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Engine, Apr 30, 2025
The 2.0 Motor in my 2017 Ford Escape had a Check Engine light displayed for Engine Misfire on the #2 Cylinder after the OEM Scanner was run for the reason the Check Engine light was on by the Auto Mechanic at my workplace. I ordered the replacement cylinder and sparkplug, and it was replaced. I am no Mechanic, but this issue is similar to the 2013 Ford Escape with the 2.0 Motor which Ford put out a recall on and this issue is no different.
Power train, Apr 29, 2025
I am writing to report a serious and potentially dangerous issue with the transmission in my 2017 Ford Escape (6F35 model). On April 13, 2025, at approximately 83,800 miles, my vehicle began exhibiting alarming symptoms, including slipping, jerking, hesitation, and delayed acceleration. A dashboard message instructed me to “Service Transmission.” On Monday morning I immediately took the vehicle to my trusted mechanic, who identified the problem as a likely failure of the 6F35 transmission. Hoping it was a computer glitch, he reset the system and advised me to monitor it. The issue returned within 20 miles. When I brought the car back, he confirmed the failure and informed me this is a common and well-documented problem with this transmission model and vehicle year. I contacted the original dealership where I purchased the car and was told there were no recalls. I then contacted Ford directly. Despite this being a widely reported issue, Ford told me I had to take it to a dealership for official diagnosis. I did so—at an additional cost of $200—and the dealership confirmed exactly what my mechanic had already determined. They then quoted a repair cost of over $7,000, which is nearly the value of the vehicle itself. Further research confirmed that this is a known and widespread issue with the 6F35 transmission in the 2017 Ford Escape and prior models, yet Ford has failed to issue a recall or offer assistance. This transmission failure poses a significant safety risk, especially in high-speed or high-traffic situations, where sudden loss of acceleration could lead to accidents. I am urging you to investigate this matter for potential safety defects and to consider a formal recall. Consumers should not be left to bear the financial and safety burden of a manufacturing defect that Ford has failed to address.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light was blinking. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 101,261.
Engine, Apr 29, 2025
coolant leak into two pistons which in past ford escapes could cause the engine to overheat and potentially catch fire. was checked at the ford dealer on 04/24/2025
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a misfire from the engine and the engine was overheating. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the highway and observed that the engine temperature gauge was returning to normal. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the spark plugs and coils. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic who diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had been advised by the mechanic that the coolant intrusion into the engine block was a known failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Engine, Apr 26, 2025
Getting a misfire code P0302 due to a coolant leak. I know it's a coolant leak due low coolant in reservoir. The check engine light comes on and off intermittently and the exhaust blows white smoke at start up.
Engine, Apr 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was always serviced by the dealer since the vehicle was purchased in 2016. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 61,970.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 24, 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 to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,700.
Engine, Apr 23, 2025
Low coolant levels, running in rough condition with P0300, P0302 codes stored in the PCM. Confirmed presence of coolant intrusion into cylinder bores.
Engine, Apr 23, 2025
Coolant Intrusion on my 2017 Ford Escape Ecoboost that requires a new engine.
Engine, Apr 23, 2025
We were informed by a tech that we had a coolant leak. The leak was soo bad that it was causing damage to the engine and seems to be a common issue with fords made around 2017. We are now unfortunately paying for the car although the damage to the engine has left us with a car we cannot drive.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started on several occasions, the check warning light illuminated. The vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), and the vehicle shuddered and jerked before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted each time. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and jerked, and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #3 due to coolant leaking into the cylinder. The contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Power train, Engine, Apr 22, 2025
Bought car from DriveTime, October 23, 2023. Problems started happening in June 2024. Have detailed list. Have spent over $5,000 in repairs. There is a warranty that has covered some repairs. The 2 major issues have been a transmission replacement and most recently an engine replacement. The mechanic I am using is still having problems with completing the work.