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, Apr 21, 2025
Was driving home from work in the highway when all of a sudden my check engine not only comes on but is blinking meaning immediate issue and pull over. I went from 65MPH to all of sudden misfiring and having minimal acceleration power and having to pull over as safely as possible without hurting anyone. Once pulled over and now on the side of a busy highway during rush hour, my engine continue to vibrate and rumble before turning the car off. Got towed to the nearest mechanic who checked the engine light codes which were P300, P301, and P303, all of which are cylinder warning codes. After diagnosing and taking a deeper look he said my best bet was to find a new engine for replacement. He mentioned that the 1.5 Ecoboost Engine have a known problem of coolant leaking into the engine causing erosion and other problems beyond simple repair. After searching online I am definitely not the only that has had this happen. This has now been known by Ford with no plans of recall or fixing.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was a hard shift in the transmission when accelerating and decelerating. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally while being started. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust system. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and there was a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was coolant leaking into the spark plugs, causing the spark plugs to fuse inside the cylinder. The spark plugs were removed, and it was determined that there was coolant inside cylinder #3 and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the engine failure and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Power train, Apr 20, 2025
The car just stopped in the middle of the road with no warning and I had to have the car towed. The transmission shop had to rebuild the entire transmission.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 19, 2025
I was driving on I 95 and my check engine light came on, then the transmission light came on followed by No hill assist light.As I was driving home all of a sudden without warning my SUV dropped to 10 miles an hour while driving at at speed of 55 miles per hour.. For safety reasons I pulled over on to the shoulder, shut the SUV off a waited , and then I restarted the engine. The same lights came on and again I couldn't drive over 10 miles an hour. After sitting for over 5 months waiting for a recall because Ford said that's the only way they will fix the problem. I hired someone to look at my SUV, I called the Ford Hotline and asked if there was a recall, Because I remember 2 months before it broke down someone came out to my home to fix the bushings that were also being recalled. I was told no , but was advised to wait to see if there would be a recall. Within the last 2 weeks I asked a mechanic to look at my SUV, I was told the issue is an electrical problem, something about control module/ that caused the computer system to fail. The compute is telling the SUV that it's in park., that's why the SUV went into limp mode and won't go over 10 miles per Hours the problem has been determined by a mechanic .
Engine, Apr 19, 2025
Coolant intrusion verified by Ford dealership (at 90k) which should fall in line with their recall but am being told to pay for repairs out of pocket. symptoms appeared around 36k miles and I took it to dealership to inspect and they told me they could not reproduce and could find no faults.
Engine, Apr 18, 2025
Coolant leaking into cylinder (number one). Multiple spark plug misfires and losing coolant that could overheat engine. Technical bulletin from Ford states the entire engine needs replacing.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal roaring sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was rough to start. The vehicle failed to start on the third attempt. The service engine soon warning light was flashing. The light became solid before the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle was idling roughly. Additionally, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated with an engine misfire. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent in the beginning and had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 80,833.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program; however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,919.
Engine, Apr 16, 2025
Vehicle has a rough idle when started and then runs well. Had check engine light. Took it to Ford dealer for service and they say it has coolant intrusion in the number one cylinder. They want $7,500 for new motor. The vehicle has 84,000 miles out of warranty.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, stalled, and was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and waited for towing assistance. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37 (Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming); however, the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart, but the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into several cylinders, resulting in the engine being damaged. The contact was advised to discontinue driving the vehicle until the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not yet repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 96,000.
Engine, Apr 15, 2025
I have owned the car for 2 years. Routine maintenance performed. Around the end of March 2025, beginning of April 2025 the check engine sensor came on. I brought it to a shop, Pep Boys. They called within the hour to tell me the head gasket was shot due to coolant getting in the engine. I have about 80,000 miles on the car.
Power train, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service warning light illuminated. Additionally, the heating system stopped blowing hot air. The contact stated that upon checking the coolant level, the contact noticed that there was no coolant in the reservoir. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. Additionally, the contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe while idling and while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the spark plugs and cylinders. The contact related the failure to Ford TSB Number: 19-2375. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle might not be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Engine, Apr 15, 2025
Coolant leaking into the cylinders. This issue is linked to the engine's open deck cooling design, which can cause premature gasket failure or cracks between cylinders. Coolant is leaking into the cylinders and Ford knew about the design defect and did not issue a recall. Request NHTSA issue a recall.
Engine, Apr 15, 2025
Recently I was driving my car and it gave me an overheating warning I got out of the car to check and I noticed coolant disappearing and when I checked the oil it was a milky substance which indicates a blown head gasket due to the way they designed the short engine block. There have been many issues related to this and honestly it's poor design and it cost a lot of money to replace let alone the safety issues. This happened while I was driving with my kids.
Engine, Apr 14, 2025
I’m reporting a safety concern related to engine failure in my 2017 Ford Escape SE. My vehicle is showing signs of coolant intrusion, including white smoke from the exhaust, a sweet chemical smell, and rapid coolant loss with no external leaks. A diagnostic tool confirmed a possible blown head gasket. This exact model is already known for engine issues, and I confirmed that Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 was completed in 2020 to prevent this—but the issue has returned. I drive this vehicle daily with my two young children, including a baby. If the engine were to overheat or fail suddenly while driving, it could put us in serious danger. There are also known risks of engine fires from this defect, which is terrifying for a parent. The dealership says they can’t help, and Ford cannot offer assistance. I am asking NHTSA to investigate this further, as it is clearly a recurring and unsafe condition affecting many 2017 Ford Escape owners.
Engine, Apr 14, 2025
Blown Head. Is available for inspection. Check engine light came on and private mechanic noted cylinder 2 issue. Shortly thereafter car seized.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the heater became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that coolant needed to be added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the heater then became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the engine. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Engine, Apr 11, 2025
Coolant leaks into engine cylinders
Engine, Apr 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 65-70 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 40 MPH and shuddered violently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a hole in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Engine, Apr 10, 2025
A very known issue of coolant intrusion to 2.0L ecoboost engine. Ford even admits they know and have redesigned replacement engines, but has consumers pay over 8K to put redesigned engine in! Absurd! Engine can lock/seize at anytime. Which can ultimately cause death by wreck if car quits unexpectedly on the road! My 2017 Ford Escape 2.0l ecoboost engine was confirmed today to have coolant intrusion. These cars keep being resold and becoming new owners headache while the dealer KNOWS! THIS SHOULD BE RECALLLED!! If Hyundai can stand by a faulty engine and fix their faulty engine, Ford should too!!
Engine, Apr 10, 2025
Coolant leak. Originally had my transmission rebuilt in January 2025. My coolant overflow was completely empty, and upon filling it to the max, the next day it was below the minimum line on the overflow. I filled my coolant overflow on 3/23/25, and now it's completely bone dry again.