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, Dec 30, 2024
mode code P0316 (random misfire), coolant leaks into #1 and #3 cylinders, requires long block engine replacement.
Engine, Dec 30, 2024
Coolant is leaking internally into motor. All gaskets, seals, hoses and radiator are operational with no issues. This is a hazzard and could/will result in damage and potentially serious harm. Dealer has indicated everything checks out and leak is internal intrusion. This is a known issue with Ford and they are unwilling to correct
Engine, Dec 30, 2024
In January 2024, the check engine light came on and we had an ignition coil and spark plug replaced. Less than a week later, the check engine light came back on and diagnostics showed a "misfire" on the same coil. The technician noticed the coolant was empty, refilled and found coolant entering the cylinder while engine was cooling. Engine had a "failed head gasket or cracked/warped head." Had to replace the engine, this was at 67,863 miles. Later I was speaking with a friend and was informed that this is evidently a known issue with the 2017 Escapes- some are already under recall, but my particular VIN number is not included in the existing recall. As I was researching online, it seems that many others, also not included in the recall, are having the same issue.
Engine, Dec 29, 2024
Sept. 2024, while driving my 2017 Ford Escape, four-cylinder Eco boost engine 2 L down the highway, without warning all the dash lights came on and the engine quit running leaving me stranded on the side of a very busy highway. I had not noticed any engine problems at all until this moment. After a Good Samaritan told me the radiator was almost completely empty of fluid, he added water to my radiator reservoir and told me to immediately ‘gently nurse it’ to an auto repair shop. Which I did. The shop owner took several hours to examine the engine. He told me it ran hot because the radiator fluid had leaked into the oil. He later told me the smoke also coming from the tailpipe, the way the engine was hesitating to start up and radiator fluid in the oil was an indication my engine had a cracked head. He showed me the oil which was a chocolate brown. The shop owner told me it was not supposed to be that color. He told me it was a direct indication that my radiator fluid/antifreeze had leaked into the oil. He informed me this would lead to complete engine failure, and I needed to immediately take it to a shop/dealership where the engine could be rebuilt or completely replaced (he already had several vehicles he was currently working on and would not have time to get to it for several months). I drove my SUV home which was just 4 miles from this shop. It took me awhile to make arrangements for a local Ford dealership. In the meantime, I had not tried to start it back up at all. The morning I was to take my SUV to the dealership it would not start at all. I had to call a wrecker to have it towed to the Ford dealership, where they confirmed the findings of the initial mechanic. My SUV only has 89,748 miles on it. I still owe $11,000 and it will not start at all.
Engine, Dec 27, 2024
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Dec 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 70-75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The front of the vehicle began to jerk. The contact was able to pull over to a rest area before the engine seized. The vehicle failed to crank up. The contact used a scope to see if the camshaft was moving. The low pressure and engine light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Service brakes, Dec 26, 2024
I had recently brought an SUV that came with no manuals for that vehicle. Which is important and crucial, but the scariest part and a life-threatening way. It came with no brake fluid at all. I was shocked, and you put my life and my son in danger. I will file a complain with Federal Trade Commission (FTC), State's Attorney General's Office, State's Department Of Commerce , Better Business Bureau (BBB) and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for car safety issues and manufacturer recalls. It can be dangerous, and your brakes may not work properly. The fluid operates under high temperatures and high pressure, and without it, your car would not be able to stop when you push the brake pedal inside your vehicle. It will simply go to the floor without stopping, which will have catastrophic consequences. Thank you, Falvey's. I will order the manuals myself and go to O’Reilly Auto Parts first thing this morning to top off my brake fluid. Thank you, [XXX] , for protecting me and my son. The devil is a liar. That my consciousness told me to do further research and investigation. I forgive you all and hope the next customers get treated professionally, especially when it comes to safety. Number one priority! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Dec 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact inspected the vehicle and refilled the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant intrusion into cylinder #2 and a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant intrusion and a failed 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 and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair, which had a similar failure description. However, the contact was informed that the contact's VIN was not associated with any unknown recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Carry handle, Shell, Base, Other/i am not sure, Dec 22, 2024
The Nuna Revv we own is a rotating convertible car seat. When we first installed the car seat, we heard metallic rattling from inside the car seat and base when driving. I went to inspect the car seat and found excessive movement between the car seat and the base. This motion is well over a quarter inch of travel in all directions regardless if the car seat is in the locked or unlocked position. This movement appears to be a safety concern and I do not trust this car seat to safely restrain my child in the event of a crash. We contacted the manufacturer about our concerns and they said some movement is expected but did not quantify how much movement is acceptable between the car seat and the base. The manufacturer offered to send replacement parts, but this car seat and base are not made to be detached from each other and I find it concerning that the manufacturer expects a customer to disassemble the internals of car seat. There are also no instructions on how to remove the base in the car seat user manual. No one has inspected the car seat in person.
Engine, Dec 20, 2024
Engine fault popped up on the instrument panel on 12/16/2024. Diagnostic said misfire on cylinder 3, replaced the plug and coil pack and topped off the antifreeze.Two days later vehicle overheated and started blowing white smoke out of the exhaust, antifreeze was totally gone. Took it back to the mechanic and was told the engine needed replaced.
Service brakes, Engine, Dec 20, 2024
The car experienced a sudden loss of boost power and, at the same time, and MUCH more concerning and dangerous, a total loss of brake power assist. The brakes were firm (hard), but had ZERO power assist, and I could barely stop the car at idle in my driveway, much less on a highway or open road. I thank God that my son, who was driving at the time, was not in a dangerous situation when this failure occurred. It turns out, a single vacuum pump, mated directly to the camshaft, applies vacuum boost to the turbo (power loss) and brakes (catastrophic brake failure). I replaced the vacuum pump, but the problem persisted, so I had to take it in to the dealership for evaluation. I was told the problem is the bolt that mates the vacuum pump to the cam shears off when the vacuum pump seizes. I subsequently read of many cases of this problem on the Escape, but also on the F-150 (for which there is apparently a recall???) -- really, any Ford with an Ecoboost turbo engine. Additionally, the bolt shearing and vacuum pump disintegrating, leads to metal shavings that destroy the turbo. How this VERY serious road hazard caused by a terrible engineering design flaw (single point of catastrophic failure) hasn't resulted in a MAJOR safety recall for all these Ford Ecoboost engines is totally shocking and beyond me. This is coming from an engineer who has spent 50+ years working on cars. NHTSA has absolutely failed in not addressing this terrible safety and design problem.
Engine, Dec 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting and driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced rough idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, an abnormal white smoke came out of the exhaust pipe. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the message "Overheating" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact inspected the coolant level and noticed no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The contact was able to drive back to the residence at 5 MPH, add coolant to the coolant reservoir, and replace the coolant temperature sensor; however, the failure recurred approximately 3-4 weeks later. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
Power train, Dec 17, 2024
Transmission failed and burned after only 80,000 miles. Bought car used and only drove for 30,000 miles before it failed. I almost crashed on a busy road. The issue was confirmed by 2 service centers. Only 1 warning light saying oil change required the same day appeared.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and then lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the same diagnostic result was provided. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,400.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The message that the engine was overheating was displayed, and the audible alarm was sounded while driving at approximately 35 MPH. The contact stated that the heater failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted and verbally confirmed that it was a known failure and was an accurate diagnosis. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the engine replacement was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
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.
Engine, Dec 16, 2024
Vehicle overheated due to low coolant level. Coolant was escaping cooling system and penetrating the 1.5L engine block, which required engine removal and replacement of short engine block and cylinder heads. My case#: CXH03199782 Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin (#20-0010) which covered the cost of this repair through November, 30, 2022. This is a known problem caused by poor design of the cooling system. Ford will not cover the cost (over $5,000) for the engine repair now, even though I work at a Ford dealership. I had purchased my 2017 Ford Escape pre-owned in 2022 from a Hyundai dealership. Did they have an obligation to disclose that service bulletin to me?
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The contact stated that the coolant had leaked out of the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was eventually taken to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that there was coolant inside the cylinders, causing damages to the engine short block. The contact was informed that the engine short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 108,000.
Power train, Dec 16, 2024
Transmission went out. No warning. 145,000 miles. No lights on dash, nothing. Complete failure. Car started whining when accelerating out of nowhere, jerked really hard, and then failed completely. Have had it serviced and maintained regularly and always at the dealer. Ford is aware of the problem on these transmissions and doing nothing to fix it. Service department confirmed it’s an issue they see with regularity. Transmission replaced by dealer at great expense and issue resolved.
Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2024
Vehicle burns out low beam headlights at a rapid rate. I’ve been the only owner of this car, and have replace the headlights 8 times in 168k miles. I do not drive abundantly at night, primarily during the day. In the span of the past two weeks I have replaced the headlights twice. I have come to a point that I keep spare headlights in the glove box for when they will go out again. Researching the issue online lead me to many forms of drivers with the same vehicle going through the same issue. The vehicle causing the headlights to go out at such a fast rate has presented a dangerous nighttime driving scenario when combined with the daytime running lights that give off enough light to make it unknown if the headlights are truly functioning or not. Given the consumable nature of bulbs the issue has not been taken to the dealer for, only serviced by replacement of bulbs.
Engine, Dec 14, 2024
Took it to a mechanic was informed I had coolant leak into the 2nd rear cylinder cracking the head. Which caused the car to prematurely overheat and stall randomly on the highway. Was notified there is a issuse with coolant leaks with this model from the mechanic for the 2017 ford escape ecoboost models. Only had the coolant light come on the day prior to stalling.
Power train, Engine, Dec 13, 2024
Vehicle currently has 86K miles. The transmission is being replaced for the SECOND time. Replaced for the first time 2/17/23 at 63206 miles (invoice included). The dealer also informed me that coolant is leaking into the engine block pursuant to Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229 [XXX] ) but I would have to replace the engine at my expense. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Dec 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to contact the dealer to make them aware of the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,749.