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, Aug 22, 2024
The engine light came on, we took it to a mechanic who replaced the spark plug and a coil. We were told it was safe to drive long distances. We drove the car about 8 hours with no issues. The car was parked for 2 days. We then turned it back on to drive home and white smoke blew out of the exhaust and the engine over heating light came on. We turned the car off and had it towed to a mechanic in the area who stated coolant had leaked and the entire engine would need to be repaired. The car has less than 60,000 miles on it, but is over 5 years old, so it is out of warranty. We have maintained it carefully. Original mechanic stated the gasket must have blown when the white smoke came out because we could not have driven 8 hours if there had been an issue when we originally brought the car in. Ford dealership quoted us $11,000 to repair/replace engine. Ford customer service stated no goodwill repairs were available. Looking into joining the class action lawsuit for the manufacturing defect in the engine that we are now painfully aware of. We are thankful that the gasket blew in a drive way and not on the highway as it easily could have.
Engine, Aug 21, 2024
Coolant leak and erosion into cylinder on 2017 Ford escape titanium 2.0L
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.
Engine, Aug 20, 2024
Coolant intrusion into cylinder. Confirmed by independent service center. Known issue with Ford, reference Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2134
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 20, 2024
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 the dealer where it was diagnosed with timing belt, water pump, and engine failure. The contact was informed that the timing belt, the engine, and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Power train, Aug 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 100,000.
Engine, Aug 20, 2024
Coolant leak causes miss fires should be a recall on this
Engine, Aug 19, 2024
A coolant leak causing cylindrical failure and engine failure. There were no symptoms before. I woke up and the light came on and the car was shaking, i took it to the dealer and they diagnosed this problem. It was unsafe to drive I had to get it towed.
Engine, Aug 19, 2024
There is a known issue with EcoBoost engines that allows coolant to leak into the cylinder heads causing engine misfires, ruined spark plugs, white smoke in the exhaust, catastrophic engine failure, and fire. This vehicle has recently had this issue but is not covered by the extremely limited recall Ford submitted (7 years OR 84,000 miles). This issue needs a full and comprehensive recall as Ford is completely aware of the problem.
Engine, Aug 19, 2024
I have a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with ~77K miles that has the 2.0L Eco Boost engine. The engine is going through anti-freeze and is leaking into the cylinders and getting burned through the engine. I understand Ford knows about this issue but there doesn't seem to be any mechanism to get reimbursed for the repair.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Engine, Aug 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine and transmission failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact was informed that the repair would take approximately three weeks. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,632.
Engine, Aug 17, 2024
Vehicle began shaking and rattling upon acceleration onto freeway. Check engine light flashed, then stayed on. Vehicle taken to dealership where purchased (8 years ago, just paid off 10 months ago, 81k miles) to have service. Quoted appx $7600 to reinstall new engine after coolant intrusion into engine cylinder. Service rep stated this is a common occurrence for this vehicle. Gave me Number to ford customer care and said they couldn’t do anything to help. After researching more, this seems to be a very common problem in this “eco boost” 1.5 L engine in various years and models, some of which have been recalled. This is clearly a manufactured defect that is safety related and ford should be help responsible for producing low quality, knowingly faulty equipment that jeopardized myself and my children’s safety, as well as financial stability. Thank you for the consideration.
Wheels, Aug 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a tire rotation, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts were defective and needed to be replaced to perform the tire rotation. The lug nuts were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall related to the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 41,596.
Engine, Aug 16, 2024
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Coolant intrusion into cylinder bores. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Engine failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Problem has been looked at by Lens Auto Repair and Christian brothers auto who have both claimed issue is related to Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for 2017-2019 Ford Escape vehicles with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine that were built before April 8, 2019. The bulletin, dated June 9, 2022, covers coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores and offers a one-time, no-cost repair for the 1.5L short block. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, this has been inspected by Lou Fusz Ford Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Coolant leaked onto driveway one year ago. Now, coolant disappearing and not visibly leaking anywhere. Also, there is now excessive white smoke at startup on occasions. The smoke is excessive enough to fill the entire garage instantly.
Power train, Aug 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The transmission failure warning light was illuminated temporarily before the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with a misfire in the engine. The message of cylinder #2 misfire was displayed. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was coolant intrusion into the 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. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message to “Have Vehicle Checked Immediately" was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was notified of coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and became aware of TSB Number: 19-2346; and linked the failure to the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Engine, Aug 14, 2024
Engine has premature head gasket failure causing a coolant leak in a combustion chamber and low coolant levels. Vehicle at risk of sudden overheating and subsequent engine fire. Condition was not noticed by driver, and only noticed by a trained automotive technician. Failed component: Engine block and head gasket Safety risk: Severe engine fire Problem acknowledged by Ford: See TSB 22-2229 Problem verified by automotive technician Engine light and error code indicates cylinder 2 mis-fire
Engine, Aug 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was Illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was deemed as mechanically totaled. The contact was informed that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 61,836.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the check engine, check oil, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle then stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wall in between the coolant and the piston was worn, and coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Engine, Aug 14, 2024
Presence of coolant in the engine cylinders with codes P0300, P0301-P0304 with low coolant levels. FORD is stating it is not part of the recall? Has not presented me with an invoice for repairs, fighting with extended warranty company. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Aug 13, 2024
Ford Escape 2017 consuming coolant. Confirmed by independent repair shop. Low coolant level constantly. Already had to replace water pump early because of this issue.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while cold starting the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly. The contact stated that once the engine had warmed up the engine started running normally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the engine and observed that the coolant level was extremely low. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the check engine warning light was illuminated and needed to be taken back to the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds and was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the engine hot message was displayed, and several unknown warning lights were flickering on and off. The contact was informed that the water pump and thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure occurred. The vehicle was driven back to the independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced again. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was driven back to the independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that there was fluid leaking from the bottom of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the radiator needed to be replaced and coolant added. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that coolant was added constantly for the vehicle to operate as needed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,600.
Engine, Aug 13, 2024
My check engine light came on in my 2017 ford escape with 83,000 miles on it. I brought it to my Ford dealership where I purchased it on 8/2017. The service department employee lifted the hood and said "you need a new engine". I said "what"! "you can tell just by looking at the engine"? He said" I've seen a lot of them". He said the coolant is leaking into the engine. He quoted me $9500 for a new one. I took my keys and left.