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, Feb 14, 2024
My vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure. This is a known issue from Ford in which coolant leaks into the engine and causes issues. They have posted bulletins about the issue but there has been no recall. I experienced no warning signs such as check engine lights or any issues that would have prompted me to bring my vehicle into a shop to get repaired. The vehicle has been inspected and confirmed by an independent service shop as well as a certified Ford dealership. The issue that occurred correspond with Ford bulletin 22-2134, 21N12, and customer program number 19B37
Exterior lighting, Feb 14, 2024
Rh and Lh low beam headlamps keep burning out have replaced the bulbs in both lamps 3 times in 9 months issue causing sudden problem driving at night currently now found the connector on both lamps have melted and required replacing Dealer wanted $3500 to replace both headlamp assemblys as there was an issue with the connectors there was no warning when the lamps went out
Wheels, Feb 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to rotate the tires, it was discovered that the lug nuts on all four wheels were swollen and damaged. The contact indicated that the lug nuts were unable to be removed. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge had increased to "HOT”, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine causing damage to 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, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into cylinder #1. The vehicle failure related to TSB: [XXX] with NHTSA ID Number: 10214126 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed the VIN was not covered under [XXX] ; NHTSA ID Number: 10214126 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 114,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Lane departure, Back over prevention, Feb 12, 2024
Engine check engine came on and found coolant low, refilled, and 2 weeks later coolant low again. I suspected coolant leaking into the engine since no coolant on the ground. Dealership confirmed this and said new engine block is required. It is a 2017 Escape with only 33,000 miles now. It is ridiculous that Ford knowingly went into production with this bad engine design which they redesigned later. I found out that there was a TSB to replace the engine block. Ford knows the engine is an issue and only fixed some of the vehicles as the issue happens. However, my SUV has no warranty and I was told engine replacement is not covered. This poses a risk to my daughter with the possibility of engine fire if coolant burns out, not to mention hesitation at lights while turning that can cause an accident. SUV is available for your inspection. I feel Ford issued a TSB to prevent a recall so they do not have to address problem with all the vehicle. NHTSA should force this recall or force Ford to expand TSB to all affected vehicles with no limit. Communication with Ford Dealership and Ford Customer Relations is available.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant had intruded into the engine block. Additionally, the contact was advised that coolant had also intruded into the transmission. The contact was informed that the engine and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 19-2139 Coolant Intrusion into the Cylinder (Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Power train, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 12, 2024
Background: My 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with a 2.0L Ecoboost engine has 65k miles. Engine light started flashing recently due to Cylinder missfire code P0301 , immediately brought it into Ford and upon their assessment they shared that my engine has a coolant leak in cylinder 1 which is causing major engine issues. This is my primary car and I need it to transport myself to and from work. I have taken diligent car of this car and have only serviced it (routine and non-routine maintenance) at Ford Dealerships to ensure that all parts and the service is the best possible to keep the vehicle in top condition. Safety: If left untreated this coolant leakage into the engine will result in a variety of hazardous and life-threating issues for the driver as well as individuals on the streets such as engine overheating, engine corrosion and ultimately total engine failure. I am not comfortable driving this car at this time as it is a ticking time bomb unless I pay for the replacement of the engine. But as I understand this will not guarantee this issue will not resurface again as the engine replacement will be with the same engine type that has the same design defect of an "open block" which is prone to coolant leaking inside. Problem reproduced: Yes, reproduced by Ford Dealership. This problem appears to be routine enough for Ford Motor Company to issue a TSB regarding this issue [XXX] with the only fix being a total replacement of the engine, with an illogical cost of 10k. Vehicle inspected by manufacturer: Yes, I have brought the vehicle into the Ford dealership that I bought the vehicle at and they shared the issue along with the TSB that describes the issue I am having along with the expected resolution and cost. Warning lamps: Yes, the engine light turned on randomly and immediately began flashing. The next day I brought it into the Ford Dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 12, 2024
Engine warning light came on while driving. Vehicle is operable but service department has indicated coolant intrusion needs new engine short block replaced to operate the vehicle. This is our only transportation and we have been advised not to drive the vehicle as the engine could seize up at any time.
Engine, Feb 11, 2024
Vehicle was being driven. All of a sudden the vehicle made a shudder, started misfiring, and the check engine light came on. Because of the power loss, the vehicle behind me almost rear ended us, because we were at full speed (60 mph) and on a steeper inclined road. The incident happened on 1/26/2024 and the vehicle was taken to the dealer on 1/27/2024 only to be told that the vehicle needed an engine cylinder block replacement due to a failure that Ford Motor Company was aware of. To this date, I have received no recalls or warnings of this issue. This is a. $6,000-$8,000 repair that the dealership is not even willing to do.
Electrical system, Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 10, 2024
my car randomly would not start upon shutting car off and returning to vehicle the car would not start with the keys that was given to me from the dealership that i purchased the vehicle from. it has been having coolant issues where it was reading high temperature then would go back to normal operating temperature very shortly and would happen off and on. it was serviced for this issue at Boubin Automotive in Waterloo, Iowa and they stated that it was empty on coolant refilled it and seemed to not have any leaks and it drove fine for a few weeks and then had the coolant issue where the car would read high temperature then would go back to normal and kept doing so. The day i parked it and returned to it and it would not start it showed high temperature immiedately and would not start. had it towed to a mechanic shop habhab's towing in ames iowa where they stated there was no coolant in it once again and they pressure checked the vehicle and it passed the pressure test for the motor but had no coolant in it, and still would not start stating that the pcm is bad in the vehicle. it has shown the exact signs of the recall in this vehicle that ford has released and i am trying to get the car covered under the recall because its showing the exact same issues as the new recall that was put out. please contact me at [XXX] is my cell phone number. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Engine, Feb 9, 2024
I have had to have my engine and my transmission replaced within 2 months apart I keep writing and calling everyone I can I keep hearing the 1.0 l engines are blowing up too due to the wet belt and they're doing nothing with the 1.5 l engines due to the coolant issues I had no warning lights going off in my car and it blew the motor if it wouldn't have been for me going downhill I could have easily been killed. I need some reimbursement I have worked out over almost 20 grand between the transmission and engine for repairs and I owe people money I can't afford this anymore. Why can you not make Ford pay for these. All of these engines are bad and the 1.0's and the 1.5 leader engines. I have all the documentation from what I paid for both all I would like is for half back. It seems like nobody's doing anything about this you keep asking for the approximate date and I do not remember. I'm going to try to get as close as I can. It's not a mileage thing on these vehicles they're all having coolant problems or they're all having wet belt problems it does not matter. It's faulty on their part. I've done all my oil changes I've kept up to date with everything I should have. Ford dealership actually refused to put a new engine in my car because they know these cars these vehicles are all bad. They're literally turning people away because they don't want to work on them.
Engine, Feb 7, 2024
Vehicle started idling weirdly, engine light came on the next day which was a code of P0304 (misfire cylinder 4) the day after that I took it to the dealership where I got the car from and they switched the coils on the cylinders and said I needed new spark plugs (those were not replaced) and they told me to come back when it misfires again. Couple days later my car overheats and I pull over to let it cool down. I then get home and make an appointment at a Ford dealership, which it had to be towed and now I am being told I need a new engine because coolant intrusion into cylinders. Currently waiting on warranty to approve repairs
Power train, Feb 6, 2024
The transmission on my vehicle failed at 120K miles. The vehicle had been meticulously maintained and serviced by the dealer at each recommended service date. While travelling up hll, the car would not stay in gear and we were barely able to pull to the side of the road to avoid being hit by cars behind us.
Power train, Engine, Feb 6, 2024
The engine has had coolant leaking into it. Clouds of white smoke, stalling and regular low coolant level. Once the recall work was performed, I was still having these issues and told the ford service dept. They said there is nothing they could do. Now my transmission has completely gone out at less than 100k miles even though all ford suggested maintenance work has been completed at suggested intervals. It’s hard to justify replacing the transmission when I don’t know when the engine will quit working due to the coolant intrusion.
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2024
Transmission went out at about 70,000 miles. There was ZERO warning or notification with a warning light. I thought my car needed new tires as it was slow to start after stopping at a stop light. It also slipped gears. I did not know that this was the "warning" signs of a transmission going out until after I researched transmission issues w/ the FORD ESCAPE. It was a dangerous situation as it was stalled in the middle of an intersection.
Engine, Feb 3, 2024
My Ford Escape 2 liter ecoboost engine failed and had to be replaced per a Ford Technical Service Bulletin and was replaced by an Authorized Ford Dealership. Engine was liable to fail at any time and a failure could have caused a serious road incident putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. There was no prior warning of the problem until the failure occurred. There were no messages from Ford. FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS ENGINE A scanned copy of the dealer repair invoice is attached.
Engine, Feb 3, 2024
Coolant leaking into engine, making it misfire, and eventually engine will lock up. Verified by dealer. Needs engine replaced. This is happening to engines built prior to 2019. Ford has a service bulletin for it. Ford needs to issue a recall. The check engine light comes on due to the misfire as the coolant burns out of the cylinders.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 1, 2024
Coolant intrusion into the engine, causing vehicle to overheat with the overheat alert flashing on dash. Refilling coolant before every drive and still overheating, with the coolant always being empty despite being filled daily. Consistent cylinder 1 misfire, even after mechanical inspection/replacement. Vehicle misfiring upon starting, where some instances the engine will not start for 2-3 tries. Vehicle misfiring while driving, stopped at traffic lights, and when using Auto Stop-Start feature during daily drives (traffic lights and stop signs). White smoke coming from exhaust. Engine block cracked due design of engine - defective design. 100K miles, 2nd owner.
Wheels, Feb 1, 2024
I took my Escape to the Dealership for routine oil change and tire rotation. (almost 43000 miles). I received a call from Dealership that I had "swollen lug nuts" and to rotate my tires these needed to be changed. I had never heard of such a thing. My Significant Other had not either and he spoke to the Dealership Representative who said that this was true and that in order to rotate tires the lug nuts required changing. The Representative said they had them in stock and the cost would be around $180.00. We decided to investigate further and deferred the change at that time. After discussing with another repair shop and reading about other issues with Ford vehicle, dodge, and a few Toyota we ascertained this was an issue. I took my Escape to the other Repair shop and had the lug nuts changed for $110.00. It appears to me that this has been an issue previously and class action suit was filed and dismissed. This appears to be a problem that can lead to bigger problems if not corrected. ie swollen lug nut car has flat tire, tire cannot be changed due to special equipment required to change flat, all resulting in car being towed to appropriate dealership for change out of lug nuts. I bought a Ford product promoted as being a Quality product. How can this be if the lug nuts do not withstand 43000 miles and the vehicle being in a garage at all times when not in use, then develops this problem. I see potential for major safety issues if this is not corrected by potential injury to the driver of a vehicle with this issue and to the vehicle if a flat should occur and unable to change flat tire. Please review and advise . Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Jan 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the temperature gauge immediately indicated that the engine was overheating, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact allowed the vehicle to cool down. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 10 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the destination. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to coolant leak into the cylinders. 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 advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Structure, Jan 30, 2024
this is before an accident will occur.Around the windshield[apillar,on top] the paint is falling off so if I get in a rollover accident or a front end accident is the windshield just going to pop off with any pressure. if the paint under the urethane which holds the windshield in doesn't adhere properly.whats holding it on?
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. After which, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a misfire in cylinder #2, and informed the contact that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine, requiring that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2346. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 44,000.
Power train, Jan 29, 2024
The transmission slipped out of gear at a stop light and the car would not go. I could move the gear shift from park to drive and the car would not go into gear. There were NO warning lights. I had it diagnosed and they stated “internal failure.” The vehicle has less than 130,000 miles on it.
Power train, Structure, Engine, Jan 27, 2024
1. Coolant is either leaking or evaporating which makes the coolant reservoir tank lose water that requires many refills after daily use. This led to the car to heat up without any notice in the middle of a busy highway with a narrow shoulder. This causes the car to release white smoke from the back with a chemical stench. A mechanic checked the car by raising it on a car lift for any leaks but there were no obvious leaks. 2. Car sometimes violently shakes upon turning on the ignition letting out a loud noise that can be heard from afar. The warning was a misfire on the #2 Cynlinder. We have replaced the old spark plugs and coils with new ones but the car still shakes at times and on the screen it says, 'Engine Fault Service Now". 3. There is also a warning on the system that reads, 'Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power'. Upon start of the warning the car abruptly slows to 35 mph max which is a great concern for safety when driving on the freeway/highway with many cars going 70-80 mph. A couple of mechanics have all mentioned something is wrong because the system slows down the car to avoid any more problems to arise and is a big concern for them as well. The computer used to analyze any issues does not directly call out a specific error even though there is an obvious issue with the powertrain. 4. There was an issue with the latch on the lift gate of the car but was fixed by Ford because it was covered under Extended Ford Warranty.