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, Jan 27, 2024
Coolant has been leaking into the engine on low mileage 2017 Ford Escape titanium 2.0L ecoboost turbo engine.
Engine, Jan 26, 2024
While driving 40-45 mph the engine randomly shut off. I was able to pull over place into park and restart. The vehicle started normally and I continued to and from work with no issue. I drove to Ford dealership and they cannot duplicate problem.
Engine, Jan 25, 2024
This car has had many issues regarding the engine there was a tbs put out on it. But as a single mother with 2 kids I just bought this car it was in good working condition with a clean car fax I have only owned it since October 2023. Now I have white smoke coming from the exhaust and it keeps losing coolant. I have seen numerous complaints online regarding the engine of the 1.5 liter Ecoboost not only in the escape but also in the fusion. I believe this engine should be recalled and not a TSB
Power train, Engine, Jan 25, 2024
Engine coolant intrusion short block needed replaced was taken to mt orab dealership to have reprogramming done which I just found out they did not even do the reprogramming back in 2022 I had appointment scheduled for the reprogramming I had made one in November around 11th but not sure what happened so was rescheduled dec 6 th I am so disappointed in dealership lack of communication with customers about this program because they did not get me in until dec 6th the program ended this is completely unfair for me to pay out of pocket for dealership mistake with not disclosing they did not do reprogramming when vehicle was brought in and the program was over by the time they did
Other or unspecified, Jan 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. 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 41,400.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Jan 22, 2024
The engine has a known issue where coolant leaks into the cylinders. There is no fix for this. It affects all Escapes 2013-2019. Ford did a very limited recall restricted to just the 1.6L engines but the issue affects all engines. My escape is at the dealership now and has confirmed that my engine has this issue. I called Ford to ask what they were going to do to correct this issue. They acknowledged that there is a problem and that they know this is their issue but at this time will not do anything to help me. If I continue to drive my car it could catch on fire. I can not afford to replace the engine as it is $7500.
Engine, Jan 22, 2024, fire
Antifreeze is leaking into the small block, causing a fire in the engine. This was a known issue on the other Ford Fusions and other year Escapes. Upon viewing other users on reddit, this is a major issue.
Electrical system, Jan 21, 2024
Liftgate wont open. It’s been going in and out for the past 3 years. Some times it opens, most times it doesn’t. Now it won’t open at all.
Other or unspecified, Jan 19, 2024
The Turbo Charger failed. It has since been replaced. My safety was put at risk because, I could not accelerate fast enough to get up to the required speed limit. It has been inspected by a Ford repair shop. There was only one warning: a check engine light came on while I was in route to work. The car's performance immediately deteriorated and I turned around and went back home.
Power train, Engine, Jan 19, 2024
Without warning, while driving on the freeway, my car lost power due to an engine fault. The car went into limp mode and I made my way off the freeway and into a parking lot, where I contacted a tow company. My safety, and the safety of those around me, was compromised due to the sudden loss of power during rush hour traffic. Upon review by a local shop, it was determfined that the engine failed due to coolant intrusion, a problem known to, and acknowledged by, Ford Motor Company. This was documented in Ford publication Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. There were absolutely no warnings or messages, nor were there any smells or sounds to indicate impending failure.
Exterior lighting, Jan 19, 2024
The headlights keep going out. Every couple weeks to a month one of them blows out. Alternates between both of them to the point that there are times that both are out
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was a large cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that the vehicle was also idling roughly. The contact stated that while driving during the day the smoke ceased; however, the vehicle would idle roughly while stopped for a traffic signal or while slowing for traffic. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that coolant had intruded into the engine cylinders and recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that there was a manufacturer recall for the failure however, the vehicle was not included. The failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 21N12 Coolant Intrusion into the Cylinders (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Steering, Jan 19, 2024
The contact owned a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the instrument panel began flickering. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the flickering ceased. The contact stated that shortly after the flickering stopped, the steering wheel became firm, and was unresponsive causing the vehicle to collide with a telephone pole. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that the air bags deployed as designed. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.
Power train, Jan 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to lose forward momentum. The contact stated that his daughter depressed the accelerator pedal, and the engine revved but continued to lose forward momentum. The contact stated that his daughter had not noticed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact’s daughter was able to drive the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that silicone plugs for the transmission drains had failed, and a significant amount of transmission fluid had leaked. The contact stated that the plugs were replaced, and the transmission fluid was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred again, and the transmission was slipping and the vehicle hesitated before shifting into gear. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,543.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jan 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while making a left turn into traffic, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. Additionally, the contact stated that when the heat was turned on, there was an abnormal burning odor in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant had intruded into a cylinder and caused damage to the engine block. The contact was informed that the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Electrical system, Jan 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact connected a voltmeter to the battery, but no electrical failure was found. The contact notified the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
Engine, Jan 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and the spark plugs and coils were replaced however, the check engine warning light returned. The vehicle was then taken to Pep Boys and the contact was made aware of the engine cylinder failures. 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 39,744.
Engine, Jan 16, 2024
As my vehicle was being operated, it began to shake and shudder while stopped in traffic. Each time the vehicle was stopped in gear, the entire vehicle would shake horribly. On Thursday January 11th, 2024 the vehicle was taken to the Grieco Ford dealership where I purchased said vehicle as new. Vehicle currently has 70,292 miles and is up to date on its maintenance. Upon inspection, the service advisor indicated the technician found all motor mounts broken, as well as a broken flywheel flex plate. Doing due diligence, I discovered that the motor in my vehicle is the same motor which has an active recall in three other Ford models. The Ford Fusion, Ford Edge and MKZ models. The same damage to my vehicle is commensurate with their recalls. I believe the motor in my vehicle, a Ford Ecoboost 2.0L is the same in a long line of faulty motors and should be added to the line of recalled motors. The damage to my vehicle is one which should be added to the line of recalled motors, and the cost of repair should be reimbursed and covered by the Ford Motor Company and its subsidiaries. Today, January 16th, 2024 at 0934hrs, I received a phone call from the dealership advising me that the torque converter is also faulty, as the vehicle's motor is still shaking after replacing all the motor mounts.
Engine, Jan 15, 2024
At approximately 55k miles (mid-December 2023), the engine started to misfire on startup. It did not happen every time, but happened enough that the check engine light appeared several days later. The diagnostic codes were P0301-00 (Cylinder 1 misfire detected) and P0316-00 (Misfire detected on startup - first 1000 revolutions). All 4 spark plugs and cylinder 1 ignition coil pack were replaced, engine continued to randomly misfire. Battery was replaced, engine still misfired. After replacing the battery, I noticed the coolant tank was empty. I added coolant, and the level continued to drop. I took the vehicle to Ken Garff Ford Dealership in Fort Collins, CO where they confirmed on [XXX] that coolant was leaking into the cylinder and the engine would need to be replaced. There are several Technical Service Bulletins for this issue, the most recent being [XXX] dated [XXX]. Issue is as follows: Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the long block engine assembly. This is a known design flaw with the engine, and makes the vehicle completely unreliable. The engine was confirmed by the Ford dealer to be malfunctioning beyond repair due to a defect with the engine cylinders. Many other instances of this issue are documented online, and confirmed by dealer to be a known issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Exterior lighting, Jan 14, 2024
It seems like this is a common occurrence especially with this particular vehicle. The low beam LED headlight bulbs keep on breaking resulting in no headlights. These bulbs are expensive and it is such a headache replacing them so often. This should not be the case, but it is.
Engine, Jan 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated on a several occasions while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware of an abnormal burning odor. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently for approximately three months. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case number was provided. The failure mileage was 56,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jan 12, 2024
The KNOWN issue with the 1.5L ecoboost engines happened to my 2017 Escape at 79k miles right after having a the transmission shifter cable bushing recall fixed. Coincidentally, it didn't have the extensive issue before bringing it in for the recall and also ,coincidentally, my warranty expired last month and they told me it's my problem.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance, and the contact informed the mechanic about the engine warning light. The mechanic informed the contact that the spark plug failed to release without being fractured, and it was also diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The engine was replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and assisted with the repair and referred the contact to NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
Power train, Jan 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 60-65 MPH that while veering right coming off an exit ramp and driving approximately 60-65 MPH, and then coming to a stop at a stop sign; the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was determined that the transmission had failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the check engine warning light was flashing on and off. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the computer system was down. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into the cylinder and the engine. The check engine warning light was reset. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, and the contact was informed that there was a cylinder misfire. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.