Coolant is leaking into the piston cylinder 4-mainly (and 2). It’s leaking because of the imperfection in the block. In the new engines, the imperfection has been fixed
2017 Ford Escape
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Escape years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Ford Escape are substantially higher than the model-year median of 996.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1,155 reports with mileage · 1,522 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 1,564 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 507 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 390 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
1,564 reportsEngine slowly started consuming coolant into the cylinders. After starting the engine, the engine would run rough until coolant was burned from the cylinders. A month or two later the engine lost compression and needs to be replaced. From what I've investigated on the internet, this is a known problem with the 1.5L Ecoboost e…
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Engine slowly started consuming coolant into the cylinders. After starting the engine, the engine would run rough until coolant was burned from the cylinders. A month or two later the engine lost compression and needs to be replaced. From what I've investigated on the internet, this is a known problem with the 1.5L Ecoboost engine and there is a class action lawsuit pending in California. We have contacted the law firm handling the suit in order to be included in the class action.
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 cracked cylinder. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition…
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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 cracked cylinder. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred immediately after a tune-up was performed by the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,199.
Parasitic draw in battery that Ford can't find reading for. Paid almost 1k in parts they suggested ' may' work along. Did not work and told us not to call corporate because they'll just tell us to go back to dealer. Then engine throws a p0303 code. Cylinder 3 seems to have the death sentence these cars are facing. We still owe 9…
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Parasitic draw in battery that Ford can't find reading for. Paid almost 1k in parts they suggested ' may' work along. Did not work and told us not to call corporate because they'll just tell us to go back to dealer. Then engine throws a p0303 code. Cylinder 3 seems to have the death sentence these cars are facing. We still owe 9800 on this car. It has 70k miles. The battery issue has been problem for over a year. It's our family car so never unsafe for my wife to be stranded with a child somewhere because the battery might die. And now the engine may seize. From reading all over, Ford was certainly negligent about this issue and it's sad so many people are in the same situation as our family
My 2017 Ford Escape has a coolant intrusion/ engine failure. Check engine light came on. The car started shaking. Took the car to a service center and they confirmed it was due to engine failure due to a coolant intrusion. They checked and the code received was cylinder 2 misfire. I did some research and this is a common issue w…
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My 2017 Ford Escape has a coolant intrusion/ engine failure. Check engine light came on. The car started shaking. Took the car to a service center and they confirmed it was due to engine failure due to a coolant intrusion. They checked and the code received was cylinder 2 misfire. I did some research and this is a common issue within my car’s year, make, and model but there has been no recall for it. There is a code CSP 21N12 for this issue. Yet when I put in my VIN it shows no recalls for my vehicle. I contacted Ford and was told again there is no recall. I have the eco boost 1.5L. It matches the make, year, and engine for the problem. My car is misfiring, white smoke from exhaust from cold start, and having coolant loss with no dripping on the ground. This is a known flaw that Ford has been aware of and has a technical service bulletin out for this issue but, after contacting Ford, they will not help with engine replacement. I am making payments, I purchased this car so I can attend college, I also have a job and now I have no car. The vehicle is not repaired because they are quoting too much and I believe Ford needs to issue a recall and repair this known to them issue. I am still having to make payments on a car that is just sitting here. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
I bought my 2017 Ford Escape when it was brand new. It has been excellently maintained and has had no issues. 2 weeks ago the idle seemed rough, but got better when driven. Had diagnostics done and codes indicated spark plugs issue. Replaced spark plugs, but rough idle (misfire) continued. While attempting to address misfire, a …
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I bought my 2017 Ford Escape when it was brand new. It has been excellently maintained and has had no issues. 2 weeks ago the idle seemed rough, but got better when driven. Had diagnostics done and codes indicated spark plugs issue. Replaced spark plugs, but rough idle (misfire) continued. While attempting to address misfire, a sudden and large cloud of smoke was emitted from tailpipe and engine area. Dashboard lights all came on. Coolant reservoir emptied. Car was immediately shut off. All signs point to blown head gasket, cracked engine block, coolant entering engine. Getting estimates, now. But, probably won't repair. Car has 86,000 miles.
2017 Ford escape purchased new, and always maintained. This vehicle has a 2.0 EcoBoost engine. The mileage on the car is 26,340. We experienced the same problem that was reported on EcoBoost engines where the coolant leaks into the cylinders which leads to Engine failure. The engine temperature light came on indicating we need…
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2017 Ford escape purchased new, and always maintained. This vehicle has a 2.0 EcoBoost engine. The mileage on the car is 26,340. We experienced the same problem that was reported on EcoBoost engines where the coolant leaks into the cylinders which leads to Engine failure. The engine temperature light came on indicating we needed to pull over, which we did immediately. We had just left home and were only 2 blocks when this occurred. The engine was cool to the touch. According to the reports, it could result in engine fire. The vehicle just stopped when the engine failed.
Coolant in the engine leak with 1.5 L Ecoboost. Only have 73,900 miles on car. Just bought car last March. Still have 3 and 1/2 years of payments. Vehicle is non drive able right now. Check engine light on. Engine malfunction came on and took to mechanic right away. Mechanic confirmed coolant leak in engine.
Within 2 days of initially experiencing an engine shudder during acceleration on 2017 Ford Escape 2.0L Ecoboost with 44,000 miles, the car was diagnosed with coolant leaking into the engine cylinder. Ford TSB 19-2172 requires an engine long block to remedy the situation. Many others have reported this problem both to NHTSA and o…
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Within 2 days of initially experiencing an engine shudder during acceleration on 2017 Ford Escape 2.0L Ecoboost with 44,000 miles, the car was diagnosed with coolant leaking into the engine cylinder. Ford TSB 19-2172 requires an engine long block to remedy the situation. Many others have reported this problem both to NHTSA and online but Ford has not formally addressed this defect as far as I can tell. This is a very costly repair that Ford needs to take ownership for.
To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Engine Failure in 2017 Ford Escape Titanium at 137,000 Miles – Known Issue Not Under Recall Make & Model: 2017 Ford Escape Titanium VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Failure: 137,000 miles I am filing this complaint to report a complete engine failure in our 2017 Ford E…
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To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Engine Failure in 2017 Ford Escape Titanium at 137,000 Miles – Known Issue Not Under Recall Make & Model: 2017 Ford Escape Titanium VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Failure: 137,000 miles I am filing this complaint to report a complete engine failure in our 2017 Ford Escape Titanium at only 137,000 miles. We have been informed by the Ford dealership service department that the engine must be replaced at a cost of approximately $9,000+. This is despite the fact that the vehicle has been perfectly maintained and no prior engine issues. The dealership clearly stated to us that the failure was not due to any negligence or misuse on our part. They also acknowledged that this specific engine has a known issue and has been prone to cracking or internal failure around the 130,000-mile mark. That they will also replace the engine with one that will not have this known cracking and failure issue, but at our own cost. They have confirmed our car is known to have premature engine failure issues. Despite this, we were told by the dealership that Ford has not issued a recall because "not enough" 2017 models have yet reported the issue. We are forwarding this issue to escalate and get coverage relief for ford escape drivers. We were advised to contact Ford for “Goodwill Assistance.” We did so, but our request was denied, and no financial or repair support was offered. The car remains undrivable and in need of a full engine replacement. This is a known engine defect, acknowledged by Ford service staff, yet no formal recall or campaign has been initiated. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning in a vehicle that had no prior engine issues and was in otherwise excellent condition. The failure renders the vehicle effectively totaled, forcing consumers like us into an expensive repair or unnecessary vehicle replacement. Dealership: Ford in Schaumburg IL Best, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C
Official recalls
426V374000 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
Jun 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater
Jan 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
16V617000 · Electrical System:software; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
Aug 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
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."
Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
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."
Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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