2017 Ford Escape

I have been noticing radiator fluid loss the past few months along with a recent engine light coming on so I took my Ford Escape to Vanderhyde Ford Dealership in Cedar Springs Michigan and they were going to do a leak check on the cylinders to see if antifreeze was leaking but they were only able to get 3 of the 4 spark plug out of engine block. They said they didn't want to break the spark plug off inside the block. I asked what would cause the spark plug to corrode and they said it's possible my #1 cylinder is leaking antifreeze and corroding the aluminum intake manifold and the steel spark plugs. So, I took car back home and let engine cool and I was able to get spark plug out. I now have appointment 7/23/2025 to have cylinders checked for leaks. Updates coming if leak in cylinders is confirmed.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Engine Fault Service Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,114.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.

At 51,000 engine needs replaced due to defect that causes coolant to leak into engine. Vehicle has a very slow start when stepping on the accelerator due to no compression from the coolant leak into the piston. White smoke would come from exhaust when accelerating. When pulling out into traffic car will almost stall out. Check engine light had been on repeatedly for the issue and Ford service. They claimed they did not see any issues. I had taken it to other places for service and they stated it should be under warranty with Ford. Ford does have a TSB on the issue but no recall

Component/System Involved: Engine – Coolant Intrusion into Cylinder #4 Vehicle: 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost; mileage 47k. My 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine experienced engine misfires and sudden coolant loss. Upon inspection, it was confirmed by a Ford-authorized dealership (Koons Falls Church Ford, VA) that this is due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #4—a known defect with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine in many Ford models from similar years. This issue appeared on July 9, 2025. The issue began with a misfire warning and engine vibration around 47,000 miles. The Ford dealer diagnosed coolant entering the combustion chamber as the root cause, requiring engine replacement. The engine is available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a clear safety hazard, as coolant entering the cylinder can lead to engine stalling or complete failure while driving. The loss of power and unexpected misfire episodes posed a risk to me, my spouse, and our two children while driving. Ford Motor Company denied goodwill financial assistance, citing the vehicle’s age (>7 years), despite its low mileage (47k), excellent service history, and the well-documented design flaw. The defect is known to occur between 60K–100K miles across various Ford vehicles with the same engine type, yet no recall or consumer repair program has been issued. I am reporting this for safety and accountability reasons and urge NHTSA to investigate this issue further. No check engine light appeared until the misfire occurred, and there were no prior warnings of coolant loss.

The coolant leaks into the the cylinders. I bought this car June 7th 2025 and was told it was being sold as is due to hail damage. I have no issue with cosmetic problems but I come to find out that there is major defect with ford escapes. My vehicle started to overheat with my children in the car so I checked the coolant and it was empty. I have been keeping my eye on it and filling when needed but when I went to turn it on a couple days ago it will not start at all. I put 4,000 down on this car and got into payments because I trusted the dealership to put me in a car that was not known for these issues. I had no idea because I am not in the car business and I scrambled to get a car because mine was wrecked. The check engine light even came as the salesman was pumping gas to give me the car after I bought it and told me they would check into. I was told a couple days later it was a loose ignition coil and that they topped off the coolant for me. It was within the same week that I started having these issues because I am sure this issue was preexisting but they did not want to tell me.

Check engine light came on and engine began to run rough. After inspection by Ford Dealer, it turns out this was because of a known issue with 2017 Ford Escapes. Continuing to drive could cause catastrophic engine failure or engine fire. This issue was diagnosed by Crossroads Ford of Apex, NC, where it was determined that coolant entered the combustion chamber and spark plug #1 has seized. This is a well-documented design flaw in the 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines and is identical to cases addressed under Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 and TSB 22-2133. When the dealership requested assistance from Ford Representative the request was denied. Now the estimate to fix car that we bought new in preparation for retirement and diligently paid off is $10708. We have also requested an escalation of this issue with Ford Customer Relations at of July 15, 2025. As of this time, dealer says car could die while driving at any time, leading to fire or accident.

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a serious safety defect in the Ford Escape equipped with the Ecoboost engine, which is known to suffer from internal coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. This defect poses significant safety risks, including engine misfire, sudden loss of power while driving, and the potential for engine fires. In my specific case, a Ford dealership has confirmed that my vehicle is experiencing coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, which has led to a cracked cylinder sleeve and engine misfire. Despite this being a well-documented issue linked to a flawed engine design, my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) was not included in the Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, which addresses this exact problem. The symptoms and confirmed diagnosis of my vehicle match the description and root cause identified in Ford's internal documents and the scope of the CSP. However, Ford has not taken responsibility for vehicles outside the limited range of VINs it chose to cover, leaving many owners—myself included—at risk of catastrophic engine failure and serious safety consequences. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue more comprehensively. The scope of Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 is clearly too narrow and excludes many vehicles suffering from the same dangerous condition. This issue warrants a formal safety recall, not a limited service program, due to the substantial risk it presents to vehicle occupants and others on the road. Please take action to compel Ford to take full responsibility for this defect and protect consumers from preventable mechanical failures and fire risks.