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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 →

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.

39 crash reports15 fire reports38 injury reports

Engine complaints

1,564 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 21, 2024
Engine

The check engine light continuously came on and would go off. I also noticed that the coolant was needing refilled extremely often. I took the car up to the check engine, light reader, and it informed me that cylinder was misfiring. I cleaned out them out using product from Autozone. There have been two incidents where my car ov…

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The check engine light continuously came on and would go off. I also noticed that the coolant was needing refilled extremely often. I took the car up to the check engine, light reader, and it informed me that cylinder was misfiring. I cleaned out them out using product from Autozone. There have been two incidents where my car overheated while driving when coolant was just refilled (within a month). After researching online, many others have this exact situation.

NHTSA ODI #11589829

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2024
Engine

Check engine light came on, and then car started misfiring. Took it to dealership who stated coolant was leaking into the engine and was a result of TSB 22-2322. Technician said if the engine is not replaced it could result in engine malfunction such as overheating and leading up to a fire. Received an estimate of repair from t…

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Check engine light came on, and then car started misfiring. Took it to dealership who stated coolant was leaking into the engine and was a result of TSB 22-2322. Technician said if the engine is not replaced it could result in engine malfunction such as overheating and leading up to a fire. Received an estimate of repair from the FORD dealership which confirms issues.

NHTSA ODI #11589788

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2024
Engine

Driving to work and message pops up on the dash that says “High Engine Temperature Stop Safely”. I had the car towed and the engine likely has a coolant leak.

NHTSA ODI #11589787

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2024
Engine

While I was driving on the highway at 70mph all of a sudden the car started to shake and slowed down, could not go over 35mph. At 91k miles, the car developed a misfire in coil 2. It was recommended to replace the spark plugs, which we did (all 4). The code received is P0302. Still having having issues, upon further testing, i…

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While I was driving on the highway at 70mph all of a sudden the car started to shake and slowed down, could not go over 35mph. At 91k miles, the car developed a misfire in coil 2. It was recommended to replace the spark plugs, which we did (all 4). The code received is P0302. Still having having issues, upon further testing, it was found that there is no compression in coil 2. After researching - there are tens of thousands of complaints of this same issue. Talking with a dealer, then to Ford's customer service, I was told there is nothing they can do. I need a new short block which will cost upwards of $8,000. This is a known issue with Ford and thousands of complaints, yet no recall has been done. Ford said the warranty is 7 years or 84,000. While I am within warranty for the years, I am just over the mileage. However, a car that is just at 90,000 miles and only one owner (myself), driven about 3-4 days a week for work should not be having this problem. There were NO notifications or messages that there was a problem. There still is NOT a check engine light or other notification. We had to have a scan put on it to learn of the P0302 misfire in coil 2. There is a class action lawsuit starting up and we will join.

NHTSA ODI #11589723

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2024
Engine

Check engine light came on and vehicle idled roughly at start up. Diagnosed as bad ignition coil and spark plugs at the Ford dealership; those parts replaced. Within 2 months the same thing happened again and I noted the coolant level was low. Monitored over the next 2 months and noted a 1/2 inch drop in coolant level per mon…

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Check engine light came on and vehicle idled roughly at start up. Diagnosed as bad ignition coil and spark plugs at the Ford dealership; those parts replaced. Within 2 months the same thing happened again and I noted the coolant level was low. Monitored over the next 2 months and noted a 1/2 inch drop in coolant level per month. Returned to Ford dealership with my concern that coolant maybe leaking into engine (only 38,435 miles on vehicle), Dealership confirmed diagnosis of coolant leaking into engine requiring engine to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI #11589632

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2024
Engine

The exhaust for the engine is leaking into the coolant, the engine's head gasket is failing. There is a risk of engine fire. It is a known design flaw in regard to the 2.0L engine. The recall has not been expanded to Ford. The solution is engine replacement with a Long Block design. Which is saddling consumers with an $8,00…

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The exhaust for the engine is leaking into the coolant, the engine's head gasket is failing. There is a risk of engine fire. It is a known design flaw in regard to the 2.0L engine. The recall has not been expanded to Ford. The solution is engine replacement with a Long Block design. Which is saddling consumers with an $8,000 repair bill for Ford not owning up to its design flaw. Consumers should not be saddled with repair bills that are a direct result of poor design on the part of the manufacturer. Much less be worried that an engine may catch fire as a result of said poor design.

NHTSA ODI #11589462

12,500 miles · May 16, 2024
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, attempting to go uphill, the vehicle failed to shift gear and surged. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was cracked, and there was antifreeze leaking into …

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, attempting to go uphill, the vehicle failed to shift gear and surged. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was cracked, and there was antifreeze leaking into the engine compartment, causing engine failure. The dealer was informed that the transmission and engine needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,500.

NHTSA ODI #11589099

55,000 miles · May 16, 2024
Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted on the first and second attempts. Additionally, a catastrophic failure and engine overheating message was dis…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted on the first and second attempts. Additionally, a catastrophic failure and engine overheating message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine block, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #11589053

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2024
Engine

Coolant is leaking into the engine block in Cylinder 1. This is a known issue. The Vehicle has 61,000 miles on it. Local dealership has confirmed this and diagnosed that the Small Block and the head gasket need to be replaced. The car could stop at any moment while driving due to this defect. A TSB was issued but Ford will…

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Coolant is leaking into the engine block in Cylinder 1. This is a known issue. The Vehicle has 61,000 miles on it. Local dealership has confirmed this and diagnosed that the Small Block and the head gasket need to be replaced. The car could stop at any moment while driving due to this defect. A TSB was issued but Ford will not work to assist coverage of repair.

NHTSA ODI #11588948

96,000 miles · May 15, 2024
Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was misfiring, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaire…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was misfiring, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #11588917

Official recalls

4

26V374000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems