COOLANT LEAK ENGINE
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 reportsMy check engine light on causing vehicle to run rough.and delay in engine performance.(transmission shifting). Ford dealer replace several Emission parts. (Warranty.) .Purge valve system. Oxygen sensors Etc. Car in shop for 12days.pick vehicle up drove 2miles check light came on again. Back to ford, Now ford wants Me to pay fo…
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My check engine light on causing vehicle to run rough.and delay in engine performance.(transmission shifting). Ford dealer replace several Emission parts. (Warranty.) .Purge valve system. Oxygen sensors Etc. Car in shop for 12days.pick vehicle up drove 2miles check light came on again. Back to ford, Now ford wants Me to pay for needed repairs to charcoal canister, Purge Valve system. $400,00 to $ 800.00. This repair is EPA and Federal Emission Policy. Which Fotd and Dealer States no it's not. Dealer will not HELP with any assistance. Tried to explained Ford and Federal.EPA rules. Per Ford Warranty Parts statements and policy . Dealer 1st stated to me this part is under extended Ford Warranty. Hours later called Me back,Stating It's My responsibility to repair. This part is Electric vacuum operated. Prt# GV6Z9D333A Purge Control Valve (Block off switching Valve ) Which is a Hose and Solenoid Assy. The say it's a hose nothing else. I explained a hose is only a HOSE and has nothing to do with opening and closing of Emission Purge Valve .System. That is what the Solenoid is for which opens and closes Purge System from fuel tank Vapors system to charcoal canister. Please Help me in this repair clarification.
The engine is at 157,000 miles. I have taken it to 2 mechanics in the last few weeks that have diagnosed it with a blown head gasket. They have said this type of engine cannot be repaired and has to be replaced.
I have a 2017 Fords Escape Titanium with the 2.0 Ecoboost Motor with 24.394 miles on it since purchased new at our Dealer in Albany, NY. This Car is Driven by an elderly woman (grandmother) to the grocery store and bank in our small down only and once a week to doctors. When driving the 2017 Esape with the 2.0L vehicle start…
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I have a 2017 Fords Escape Titanium with the 2.0 Ecoboost Motor with 24.394 miles on it since purchased new at our Dealer in Albany, NY. This Car is Driven by an elderly woman (grandmother) to the grocery store and bank in our small down only and once a week to doctors. When driving the 2017 Esape with the 2.0L vehicle started to shake violently and check engine light came on due to what I found later to be misfire in cylinder two. We had to pull over to the side of the road on the highway as best we could in fear of getting rearended by traffic.This is the second ford escae in the [XXX] family that has done this to us and put us at risk. The other 2017 family-owned Ford Escape 1.5L Ecoboost was taken to the Ford shop and after review needed a new Short Block replacement due to Coolant Intrusion into cylinder 2 &3. Car was at Ford Dealer for over 8 weeks getting repair with no rental. Ford did have a bulletin (Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37-Supplement #4) that covered this full replacement. So, Ford admitted they had an issue and would replace these then at no cost to the customer. When i called the Dealer on this 2017 Escape 2.0L Escoboost with the Same Faulty head design they said it's out of Warranty and even though there is a service bulletin stating to replace the Engine, Ford Does not have a Recall or Customer Satisfaction Program for this as before. I am having this escape brought to a Ford shop to have it diagnosed officially as i had to with the other Escape. I know the symptoms and have scoped the cylinder. When speaking to Ford Directly they confirmed this and told me to contact you. I do not feel it's right for a Company that our family has been so invested in for generations and currently have 7 fords in our fleet to say well it's not covered on a motor with 24.393 miles on it. The Risk that that failure put us in on the highway of not being able to accelerate and get over to the side of the road in a timely manner is unacceptable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO
Coolant leaks into the engine. Vehicle no longer operable. Over $8,100 to replace long block.
I brought my 2017 Ford Escape Ecoboost to a Ford Dealer repair shop because the SES light is on, it was running rough, jerks upon acceleration and cold start didn't sound right. The repair shop performed a pinpoint test, performed internal coolant leak, removed #4 spark plug. Borescope cylinder found coolant intrusion in #4 cyl…
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I brought my 2017 Ford Escape Ecoboost to a Ford Dealer repair shop because the SES light is on, it was running rough, jerks upon acceleration and cold start didn't sound right. The repair shop performed a pinpoint test, performed internal coolant leak, removed #4 spark plug. Borescope cylinder found coolant intrusion in #4 cylinder. They stated the fix would be a longblock assembly with a cost of $9300. After some research, this is a common problem with this model. This issue is known to increase the risk of cars fires and engine failures. It appears Ford knew of this coolant intrusion defect in this model of vehicle and continued to manufacture them. Ford needs to step up and cover the repair costs for this known defect. I was driving this car with my kids and family. Scary to think what could have happened due to this known defect.
Coolant intrusion into engine. This problem is known to Ford. See CSP Letter #21n12 and Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229. Ford only would fix problem if it existed in a 6 month window in 2022. Ford will not help with any costs even though it is their fault. Was advised by many other 2017 Ford Escape owners to report this iss…
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Coolant intrusion into engine. This problem is known to Ford. See CSP Letter #21n12 and Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229. Ford only would fix problem if it existed in a 6 month window in 2022. Ford will not help with any costs even though it is their fault. Was advised by many other 2017 Ford Escape owners to report this issue to NHTSA.
The check engine light came on and the vehicle had a rough idle at startup. I took it to the Ford dealer and they told me that there's a coolant leak in the engine and I'd need to purchase a new engine $7900. Upon doing research I've since learned that there was a recall for this exact issue but only for 1.5L engines and not t…
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The check engine light came on and the vehicle had a rough idle at startup. I took it to the Ford dealer and they told me that there's a coolant leak in the engine and I'd need to purchase a new engine $7900. Upon doing research I've since learned that there was a recall for this exact issue but only for 1.5L engines and not the 2.0L variant. I'd like to know if there's any recourse here with this being a known issue, and an internet search shows that this is common across all engine variants for the 2017 Ford Escape. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My check engine light came on, so I brought my car into the Ford Dealership within 2 days (their earliest appointment). I had noticed some jumpiness on startup, and white smoke coming from the tailpipe. The dealership service department diagnosed it with a coolant leak into the cylinder, and requested a repair of $9880. This car…
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My check engine light came on, so I brought my car into the Ford Dealership within 2 days (their earliest appointment). I had noticed some jumpiness on startup, and white smoke coming from the tailpipe. The dealership service department diagnosed it with a coolant leak into the cylinder, and requested a repair of $9880. This car has only 45,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. This appears to be a manufacturing defect that others have experienced as well.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the spark plug and an ignition coil in cylinder #4 needed to…
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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the spark plug and an ignition coil in cylinder #4 needed to be replaced. The spark plug and coil were replaced. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred after the repair, the vehicle was taken to a second mechanic and it was determined that the ignition coil and spark plug needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to a third mechanic, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a manufacturer defect and had carbon in the engine that was caused by a coolant leak, which made the spark plugs crack. The mechanic advised the contact to reach out to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
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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