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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

What owners actually said

2,677 reports
58,000 miles · Apr 5, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65-70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for a while. The contact stated that while continuing to drive, the warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact stated that app…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65-70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for a while. The contact stated that while continuing to drive, the warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact stated that approximately two days after the first failure, the failure reoccurred; and the warning light started blinking instead of remaining constantly illuminated. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant was leaking into the cylinders causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11581315

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2024
EngineFuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds downhill, the vehicle jerked, hesitated to accelerate, and stalled. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving uphill, and the vehicle stalled; however, the vehicle was still running. The contact stated that upon depressi…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds downhill, the vehicle jerked, hesitated to accelerate, and stalled. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving uphill, and the vehicle stalled; however, the vehicle was still running. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The check engine warning light illuminated for several days, and the failure recurred while driving at approximately 65 MPH. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a fuel line failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with unknown failures and recommended that the vehicle be taken to the dealer due to the failure being related to a possible recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11581199

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2024
Engine

CYLINDER 3 MISFIRING AND CRACKED CAUSING COOLENT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11581145

60,000 miles · Apr 3, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to both an independent mechanic and the local dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the fail…

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The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to both an independent mechanic and the local dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11580991

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

There is a known problem with the Ford Escape engines leaking coolant into the cylinders. I have a 2.0 which for two years there have been issues with engines needing to be replaced but Ford will not help owners of the 2.0 engine, only 1.5 and 1.9l engines. My 2.0 has coolant in the cylinders and needs a new engine. Ford claims …

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There is a known problem with the Ford Escape engines leaking coolant into the cylinders. I have a 2.0 which for two years there have been issues with engines needing to be replaced but Ford will not help owners of the 2.0 engine, only 1.5 and 1.9l engines. My 2.0 has coolant in the cylinders and needs a new engine. Ford claims there is not an issue with this engine yet and will not cover the repair. The warranty ran out two weeks ago and been dealing with this issue for months. There needs to be a recall on all Escape engines to protect the owners from being charged for an issue that Ford knows about but will not help all owners.

NHTSA ODI #11580985

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

The check engine light came on so we called the dealership. This is a 7.5 year old vehicle with under 50,000 miles. They made an appointment for us to come up over a week later. In the meantime the vehicle started to blow a lot of smoke when starting. Smelled like anti-freeze. We took it to the dealership early. Two days l…

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The check engine light came on so we called the dealership. This is a 7.5 year old vehicle with under 50,000 miles. They made an appointment for us to come up over a week later. In the meantime the vehicle started to blow a lot of smoke when starting. Smelled like anti-freeze. We took it to the dealership early. Two days later they told us it needed a new engine. Our extended bumper to bumper warranty just ran out 6 months prior and we were hit with an estimate of $8000. I researched and found that Ford knows about this issue, and has for a few years now. There are recalls for this 2.0L engine in the Fusion, but not in the Escape. From what I read it seems to be a flaw in the design of the coolant channels, which can cause a coolant leak, engine over heating, and possibly a fire. We did not have this happen as we seem to have caught the issue early enough, however at this point we are without the vehicle and waiting for a new engine to be installed. And we are stuck with the bill.

NHTSA ODI #11580668

50,000 miles · Apr 2, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, a heavy, blueish-colored smoke would emit from the exhaust pipe as the check engine light would intermittently appear on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitat…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, a heavy, blueish-colored smoke would emit from the exhaust pipe as the check engine light would intermittently appear on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that coolant had leaked into an engine cylinder. The dealer replaced the turbo; however, the failure returned soon after the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11580664

82,000 miles · Apr 2, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact also stated that the pistons were missing. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact also stated that the pistons were missing. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11580660

136,000 miles · Apr 1, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mi…

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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 on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11580459

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2024
Engine

1.5L EcoBoost engine coolant draining into engine. Code P0302 Cylinder 2 (and now P0303 Cylinder 3) misfire. Causing the engine to overheat and stall on cold start.

NHTSA ODI #11580247

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