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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
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2024
Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the vehicle stalled, and, on several occasions, there was white smoke coming from the rear exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the vehicle stalled, and, on several occasions, there was white smoke coming from the rear exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was unable to be duplicated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11578045

87,000 miles · Mar 18, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and vibrated after starting. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the message "Engine Fault, Service Now" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who discovered that the eng…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and vibrated after starting. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the message "Engine Fault, Service Now" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who discovered that the engine coolant level was extremely low. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed of the Manufacturer's Extended Coverage for the failure, but after contacting the manufacturer the contact was informed that the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 87,000.

NHTSA ODI #11577984

100,000 miles · Mar 18, 2024
EngineFirerelatedFire

The contact's wife owned a 2017 Ford Escape. While the contact's wife was driving at 80 MPH, both a stop engine and check engine warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact's wife called the contact who was then informed to immediately pull over. As the contact's wife pulled over, black smoke began to emit from …

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The contact's wife owned a 2017 Ford Escape. While the contact's wife was driving at 80 MPH, both a stop engine and check engine warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact's wife called the contact who was then informed to immediately pull over. As the contact's wife pulled over, black smoke began to emit from the engine. The contact's wife exited the vehicle as the vehicle quickly caught fire. The authorities were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11577947

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

Coolant Leak. An Internet search revealed that this was a common problem among this model (coolant leaking into cylinder #2). I keep coolant in the car at all times in case of overheating.

NHTSA ODI #11577710

85,000 miles · Mar 14, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that coolant was present inside the cylinders of the engine and the engine needed to be repl…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that coolant was present inside the cylinders of the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced but the vehicle continued to experience the failure with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The engine was misfiring. The failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11577346

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2024
EnginePower Train

Good morning, yesterday I noticed that the engine is not running smoothly when starting (i.e. when it is cold). The yellow engine light came on. Errors 0301 and 0316 were detected in the car workshop. Most likely, the engine head was cracked or the head gasket was damaged. Moreover, a week ago I noticed a strange knocking noise …

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Good morning, yesterday I noticed that the engine is not running smoothly when starting (i.e. when it is cold). The yellow engine light came on. Errors 0301 and 0316 were detected in the car workshop. Most likely, the engine head was cracked or the head gasket was damaged. Moreover, a week ago I noticed a strange knocking noise in the rear axle. The workshop wanted to change the oil. Unfortunately, there is no drain plug in the rear axle housing. In my opinion, these are design defects of the engine and rear axle. These elements are important for the safety of the car in road traffic. A person cannot be allowed to buy a car that cannot be operated properly. Although the user manual says that it can be done.

NHTSA ODI #11577212

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

Engine stopped entirely while going up a hill. Had a mechanic look at it about a month agoa nd told me that the engine has coolant intrusion issue. Making the engine misfire and makes it lose power and shuts engine off on the middle of the road!! Ford knows about this and redeigned the engine due to this issue.

NHTSA ODI #11576980

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2024
Engine

The engine has had a head gasket failure at 40,000 miles less than 7 years old. This is caused by the FORD engine design according to the dealership. The dealership tells me that it is a "ticking time bomb". Ford covers the 1.5 l engines but not the 2.0 l ones in a TSB 22-2134. This is a 9500.00 fix which I cannot afford. The ch…

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The engine has had a head gasket failure at 40,000 miles less than 7 years old. This is caused by the FORD engine design according to the dealership. The dealership tells me that it is a "ticking time bomb". Ford covers the 1.5 l engines but not the 2.0 l ones in a TSB 22-2134. This is a 9500.00 fix which I cannot afford. The check engine light has been on since Sept 2023 and the Ford dealership told me the car was fine. It was not until I continued to bring it in with the check engine light on that they admitted they knew there was a problem that caused the engine to fail catastrophically. This is a safety hazard to the driver and anyone on the road as the engine fails.

NHTSA ODI #11576408

117,000 miles · Mar 8, 2024
Power Train

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with an unstated message displayed on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to inspect t…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with an unstated message displayed on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to inspect the vehicle; the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was then provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #11576248

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2024
Engine

Recently, I noticed that my car has been leaking coolant fluid. I brought it into my local auto shop and was informed that it's an issue with my engine. I was handed a pamphlet of information on the known issue with 2017 ford eco boost having coolant leaking into the engine. I checked to see if there were any recalls for this af…

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Recently, I noticed that my car has been leaking coolant fluid. I brought it into my local auto shop and was informed that it's an issue with my engine. I was handed a pamphlet of information on the known issue with 2017 ford eco boost having coolant leaking into the engine. I checked to see if there were any recalls for this after doing research and seeing that this is quite the known issue.

NHTSA ODI #11576136

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