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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
68,000 miles · Nov 21, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle occasionally stalled, hesitated, or jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure m…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle occasionally stalled, hesitated, or jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #11556313

128,000 miles · Nov 20, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the long block, requiring the engine to be replaced. The …

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the long block, requiring the engine 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 but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #11556149

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2023
Engine

I spoke to jasmine, This is [XXX] and we recently spoke regarding my case, [XXX], for the coolant leaking in the engine of my 2017 Ford Escape SE. the issue: Bulletin [XXX] · Number: TSB [XXX]· Date: 12-20-2019 My vehicle has been in the shop since 11/14/2023. Mathews ford has my vehicle now. 1101 W SW Expy Dr, Broken Arrow…

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I spoke to jasmine, This is [XXX] and we recently spoke regarding my case, [XXX], for the coolant leaking in the engine of my 2017 Ford Escape SE. the issue: Bulletin [XXX] · Number: TSB [XXX]· Date: 12-20-2019 My vehicle has been in the shop since 11/14/2023. Mathews ford has my vehicle now. 1101 W SW Expy Dr, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 Phone number Call (918) 251-3673 matthewsfordba.com I also paid for new coils and spark plugs and a coolant flush hopefully I can get reimbursed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11556034

51,000 miles · Nov 20, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and the speed was reduced to approximate 35 MPH with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant was present inside the e…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and the speed was reduced to approximate 35 MPH with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant was present inside the engine cylinder and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #11556018

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2023
EnginePower TrainFire

TRANSMISSION cable broke. Transmission failed and we had to replace it for $5,500. Car was at 101,000 miles. Ford wouldn't help. Now getting a cylinder 4 misfire - P0304 code, U3000-04. Also, coolant leaks constantly and there is no leak. per the recall of the 2017 Ford Fusion, this coolant leak into the cylinders is happening t…

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TRANSMISSION cable broke. Transmission failed and we had to replace it for $5,500. Car was at 101,000 miles. Ford wouldn't help. Now getting a cylinder 4 misfire - P0304 code, U3000-04. Also, coolant leaks constantly and there is no leak. per the recall of the 2017 Ford Fusion, this coolant leak into the cylinders is happening to us as well.

NHTSA ODI #11555924

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2023
Engine

Becoming a common issue. The head gasket warped, which allowed engine coolent into the cylinders. Now it has to have an engine replacement. Vehicle has 88,000 miles

NHTSA ODI #11555872

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2023
Engine

Since I purchased the vehicle second hand from a dealer, I've had a recurring check engine light that comes on a couple of times a month indicating a Cyclinder 1 misfire. I've replaced the spark plugs twice and the engine coils for almost $1000. Then, at 75,000 miles, Cylinder 4 caused a blinking engine light and that coil neede…

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Since I purchased the vehicle second hand from a dealer, I've had a recurring check engine light that comes on a couple of times a month indicating a Cyclinder 1 misfire. I've replaced the spark plugs twice and the engine coils for almost $1000. Then, at 75,000 miles, Cylinder 4 caused a blinking engine light and that coil needed replacing for $5000. The cyclinder 1 misfire has remained and the Ford dealership has now taken a closer look and has diagnosed that coolant is leaking into the cylinders and it will require a full engine replacement to the tune of $8000+. The car has 80,000 miles and is 6 years old - there is no way I should need to replace the engine for this. Online (and apparently reported to you), there are countless indications of this issue and to date, Ford has refused to do anything to support their customers who have to shell out $8000 or more, or make the decision to cut their losses with their vehicles. I truly hope that the NHTSA will force them to make this right for the many many customers impacted.

NHTSA ODI #11555813

68,000 miles · Nov 17, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, several attempts were needed before the vehicle started. The contact stated that the vehicle started and idled rough. The engine malfunction warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnose…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, several attempts were needed before the vehicle started. The contact stated that the vehicle started and idled rough. The engine malfunction warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine had failed, and coolant had leaked into the cylinder. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11555672

37,000 miles · Nov 15, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking violently, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway before coasting into a parking area. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the c…

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking violently, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway before coasting into a parking area. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the coolant intrusion had caused a misfire in cylinder #2. 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, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #11555243

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2023
Engine

My vehicle had shown a misfire of cylinder 3 at 300000 miles. Had it mantaineced and was told it was a fluke. A year later my car began stalling after starting, smoking out of the tail pipe, and having issues with low coolant levels causing the heat not to work. After research I found this issue to be reported on hundreds of tim…

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My vehicle had shown a misfire of cylinder 3 at 300000 miles. Had it mantaineced and was told it was a fluke. A year later my car began stalling after starting, smoking out of the tail pipe, and having issues with low coolant levels causing the heat not to work. After research I found this issue to be reported on hundreds of times on forums and with technical service bulletins. There have been reports of engine failure while driving, smoking engine due to low or no coolant from leakage into the engine, and engine FIRES. There are over 502 complaints on the Ford Escape 2017 2.0 FWD engine alone. I have taken my car to a certified Ford dealer and had confirmation of a coolant leak into the engine cylinders due to defective cylinder parts failing prematurely. My car is currently at 60000 with a complete engine failure caused by defective parts. This problem has been reported on 1.5 ecoboost engines as well. This is a

NHTSA ODI #11555149

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