Transmission failed at 96,000 miles requiring replacement Cracked/bad cylinder block at 110,000 requiring replacement Ford knows of engine problem (Technical Service Bulletin 22-2322) will not assist with repair Repair invoices available upon request
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.
What owners actually said
2,677 reportsMy daughter told me our 2017 Ford Escape Titanium’s engine light came on. She said the engine was sputtering and losing power. I scheduled an appointment with Ford the next day, and paid for them to do a diagnostic on the vehicle. The vehicle has 105k miles on it. They said the engine had coolant intrusion in cylinder number…
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My daughter told me our 2017 Ford Escape Titanium’s engine light came on. She said the engine was sputtering and losing power. I scheduled an appointment with Ford the next day, and paid for them to do a diagnostic on the vehicle. The vehicle has 105k miles on it. They said the engine had coolant intrusion in cylinder number one. The engine needs to be replaced, it’s out of warranty, and would cost $8,000 to replace, I was expecting the vehicle to last until 200k miles with proper servicing , and the repair is more than the value of the vehicle. Now the vehicle is sitting in my driveway, since I don’t want anyone driving it on the highway with an engine that loses power and could go at any time.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclo…
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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, by turning off the vehicle, allowing the engine to cool down, and then adding coolant to the coolant reservoir. The contact also inspected the vehicle with a scanner and retrieved DTC: P0302 - Cylinder #2 Misfire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Check engine light flashing, took to a local mechanic and need the whole engine replaced due to an internal coolant leak. Coolant level was low so the car overheated. Couple days later it was empty again
My vehicle leaks coolant and shakes while accelerating. It sometimes struggles to accelerate at all as it steadily misfires. This would put me and my family at risk even when trying to leave our driveway or turn off our street. The leaking coolant has been confirmed by a dealer and independent service center since it started in …
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My vehicle leaks coolant and shakes while accelerating. It sometimes struggles to accelerate at all as it steadily misfires. This would put me and my family at risk even when trying to leave our driveway or turn off our street. The leaking coolant has been confirmed by a dealer and independent service center since it started in 2023. They confirmed that it is identical symptoms to what they see relating to TSB 20-2100 (19-2375 before that). Ford continues to deny that this vehicle is attached to this TSB. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. There was no warning prior to the symptoms first appearance, the Check Engine light illuminated only after issues began to arise.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, which required the contact to add coolant to the vehicle daily. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The check engine war…
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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, which required the contact to add coolant to the vehicle daily. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Trans Auto Repair, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #3. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 19-2346. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
I was advised by the Ford dealership that my engine needs to be replaced due to a coolant leak into the engine. This is a known issue for this vehicle. This car has a little over 98k miles on it. There is a board post about this issue TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Il…
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I was advised by the Ford dealership that my engine needs to be replaced due to a coolant leak into the engine. This is a known issue for this vehicle. This car has a little over 98k miles on it. There is a board post about this issue TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL 22-2229 09 June 2022 I was told there is no recall for this issue even thought they know it is an issue and the cost to replace is over 8k. I called and spoke to the corporate office as well and they told me they will not cover it. This is an issue for a lot of people and sadly there is still no recall. This is not fair that I have to pay more to get the vehicle fixed than the vehicle Is worth. The Ford company should be held responsible for an issue they know is not a fault of the customer.
Prior to May 2022, both of the quarter panel mounted tail light assemblies on my 2017 Ford Escape SE started taking in water due the seals on the tail lights failing. Soon after those started failing the same thing began happening to the tail light assemblies on the hatch. I have replaced all 4 tail lights with OEM parts sourc…
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Prior to May 2022, both of the quarter panel mounted tail light assemblies on my 2017 Ford Escape SE started taking in water due the seals on the tail lights failing. Soon after those started failing the same thing began happening to the tail light assemblies on the hatch. I have replaced all 4 tail lights with OEM parts sourced from a salvage yard. All parts sourced from the salvage yard had a perfect conditions rating per the salvage yard. Fast forward to November 2024 and I began to notice the seals on the quarter panel mounted tail light assemblies begging to fail. Since then, the passenger side tail light assembly has began taking on water, with the driver side soon to take on water as well. Water and electricity do not mix. The tail lights are available for inspection upon request and I have included pictures. Driving at night or in low light conditions with my tail lights like this puts me and other drivers at risk due to water potentially shorting out my lights/electrical system and making my lights harder for other drivers to see. The problem, to my knowledge has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. First appeared prior to May 2022 and again, after replacing the components, around November 2024. I have appealed to the Ford motor company about this and no recall or programs are in affect for this issue at this time. I have also consulted with other owners of the same vehicle with the same issue and there are multiple online forum threads about this issue.
The vehicle was bucking and shaking after turning the key in the ignition. It lurched and drove shakily, and the next time the vehicle was started, the engine failed to begin running, and an "engine fault" light instructing the driver to "service now" was displayed. At this time, a loud, liquid sloshing noise was heard coming fr…
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The vehicle was bucking and shaking after turning the key in the ignition. It lurched and drove shakily, and the next time the vehicle was started, the engine failed to begin running, and an "engine fault" light instructing the driver to "service now" was displayed. At this time, a loud, liquid sloshing noise was heard coming from the direction of the dashboard. In subsequent attempts to later start the car, the car did start, and ran, but when taken to a mechanic, it was revealed that a coolant intrusion occurred without any perceptible cause, of severity enough to completely ruin the engine and necessitate its rebuild or repair.
After almost a year of problems, the Ford Dealership just diagnosed the car with coolant intrusion. It will cost $8000 for a new engine. This is a known Ford Escape 2017 problem, and Ford won’t do anything about the issue. Right now it’s available for inspection, but I’m going to have to get rid of it soon as it is a hazard an…
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After almost a year of problems, the Ford Dealership just diagnosed the car with coolant intrusion. It will cost $8000 for a new engine. This is a known Ford Escape 2017 problem, and Ford won’t do anything about the issue. Right now it’s available for inspection, but I’m going to have to get rid of it soon as it is a hazard and not reliable.
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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