2019 Ford Escape

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12: (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the VIN was not included in program. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the program and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 56,000.

On or about June 1, 2025, the vehicle began losing coolant without a visible leak. Took the vehicle to dealer for a diagnosis. Dealer claimed than a coolant hose was bad and required an $1100 repair. I reported to the dealer the low coolant, water in the oil and white smoke at start up but they dismissed the complaint. Stated they would need the $1100 repair done before any other diagnosis could completed. July 1, 2025, after consulting Ford corporate directly, they are "looking" into my concern. No offer of repairs, at all.

The failed component is the coolant leaking into cyl 4 TSB 22-2229 which has been a problem with this model in the 1.5 L turbo before. This model is the 2.0L turbo but having the same problem. According to the dealership, "This is the entire process need to either rebuild or replace the vehicle's engine. This is a process needed when the vehicle's engine is in need of serious repair." Reasoning according to the dealer: "Without replacing or rebuilding a damaged engine, the car will not be able to function and will be left useless." This car has only 46,391 miles on it for 2019 and has been meticulously taken care of since it's purchase in Aug 2021 as a used vehicle from the dealership. After an oil change was completed on the vehicle at 46,300 miles, the check engine light came on and the vehicle was taken into the dealership for it to be assessed. That's when it was found to be cyl 4 that was the problem.

Last year my vehicle has a recall for the Ecoboost. Ford in Boonville, IN. replaced engine. I am again having a foggy windshield, sweet smell, dizziness, and I can taste the coolant. I sent email to Ford motor company but haven't received a response yet. I left a message for the service department at dealership as well. I'm waiting for someone to get back to me. It's my understanding that if the same problem returns or is related to the recall it will have to be fixed.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a rumbling sound coming from the engine, causing the vehicle to shake abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure, and that the cam shaft was damaged. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was off, the contact observed a swishing sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact observed an empty coolant reservoir and coolant was added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was then test driven but there were not visible failure was found. The contact stated that on another occasion the coolant reservoir was empty again, and coolant was added to the reservoir. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that there was a coolant cap leak, and the coolant cap was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a leak on cylinder #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

The engine on my 2019 Ford Escape failed due to coolant intrusion — the same issue previously addressed by Ford recall #19S22. The recall repair was completed by a certified Ford dealership in 2022. Within days of making the final payment on the vehicle, the engine failed completely and became inoperable. It had to be towed to a Ford dealership for inspection. Before the failure, the same symptom I experienced prior to the original recall occurred again: white smoke coming from the exhaust, indicating coolant was leaking into the engine. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages. When my car did not turn on, I thought it was possibly the battery so I bought a new one and changed it. When that did not work I went ahead and had it towed to get a full diagnostic. The diagnosing Ford dealership confirmed the engine suffered catastrophic failure due to coolant intrusion — the exact defect previously addressed under the recall. Ford acknowledged the diagnosis but declined to fully cover the cost of repair, stating the recall work was “out of warranty.” They initially offered $3,976.18, and when I didn’t accept, this was increased to $5,301.58 — still leaving me with nearly $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs before tax for a full engine replacement. The affected component (engine) was inspected and confirmed by the Ford dealership and is still available for inspection. This failure occurred in the first week of April, and I have been without a working vehicle since. The recurrence of this issue — even after the recall repair was completed — raises serious concerns about long-term safety, durability, and accountability associated with this vehicle.