NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Vehicle have an engine light went in for service It was leaking coolant in number 3 cylinder Due to a bad design on Engine needed to replace hole engine
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting up the vehicle, there was an abnormal shaking coming from the engine. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated, and drove at a reduced speed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, restarted the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
Check engine light Cylinder 1 misfire Runs rough Coolant found in cylinder one Coolant leaking from cylinder head
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Our 2017 Ford Escape had the check engine light on. We took it to a Ford dealer. They said there is an issue where the coolant is leaking into the engine and we need the engine replaced. They quoted us $12000 to fix the issue. Looking online this is a known issue with Ford Escapes. Ford should be held accountable.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that there was a misfire coming from the vehicle. The driver was able to pull over safely. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a parking lot. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the control arm had fractured in half. The contact was informed that the spark plug, head gasket, turbo, and engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, there was freon inside the engine and the turbo was leaking. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
The contact's husband owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact was informed that upon starting the vehicle, a message indicating high engine temperature was displayed, stating to pull over as soon as possible. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for a long time after the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving the vehicle around the neighborhood, the failure recurred. The contact's husband drove back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the engine block, which caused coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, "The High Engine Temperature" message was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited for AAA to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined that coolant was leaking into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,143.
Coolant leaking into the cylinders, available for inspection Engine could fail suddenly, overheat Problem confirmed by a dealer service center Known problem with the 2017 Escape and other model years No check engine light, no codes when tech checking problem, car shaking when coming to a stop light
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light was flashing. The contact pulled over, opened the hood, and noticed that there was oil all over the engine compartment. The contact stated that the engine oil was leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that in 2014 prior to the failure, the vehicle had been taken to a collision center. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for a routine oil change. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the coils, spark plugs, and valve cover gaskets were cracked, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 87,430.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving out of town at 65-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle jerked and vibrated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact continued driving 35 MPH to the destination. The check engine warning light illuminated and blinked. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start after refueling. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the vehicle shut off while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be restarted and responded as needed after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had become a consistent failure. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the canister purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Transmission went out at 65,000 miles. Son was inn the middle of traffic got a message the stop driving immediately and the car started running rough. two codes P2703 and P2704. these are for solenoids. Had trouble getting out of traffic and off the road and almost got hit by another car. He was able to lug across multiple lanes to pull over on the side of the road. This happened at night and the road is busy. Ford has told us that the transmission is an 'enclosed system' and the entire transmission has to be replaced. Due to the enclosed system there is no way to check the transmission fluid levels, etc. The transmission breaking came out of no where and is not related to the transmission bushing recall.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as coolant intrusion leaked into the cylinder which caused the engine to fail. 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 119,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plug failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion leaked into the cylinder which caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
January 8, 2025 To the NHTSA: My wife, [XXX] and I, [XXX] , have a 2017 Ford Escape. We have been informed that our vehicle has a defective lower-engine block that is resulting in coolant seeping into the engine cylinders, which causes the engine to overheat. This damage can also result in the engine becoming completely destroyed. A fire can also result. Upon further investigation by ourselves, this defect can cause a fire and it poses a great risk to our health and safety. We read a litigation about affected consumer with this same issue and we also called a Ford Service Center in Minnesota. The service rep told us the issue is related to a faulty design in the bottom half of the engine block. Apparently there are grooves, that in some cases, allow coolant to seep in. The rep said Ford has given them a service bulletin which talks about the issues and the rep said Ford has "re-designed" their lower engine block as a replacement part for such vehicle in light of the issue. Our cost of replacing the lower engine block would be about $12,000, since our car has about 78,000 miles and is out of factory warranty. Ford should bear responsibility for this and should have caught this problem through its quality controls. While our car isn't burning coolant yet, we fear it's only a matter of time before we experience an issue that so many others have. We are extremely disappointed in Ford for this. We would like the NHTSA to force Ford Motor Company to do a recall for this. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a Ford mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and recommended that the spark plug and ignition coil be replaced. The parts were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer related the failure to Ford TSB Number: 22-2229. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,258.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the repair failed to prevent the failure. The contact stated that one year after the recall repair, while attempting to drive uphill, her grandson noticed that while attempting to accelerate the transmission failed to properly upshift while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to replicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission and rear trailing arm bushing failure. The contact was informed that the rear trailing needed to be replaced, and the transmission needed to be replaced because metal shavings were found inside the parts. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
Oil in coolant reservoir via engine. Engine replacement.
Coolant intrusion leak in 2017 ford escape. Common issue. Message display high engine temperature and fan is turning high.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine made an abnormal rattling sound, and the vehicle lost motive power. There was thick white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light flashed but had not remained illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that there was no engine oil in the engine. The contact added engine oil, but the failure persisted, and no leaks were found. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20-2100 (Low Coolant, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Transmission just stopped in the middle of me turning at a red light to get off the road. No lights. No warnings. Apparently that’s normal according to a Ford repair person. I was almost killed. Car wasn’t parked when in park. Car jumped and engine revved when on the brake. Car wouldn’t reverse. Ford says it’s not a recall, but it sure wasn’t anything I did. The car has 70k miles and has been babied. This needs to be fixed because they’re not doing a thing.
The coolant was leaking into the injectors. Now my engine is totaled.
The contact's partner owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon the start of the engine, the vehicle would shake when idle and while driving as the check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they discovered a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where a pressure test was performed; the test showed that cylinder #1 was measuring below standard operation. The contact called a dealer and an appointment was made to have the vehicle inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
The temp warning light came on our 2017 escape - temp gauge always remained on normal - had it towed to the Ford dealer in Texas. Service writer said it is the head gasket since there is no external leak but, coolant was low. Engine will have to be replaced at the expense of $12,000. I mention the recall and he said he would take another look to see if he can verified the damage in detail. this car has 58,241 - car was title to Texas on 06/15/2024 and had a emissions test and passed. This warning light just came on this day and never before. The car is still at the Ford dealer and not sure what the dealership will do next. I need help.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that during a State Inspection, the contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated after the Inspection. The independent mechanic stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
In January 2025, my 2017 Ford Escape experienced a sudden and unexpected transmission failure at approximately 69,500 miles while the vehicle was in operation. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in an immediate loss of propulsion, making it impossible to accelerate or maintain speed in active traffic. This created a dangerous situation and nearly caused a collision with surrounding vehicles before I was able to pull over. The vehicle became completely undrivable following the failure. Sudden loss of propulsion presents a serious safety hazard, particularly in high-speed or congested roadway conditions. Multiple other owners have reported similar sudden transmission failures in 2017 Ford Escape vehicles, including loss of acceleration, stalling, and unexpected breakdowns at relatively low mileage, often requiring full transmission replacement. These repeated incidents demonstrate a recurring safety-related defect that poses a significant risk to public safety and warrants further investigation.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, with an engine misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, 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. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was vibrating. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that coolant had intruded into the engine block and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon driving into the driveway, the vehicle abruptly shut off without warning. The contact called an independent mechanic and was to bring the vehicle for an inspection. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal chugging sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. Upon inspection, the contact was informed that the engine long block was defective, leading to engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that there was no warranty on the vehicle and that the vehicle was not covered under Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2229. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that an abnormal, rumbling sound was coming from the vehicle at start-up, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a tune-up was performed on it. Despite the tune-up, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed there was coolant intrusion into the engine and the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to two other independent mechanics, who advised the contact not to replace the head gasket because it was not a permanent repair. The contact was advised to replace the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 67,895.
At 29,314 miles, we experienced total engine failure where cylinder #2 failed and the whole engine failed and needed replaced. This car had impeccable maintenance and engine failure was not due to lack of maintenance. This was an issue with the engine itself and should not have happened.
My ford escape was diagnosed 12/31/2024 with a slight coolant intrusion. The dealership said my escape would require a new short block engine at the tune of $7555.28. I still owe $5800. I bought my car 12/2020 from a ford dealership with 3rd party extended warranty with 45k and now vehicle has 72k. Ive been having vehicle serviced at different ford dealership located closer to my house.
I own a 2017 Ford Escape SE 2.0L, and my mechanic recently diagnosed my vehicle with coolant intrusion into the engine. This issue has caused potential risks to the engine’s performance and longevity. I discovered that many other Ford Escape owners have reported the same issue online, particularly with models equipped with 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines. Despite this widespread issue, Ford has only issued a recall and Customer Satisfaction Program (21N12) for the 1.5L engine, leaving owners of 2.0L vehicles like mine without coverage.
Coolant intrusion. Ford “knows” of the issue but refuses to help. Engine needs replaced.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at various speeds, the transmission was slipping into gear, and the vehicle started to jerk while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, the contact was advised that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
My 2017 Ford Escape experienced the same engine issue noted by many with Ford Escapes from 2012-2019. There is an issue where the engine block cracks and coolant leaks into the engine, ultimately requiring the engine and many other components be replaced. Our vehicle was serviced by Ford in July 2024 and we paid out of pocket for an engine diagnostic. This diagnostic resulted in a clean bill of health being reported for the engine, despite Ford knowing about the defects affecting this engine years earlier. By December 2024, the check engine light came on and when evaluated at both a Ford Service Center and independent auto mechanic, the resulting diagnosis was that the engine and many other components had to be replaced. The cost of this repair was to exceed $11,000 - none of which would be paid by Ford. This amount exceeded the value of the car at the time, resulting in a need to purchase a new vehicle without salvaging any value from the 2017 Ford Escape that only had 72,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shifter indicator failed to display the correct gear that the gear shifter was shifted into. The contact stated that there was a message for a transmission issue; however, the contact was unsure what the message indicated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and then lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a cracked engine due to a leak in the eco-boost system. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer as the manufacturer had requested to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,488.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was running roughly. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant in the cylinder. Additionally, the engine block was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,262.
After 97,000 trouble free miles, the engine quit working. I took the car into the nearest Ford dealer service department. They concluded there was coolant intrusion to the cylinders, and I need to replace the motor with a long block. After looking into my issue I find this is a common and well documented issue with the Ford EcoBoost 3.0 engine. Ford customer service in Dearborn told me Ford knows about this issue but is offering no recalls at this time. I believe Ford should share some of the repair cost as this is an engine with a known faulty design, Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
mode code P0316 (random misfire), coolant leaks into #1 and #3 cylinders, requires long block engine replacement.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the engine hesitated prior to stalling and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact proceeded to pull over onto the side of the road, where the contact attempted to restart the vehicle but failed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine was blown, due to coolant intrusion, and that the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and 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 70,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle unexpectedly reversed after shifting to drive(D). The vehicle was towed to a church parking lot. The contact stated that there was a fluid leak on the pavement. The check engine warning light was illuminated. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that unknown warning lights illuminated, and an audible chime sounded. The contact merged to the side of the road and the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission module and fuel pump had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic and was diagnosed with gas tank failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a third independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
My warning light went off for misfire in plug 3, then proceeded to set off warning light that temperature was too hot to stop immediately. Took to mechanics, something with the coolant system and it blew my motor. Second motor put in, it was not compressing correctly now waiting on 3rd motor. Also there is no sound coming from my speakers and my radio module will not allow me to change from am to fm. Bluetooth will connect but with no sounds
Engine fault popped up on the instrument panel on 12/16/2024. Diagnostic said misfire on cylinder 3, replaced the plug and coil pack and topped off the antifreeze.Two days later vehicle overheated and started blowing white smoke out of the exhaust, antifreeze was totally gone. Took it back to the mechanic and was told the engine needed replaced.
I had recently brought an SUV that came with no manuals for that vehicle. Which is important and crucial, but the scariest part and a life-threatening way. It came with no brake fluid at all. I was shocked, and you put my life and my son in danger. I will file a complain with Federal Trade Commission (FTC), State's Attorney General's Office, State's Department Of Commerce , Better Business Bureau (BBB) and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for car safety issues and manufacturer recalls. It can be dangerous, and your brakes may not work properly. The fluid operates under high temperatures and high pressure, and without it, your car would not be able to stop when you push the brake pedal inside your vehicle. It will simply go to the floor without stopping, which will have catastrophic consequences. Thank you, Falvey's. I will order the manuals myself and go to O’Reilly Auto Parts first thing this morning to top off my brake fluid. Thank you, [XXX] , for protecting me and my son. The devil is a liar. That my consciousness told me to do further research and investigation. I forgive you all and hope the next customers get treated professionally, especially when it comes to safety. Number one priority! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and then lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the same diagnostic result was provided. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,400.