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
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, and lost motive power. The contact stated that the message "Engine over temperature" was displayed and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot(H). Additionally, the contact observed an abnormal burning odor after exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #3. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
Started the vehicle to run errands and upon exiting the driveway the vehicle was rough idling and the check engine light was blinking. Immediately turned around, brought it home and checked the manual. Scheduled service with dealer and left it parked until the service date. Dealer reproduced the problem, ran diagnostics and verified concern. Diagnostic codes P0304 and P0316 returned. Dealer found cylinder 4 misfiring. Dealer swapped ignition coils from 3-4. Misfire stayed on cylinder 4. Dealer swapped spark plug on cylinder 4. Misfire cleared up. Dealer noted coolant was not low and had not been added by customer. The vehicle was in for regular oil change service at the same dealer on 6/7/24 and the service package included fluid top off, but the paperwork received did not note specifically whether coolant had been topped off. Dealer let vehicle sit overnight at dealership and checked cylinders for coolant the next day. Dealer found coolant leaking into cylinder 4. Dealer states long block assembly needs replaced due to coolant intrusion. Quoted price of repair $8585.03. Repair not covered by Ford even though it seems to be a known issue. We declined repairs at this time. Why our vehicle has not been included in the recall is a mystery. It meets the date and the final assembly plant location. It is a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost engine, assembled in Louisville.
Started vehicle to run errands and it immediately began rough idling and the check engine light began flashing. Read the manual, immediately returned home and parked it. Made appointment with dealer. Dealer reproduced the problem and verified the concern. Dealer ran diagnostic which returned codes P0304 and P0316. Dealer found cylinder 4 misfiring. Dealer swapped ignition coils from 3-4. Misfire stayed on cylinder 4. Dealer swapped spark plug on cylinder 4. Misfire on cylinder 4 cleared up. Dealer noted coolant was not low and confirmed we had not added any. We did have it at that same dealer on 6/7/24 for oil change service which included multipoint inspection and fluid top off. Our paperwork does not note whether coolant was topped off during that service. Dealer gave us an estimate to replace the spark plugs which we approved. Dealer held the vehicle overnight to repair the following day. After sitting overnight, dealer checked cylinders for coolant. Dealer found coolant leaking into cylinder 4. Dealer revised original repair estimate. Vehicle does not need spark plugs, vehicle needs long block assembly replaced. We declined repairs at this time. Repair cost estimate $8585.03.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The message "Engine Fault - Service Now" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,026.
Both rear side/outer brake lights have failed. They are BOTH full of water. The plastic fused/welded seam along the top has completely separated and allows the unit to FILL with water. This has then resulted in electrical short, water in wiring plugs/harness, failed LEDs. The vehicle will end up with NO easily visible brake lights. It is a MAJOR safety issue. 2017 Ford Escape SE. This should be IMMEDIATELY evaluated and a recall/replacement program issued. Thank you.
My son was driving this car home from school and while going through a busy street, the car suddenly buckled and stalled and he was almost t-boned. Thankfully he was not hit. We later found out that this vehicle was assembled in a plant that has a known line issue with their engine blocks. This issue caused one of the cylinders to crack and fluid to leak in causing the issue that almost caused the accident. We were made aware that this is a known issue by our service person. Ford is aware of it as they have issued CSPs and TSPs regarding the issue but have yet to issue a recall and will not cover repair costs or offer to fix vehicles before they have the issue. Ford should have a safety recall to prevent possible accidents as these vehicles age and the problem occurs more regularly.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,421.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact noticed white smoke coming from the tailpipe. In addition, the low coolant level warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #2 and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact became aware of an abnormal coolant odor. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the engine and engine failure. 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 a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
I have a 2017 ford escape with a 1.5L engine. My engine is having an issue with the 1.5L short block, due to coolant intrusion to the cylinder bores. This is causing my motor to misfire at cylinder 1 as well as I have to constantly add coolant to my car due to the internal coolant leak. After much research I came across something called “customer satisfaction program 21N12.” This program also references “Customer satisfaction program 19B37 – supplement #4” AND “Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2134” This program covers 2017-2019 Ford Fusion and Ford Escapes with the 1.5L engine that has the same internal coolant leak. My vehicle is experiencing exactly what this program (21N12) covers. I have called ford about this program, and they state that although this program does cover same type of vehicle and motor. However, my vin number is not associated with that recall/program. Ford customer relations informed me to contact you and make a complaint in order to add my vin number to that recall so that I can have my car’s engine replaced by ford, for a problem that is a known issue. Please add my vin number to this recall/program (21N12) so that I can have my car fixed. My vehicle was purchased new, and I am the only owner. My vehicle has approximately 74,400 miles on the odometer as I type this (8/22/24). I know for a fact that this engine has a internal coolant leak for the simple fact that I have to constantly add coolant to my vehicle every 1 - 2 weeks.
There’s was white smoke coming from my Escape and it ran rough. The check engine light came on so I took it to MB Automotive. He stated several codes stored in DTC, PO300, PO301, PO304, PO316, PO217, and PO1299. Engine has coolant intrusion into cylinders of the engine. Removed spark plugs and confirmed catastrophic damage to engine. Cost of repairs exceeds value of vehicle. I had no choice but to get a different car. I owned a Ford Focus where there was transmission issue. A class action lawsuit was launched against Ford at that time that I did not get involved in that lawsuit. No other dealership would take my Focus so I was forced to get another Ford (my Escape) and now this happened. I will not buy another Ford.
Coolant leak and erosion into cylinder on 2017 Ford escape titanium 2.0L
Took my car to a licensed Ford dealership for a large area of paint chipping off the front of my car near the windshield. Area is approximately 12"x2.5". Dealership says the primer under the paint is failing as part of a known factory defect in the painting process from that year.
7 year old car with less than 90k miles is going to new a new transmission at the cost of $8.1k. Very unacceptable from Ford this needs to get look into. So many people on forums are having same issue right outside of warranty coverage ending. There is even a potential lawsuit out there.
The engine block cracked and coolant is leaking into the cylinders at 55k. Car is at the dealers and Ford says it knows this is a defect but won't recall or make it right. The repair is a total engine replacement for over $8k!! This set off a check engine light off which is how I found out. This could've caused the engine to stop running at any speed and cause an accident. I want Ford to pay for the known defect but they refuse.
Coolant intrusion into cylinder. Confirmed by independent service center. Known issue with Ford, reference Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2134
A coolant leak causing cylindrical failure and engine failure. There were no symptoms before. I woke up and the light came on and the car was shaking, i took it to the dealer and they diagnosed this problem. It was unsafe to drive I had to get it towed.
This is a 2.0L ecoboost engine with known manufacturing defect that causes leak of coolant into cylinders. Check engine light came on. Diagnostics at automotive service center disclosed by Ford Technical Service Bulletin. The engine cannot be repaired it must be replaced with a new engine that has been upgraded to correct the internal defect. Cost is $7,000. This same defect occurs in other model Fords built in same year and the Fusion engine was recalled. The engine poses an imminent danger for seizure during operation, overheating and fire. The engine is scheduled to be replaced. A new upgraded engine is on order with expected delivery by August 31. The defective engine is available for inspection as well as mechanic report of duagnostics.
Coolant leaked into the engine according to McCarthy Ford. Located in North Little Rock, AR. The vehicle started smoking pulling out of the garage.
2017 Ford Escape 1.5 ecoboost with only 50,571 miles. The engine failed as did the brakes due to the booster breaking off at the engine cam. I called Ford Motor Company and they asked me to take it to a Ford dealer because they have a customer service program on that engine which extended the power train warranty period to seven years. I notified Ford of the engine failure in August 2024, made an appointment at a Ford dealer per their request, had it towed to the dealer, and on 10/31/24 the Ford dealer notified me that the engine was defective and will cost $8000 to fix it. Ford Motor Company said sorry, the 7 year in service date on this vehicle expired on 10/19/24 just 12 days earlier, and refused to fix the engine. I had to pay the Ford dealer a $210 check out fee then go to the expense of towing the vehicle back home and stuck with a junk vehicle that Ford knows their ecoboost engine has a manufacturers defect.
The head gasket of the engine failed, allowing the intrusion of coolant in to the combustion chamber as well as exhaust gas entering the cooling system. After starting up the engine there is white smoke exiting the exhaust pipe. If you open the coolant reservoir you will also see bubbles coming up (exhaust gas). The issue was diagnosed by a machine shop with pressure testing. The report is attached. The issue was noticed because the car showed a low coolant check light. The car was immediately pulled over without the engine overheating. The ODB2 scanner also showed an engine misfiring for the first 1000 revolutions. This is a known Ford issue and design flaw in the 1.5L engine built between 2017 and 2019. Being a small, high powered turbo engine the engineers needed a better cooling capacity and added a channel between the cylinders to allow for more surface cooling. This channel significantly lowers the ability of the head gasket to perform for the expected life span of the engine. The surface area between the combustion chambers is way too small. Ford addressed the coolant intrusion issue and mitigated it by a change in the coolant passages. It was introduced in early 2019. The issue is confirmed by Ford as well as the dealership where we purchased this car. The issue can only get permanently fixed by replacing the engine block. Only changing the head gasket means the issue can reappear any time, making the car unsafe to drive. Living in Arizona, we feel that it is unsafe to drive a car like this. The desert heats up to 120 degrees over the summer. If your car breaks down in an area without cell phone coverage you have a huge problem. Your car should only break down because parts get old and worn out rather than a design flaw by the manufacturer. If you are selling a baby crib that possibly fails because of a design flaw there would be an immediate recall. I feel that Ford should address this issue again and offer its customers a reasonable to feel safe.
2017 ford escape we were taking a 4 hour drive car made some strange noise check engine light came on well half way to our destination car began spitting and sputtering we pulled into a car part dealer and began changing things spark plugs air filter car continued to read mis fire we drove home car would not go over 50 black smoke pouring from it making horrible noises got it home went straight to a garage the engine had leaked coolant into had to replace engine total cost 5000 dollars
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a tire rotation, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts were defective and needed to be replaced to perform the tire rotation. The lug nuts were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall related to the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 41,596.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with a misfire in the engine. The message of cylinder #2 misfire was displayed. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact that the engine temperature gauge was in the red zone. The contact stopped and checked under the hood and became aware that coolant level was very low. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir and drove to the destination. The contact stated that failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to TSB Number: 19-2346 Coolant Intrusion In Cylinders (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the radiator started overheating, and the vehicle started to leak coolant. The contact added water into the radiator. The contact stated that the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was rust inside the cylinder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
My engine died due to coolant leaking into the cylinder due to a manufacturing defect that FORD had known about for many years but about which we, the drivers were not warned. This could have happened on a busy freeway and been very dangerous.
There is a known issue with EcoBoost engines that allows coolant to leak into the cylinder heads causing engine misfires, ruined spark plugs, white smoke in the exhaust, catastrophic engine failure, and fire. This vehicle has recently had this issue but is not covered by the extremely limited recall Ford submitted (7 years OR 84,000 miles). This issue needs a full and comprehensive recall as Ford is completely aware of the problem.
Ford Escape 2017 consuming coolant. Confirmed by independent repair shop. Low coolant level constantly. Already had to replace water pump early because of this issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message to “Have Vehicle Checked Immediately" was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was notified of coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and became aware of TSB Number: 19-2346; and linked the failure to the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Dealership has confirmed coolant intrusion in motor due to a faulty design of the ecoboost 1.5 engine. I have found research saying this could cause engine fire or complete engine failure while driving. This is scary since I drive my 3 year old in this vehicle.
Car is exhibiting symptoms of coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, but needs to be confirmed by Ford. Was getting a misfire on cylinder 3 and replaced the spark plugs and coil pack. Coolant consumption with no visible leaks has begun in the last 2 weeks. This is a known issue and Ford has not issued recalls to fix this. If Ford would like to inspect and troubleshoot the issue at no cost, I am willing to take the vehicle into the dealer. Engine seizure is a possible result of this defect and could cause an accident and even death.
Coolant is somehow invading the spark plug cavity. I fill up coolant reservoir and it disappears. Car uncontrollable shaking and engine light is on with a warning the car is unsafe to continue driving.
There’s coolant leaking into my 3rd cylinder and it’s causing it to misfire and there isn’t a way for the mechanic to fix it because of the way they designed the engine. It was only a 7 year old suv with 78,000 miles on it. If that’s not messed up, I don’t know what is. I know I’m not the only one either.
My check engine light came on in my 2017 ford escape with 83,000 miles on it. I brought it to my Ford dealership where I purchased it on 8/2017. The service department employee lifted the hood and said "you need a new engine". I said "what"! "you can tell just by looking at the engine"? He said" I've seen a lot of them". He said the coolant is leaking into the engine. He quoted me $9500 for a new one. I took my keys and left.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was Illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was deemed as mechanically totaled. The contact was informed that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12; however, the VIN was not included. 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 61,836.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The transmission failure warning light was illuminated temporarily before the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, an unknown warning light illuminated. The message, high heat, pull over immediately was displayed. The driver pulled over, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact noticed there was no coolant inside the radiator. The contact stated that the mechanic added coolant and drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle failed to restart. The coolant reservoir was empty, with no indication of a leak. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the cylinder, and it was recommended that the engine be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
The check engine light came on. I took it to a repair shop to have the issue diagnosed . I was told that coolant is leaking into the engine due to a design flaw with the engine. This is a safety issue as it causes overheating.
Presence of coolant in the engine cylinders with codes P0300, P0301-P0304 with low coolant levels. FORD is stating it is not part of the recall? Has not presented me with an invoice for repairs, fighting with extended warranty company. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle began shaking and rattling upon acceleration onto freeway. Check engine light flashed, then stayed on. Vehicle taken to dealership where purchased (8 years ago, just paid off 10 months ago, 81k miles) to have service. Quoted appx $7600 to reinstall new engine after coolant intrusion into engine cylinder. Service rep stated this is a common occurrence for this vehicle. Gave me Number to ford customer care and said they couldn’t do anything to help. After researching more, this seems to be a very common problem in this “eco boost” 1.5 L engine in various years and models, some of which have been recalled. This is clearly a manufactured defect that is safety related and ford should be help responsible for producing low quality, knowingly faulty equipment that jeopardized myself and my children’s safety, as well as financial stability. Thank you for the consideration.
Per my mechanic, after 2 rounds of Cylinder #2 misfire, it seems as though there is coolant leaking into the engine. I have had this card for 2.5 yeas and have less than 100K miles on it. Research shows that I may need a new engine at $6-8K on a car that I have put 5k miles on in 2 years and still owe over $10k on. Per research, this has been a known issue for years and nothing has been done about it. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request, if it will assist in my situation. Per research, this issue causing severe overheating and some cars run the risk of catching on fire and some just stop functioning altogether. My car was sputtering on a cold start, and then my car and Ford App told me there was an issue with the engine. My first plug/wire/boot replacement was on 8/10/24 due to the check engine light. ODB showed it was a misfire on #2, and on 9/7/24, the check engine light came on again and per the readouts from the ODB, it is another misfire on #2 and the plug has fouled again. I have currently spent over $600 on just diagnosing this issue, and the paperwork uploaded it just for the first visit. I have also reached directly out to Ford, who advised me to take it to a Ford Dealership for their diagnostics, and then they will see what is covered, if anything. My case number for that is CXH-02610243-K4Z7X8. My diagnostic for Ford will only be covered if they find an issue that is covered by a recall, warranty, Service Plan, or Customer Satisfaction Program. So that is going to add to additional costs, as according to my research, there is no recall.
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 the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the spark plug in cylinder #2. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who then determined that the spark plug in cylinder #2 had exploded. The contact was informed that all the spark plugs, and ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine. The contact was informed 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 for assistance. The failure mileage was 76,000.
This morning while driving think white vapor started pouring from the exhaust and the whole vehicle started shuttering and lost power. Needs a new engine now. Thanks Ford. The 2.0 issue/no issue has struck another.
On [XXX], I was driving on [XXX] south getting ready to turn left when the car wouldn't move. It just stopped. It would shift into reverse and drive but it wouldn't move in either direction. I had it towed to Batesville, MS Ford dealership. Their assessment was that the part that was causing the problem wasn't the part in the recall. I don't believe that to be true. My car is still not repaired. I got it towed back to Memphis and it's just sitting now because I can't afford a $4000 repair. Please help me get my car repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This vehicle has approximately 53,000 miles on it. My wife and I are [XXX] so we do not drive fast. I also take excellent care of my vehicles. My vehicle is now burning radiator fluid. I had a long conversation with a test engineer at Ford who told me that Ford is having a LOT of issues with this engine. The engine is failing. The problem appears to be that this engine was developed with a short block when it should have been developed with a long block. Engines should last well beyond 53,000 miles. I recommend a recall on 2017 Ford Escapes to properly repair the engine to a long block. I have paid too much money for this vehicle to have these issues so young in its life. 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 while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle started, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that hours prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced at the dealer for a scheduled oil change. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
I bought a used 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 1.5 with 58k miles. The vehicle started consuming coolant a slow level at around 60k miles. The condition would cause me to need to refill the coolant reservoir every 2-3 weeks. At around 65k miles the condition got extremely bad. The vehicle would run completely out of coolant every 2 days. The vehicle would run extremely rough or at times fail to start. Excessive shaking and white smoke also. Ford refused to repair the vehicle. Currently spending $12k out of pocket for a new 1.5 EcoBoost engine. The vehicle has been at Ford for over 2.5 months so far as of October 2024.
the coolant leaked into cylinder of engine and might cause engine damage fortunately the engine light was on and was noticed by me prior to sending vehicle to dealer for checking the problem was confirmed by Ford dealer at Winchester, MA. It was also confirmed by independent service shop.