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
Coolant is leaking into cylinders just like in the 1.5L engines. Currently no help from Ford on the 2.0L
At 66,000 miles my car starting hesitating when the gas pedal was pressed. Car would accelerate very slowly. Took it to the local Ford dealer. They said the turbocharger needed to be replaced. I had to pay $3000 to replace a major engine component that was only 6000 miles over the warranty. I contacted Ford to discuss. Their rep put in a ticket and I was told Ford would look into this. Naturally Ford will not discuss my concern and will not provide some monetary compensation. Now the car is starting to act up again and hesitates when the gas pedal is pressed. In an emergency situation the car must react quickly to driver input. Not happening with this car!
My engine is misfiring due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The issue has been confirmed by the dealer, and is currently being repaired. It is a safety issue because the engine failing due to lack of coolant could render the vehicle undrivable. It has also caused random jerking movements in times of acceleration. It was inspected by the dealer, and before that, my usual mechanic. Check engine light is on, and the engine is rumbly at start.
I was driving the vehicle and then on the dash message board. There was a warning message that said the transmission is not in park and the car shut off on the highway. The vehicle would not start the vehicle gear would not move even when the key was on in the on position, I took the vehicle in to Summerville Ford in Summerville South Carolina, and they advised me that everything was OK with this car they hooked it up. They were no codes that popped up however, the very same day the same thing happens again I have looked at various different forms and this is a known issue with a 2017 Ford escape and other model vehicles. This is a safety hazard and this needs to be rectified immediately. In reviewing the various different forums it all points to a defective fuse near the battery. This is very unsafe. The Ford dealership claims to not be able to replicate the issue but as soon as I leave the dealership it happens again.
Check Engine light came on. Notice some rough starting followed by white smoke from exhaust. Brought to mechanic. Mechanic indicated the following: "diagnosis inspected and verified misfire #4 pulled plug found residue of possible coolant in cylinder, overflow of reservoir was near empty, topped off let sit overnight, started cold and saw white smoke believed to be coolant out of exhaust. Most likely internal engine failure. Recommended going to Ford for additional diagnostic and possible warranty extension". Mechanic indicated that this is a known issue that Ford is aware of unsafe coolant engine and overheating defects in the 2017 escape model. Coolant leaks create risk of engine fire and complete engine failure. Online reviews say serious safety issue some consumer had no warnings before vehicle misfires leading to total engine failure while driving. I plan to bring to Ford dealership mechanic on Aug 10th. At this time advised not to drive the vehicle by mechanic who inspected it. No prior issues before light came on. Well maintained vehicle. Research online shows this is a known concern with eco boost 2017 Ford Escape. At this time Ford indicated they are not aware nor feel responsible for the issues presented. Scheduled appointment for Ford Mechanics to inspect it. This is concerning. Checked recall list but this did not come up. However numerous online posts.
The engine failed states misfire cylinder 1 on diagnostic where the ignition coil and spark plug was changed. Problem recreated itself and then the powertrain fault illuminated and car lost acceleration driving less than 5miles. Car taken to dealership and was told it misfire cylinder 1 and was told the head gasket was leaking coolant into cylinder 1 causing the engine failure.
2017 Ford Escape Titanium with just over 65k miles taken to dealership with warning light on. Dealer diagnosed it with coolant to leaking into the cylinders, requiring a full engine replacement with cost of over $7,000. This same issue can be found after a simple internet search and is reported as a known Ford issue where they have an internal tech bullet but no support for the cost of the repair.
I had a flat tire with my Ford Escape. The lug nut wrench Ford included with the vehicle would not fit the lug nuts. I understand there is a problem with the lug nuts swelling due to an extremely poor design. I can change a tire but because of the swelled lug nuts I had to hire a towing company. So these poorly designed lug nuts cost me several hundred dollars. They also pose a safety issue. Luckily I was in a safe location when this happened. But my wife and I often drive in isolated locations with little or no lighting. We could be in a dangerous situation if I can’t change a flat tire due to swelled lug nuts. I can pay to install new lug nuts, but that is also a financial burden that I and all Ford owners should not have to bear. I understand a lawsuit against Ford regarding these lug nuts was thrown out. Sounds like another case of big industry getting preferential treatment over the safety of citizens.
All 20 OEM 2-piece lug nuts have swollen so that the OEM supplied lug nut wrench will not fit on the nuts. Therefore, if I have a flat tire while driving, and I need to pull over and change the tire, I have no way to get the lug nuts loose to change the tire. If this happens at night and/or in a dangerous part of town, or if I am stranded on the highway miles from the closest access to service or communication, I, or vulnerable passengers could be in danger. The local Ford dealer acknowledge that this problem occurs, but no recall has been issued to my knowledge. To remedy the potential danger, Ford should swap out all 20 0f the OEM 2-piece lug nuts, free of charge, for solid 1-piece nuts that will not swell.
My complaint is not about the recall; that is being repaired currently. My complaint is that the engine block on my 2017 Escape has failed at only 57,000 miles. The cost to repair is $10,000 including parts, labor, and tax. I did purchase an extended warranty; however it was for $100,000 miles or 5 years. An engine completely failing at 57,000 miles is a safety issue. I took great care of that car, did not put pressure on the engine, parked it in my garage, rotated the tires, got oil changes on schedule, etc. Ford should be embarrassed about this and issue a recall. I will never purchase a Ford again (which is sad because my dad worked for Ford his entire life). Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that he had filled the coolant reservoir and a month later the message to check the coolant level was displayed. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle was running rough and there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. There was no sign of a coolant leak. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,300.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the transmission failed to shift properly into the intended gear and the RPM was fluctuating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that there was an incorrect gear ratio, metal in the oil, and a noisy pump that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to file a complaint online. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Engine coolant being consumed by number 3 cylinder due to crack. Recognized when low coolant light came on and car began to overheat
Coolant intruded into the cylinders due to an engine defect
On July 16th 2023 my husband and I were driving on a local street when our car lost all power. Lucky we were able to make it to our destination and ended up bringing our Escape to a local repair shop where we learned we would need a new engine costing approximately 13000 dollars with no guarantee the new used engine wouldn't fail as well. While we are so grateful that our engine didn't catch fire or cause an accident or fatality we feel we now have a very expensive brick parked in our driveway that we can't in good conscience sell and can't afford to repair. This was our first new car purchase and I feel Ford should take responsibility for the defect they knew existed. We were lucky but it's only a matter of time before someone loses their life when their engine fails on the highway.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle started shaking abnormally and failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,843.
The contact owns a 2107 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle vibrated violently, and the engine seemed to misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was coolant intrusion into the engine resulting in damage to the engine, requiring replacement of the head gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12, but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to assist. The failure mileage was 82,000.
COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALER.
The vehicle overheats then slows down to about 2-5mph. Continued overheating and low coolant level. The ford dealership customer service representative told me that it’s a very common problem with my model vehicle and accurately predicted that the diagnostic review of the vehicle would find that the coolant is leaking into the cylinders of the vehicle and that the only solution is a new engine that has a properly built engine block.
Check engine light popped on while driving. No flashing or chimes. Initially told by Ford repair center that this means it is nothing major. Took car in for repair. Told need new $8000 engine. Coolant intrusion into cylinder. I paid car off 2 years. Check engine light came on less than a week later.... I have depleted all the savings I had for vehicle expenses so no money for down payment, taxes, license to purchase another. I took very good care of vehicle. Will never buy Ford again. Told everyone I know not to either. I'm very upset. This was not planned. Causing extreme financial difficulties for me. Have learned a new engine may also have same problem. Unbelievable that so many people have complained about this for at least 3 years and Ford won't acknowledge it. This is a huge problem. What do I do with the well taken care of and completely paid of vehicle in my garage now?? I'm physically sick with stress. What am I supposed to do now?? Please help us.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had misfired, and spark plug #1 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that at start-up, the engine rumbled, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Code P0302 Coolant intrusions into #2 cylinder causing check engine light with risk of engine failure, stalling, engine fire, decreased power, etc. all of which are life threatening issues to myself, my spouse, and my three young children. Was informed by Ford to file a report.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant leak into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under a recall repair for the engine. The contact also stated that after careful review of the service appointment receipt, he discovered that the recall repair was not completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the uncompleted recall repair. The contact stated he was informed to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 102,003.
I was told that my head gasket failed and that there was coolant leaking into my engine which caused a total engine failure. I had the engine replaced, and am now having the same issue with a different engine that is being replaced now as I type this. I have read online that I’m not the only person having this issue with their Ford and I feel that there needs to be a recall on the engine. My car was first diagnosed at a small shop then diagnosed the second time at the ford dealership. Before the engine failed the first time I had the check engine light appear and the code was reading as a cylinder misfire. It appeared about a month or two before the engine failed.
Coolant intrusion risk of fire. Complete engine shut down. Ford dealership said I now need a new engine due to the coolant intrusion. Ford knows this is a bad design. They had a Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 June 2022 for a short 2 months to repair. Ford needs to recall and repair. Dealer now wants 8k for new engine, now im out a car.
I own a 2017 Ford Escape with a 2.0L ecoboost engine. The engine began running rough and the check engine light came on on July 10, 2023. I took it to the Ford dealer where it was purchased new. I was informed that there was a failure in the engine block which caused coolant to enter cylinder 3. The technician did not go any further into the cause but informed me that the engine needed to be replaced and I was responsible for the cost. I learned that the Ford 1.5L engine had the same problem and was subject to a voluntary recall by Ford in the past. Ford is aware of this problem with both engines. I contacted customer service at the Ford Corporate Office and was told there was nothing they would do to address this issue. I am reporting this in the hope that the government will require Ford to extend warranty protection on this engine and force a recall. Ford is aware of the defect and has shifted responsibility to the consumer. This is a safety issue because this condition can result in engine fires, stalls on the highway, loss of engine power in hilly areas, all of which can put drivers and passengers in danger of serious injury or death.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that engine was damaged due to coolant intrusion. 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 however, but the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
As I was driving one evening my vehicle started acting weird. Anytime I would press the brakes at a stop light, when the light would turn green, as I would press the gas the gears would remain at neutral for a few seconds before going into drive mode. After a couple of days, the problem had gotten a little worst. I did check with Ford to see if another recall was done on my vehicle and it wasn't. At the time when the previous recall occurred, my vehicle was not having any issues. Almost a year later, my vehicle now has the exact issues that the recall had stated occurred, in which makes no sense.
Engine too hot when the vehicle is not running hot. Something with the eco boost within engine is causing the vehicle to keep this code coming up when a tune up and coolant has been done.
misfire of engine with white blueish smoke from both exhaust pipes for short period.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the engine overheated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,766.
Coolant leaking
No wrecks at the moment
3rd and 4th cylinder coolant leakage causing misfires and engine damage.
We purchased a 2017 Ford Escape near the end of May 2023. By 7/3/23, the engine failed with coolant leaking into the cylinder due to a crack in the engine block P0303 code. The car was at 101,801 miles and required a replacement of the long block engine costing us $8045 performed at a Ford dealership. We would totally expect Ford to reimburse for this cost as this is a known defect.
Coolant leak/ intrusion to cylinder causing white smoke and sputtering when idle and driving. Manufacturer defect noticed prior to warrantee expiring in august 2023 unable to schedule inspection prior to warranty expiration. Manufacturer has tcb on this exact issue. No check engine light. Multiple Mechanics reviewed issue stating need to replace the engine due to manufacturer defect causing issues and concerns for greater loss. The vehicle is available any time for testing etc
My 2017 Ford Escape Titanium, with ~65K miles and just past the warranty period had the engine smoke at times and emit a chemical burn odor inside the vehicle. Took the vehicle to a repair shop, paid for a diagnosis and it came back that there was a known issue to Ford Motor Co. of the engine used in this model Escape where coolant did leak into the engine's cylinders. This would eventually cause the engine to stop working. The shop recommended I take it to a Ford dealer as the Ford Motor Co. report on the problem and fix was a multi-page report where every piece of the engine was replaced, in essence, Ford recommended a full engine replacement. I called the Ford Corp office and they responded there was nothing they could do to help, not even offer a discount on a new engine. I wound up paying the dealer $8500+ to put in a new engine. A month after the new engine was put in the vehicle, the Auto-shut off feature where the vehicle engine shuts down when stopped at a traffic light, for example, stopped working. The dealer said this may not be an engine problem as that feature of the vehicle had a multi-page list of requirements that had to be met in order for the feature to work. This included engine working fine, battery power above a certain level, and numerous others.
I just bought this car less than a week again. 2017 Ford Escapes are known to have cylinder misfires and similar issues. My car just had to issue occur. It raises a lot of safety issues and can render the car unusable.
The coolant began leaking into the engine. I was 2 hours into a 4 hour trip and got the sudden message about overheating. The coolant reservoir was empty. I added coolant and made out the rest of the way, but on arrival the coolant reservoir was empty again. The vehicle is at the mechanic’s and I am waiting on a more detailed report.
In 2020, Ford issued a recall on my 2017 due to defects in the short block of the engine. The repairs (parts and labor) were covered under the recall notice and a new short block was installed. Early this month - July 2023, I began to notice white smoke coming from my exhaust. I took the car to Wayne County Ford in Honesdale, PA where I was told that the short block had failed and was leaking coolant into the engine. I was told that there was no warranty on the previous short block replacement as was quoted $6,000.00 in parts and labor to, once again, replace the short block. For a short block to fail in 3 years (about 20K miles) is simply absurd and points to a continued defect in the Ford short block.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while stopped a traffic light, the signal turned green and the contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The engine revved and the contact stated that the check transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, shifted to drive (D) and was able to move the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) by a dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the contact saw smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant leaking into the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,300.
2017 Escape 2.0: Ongoing issue with check engine light coming on and running rough. Had issues with traffic with engine suddenly stop running. I am concerned for myself and safety of my daughter. Took to first place and they replaced spark plugs and coil packs. Issue came right back running rough and check engine light back on. Took to Ford dealer to be diagnosed. They found coolant in cylinder. TSB has correction to replace complete engine. Estimate is approximately $9500. Do not understand why this is not a recall since its a known MFG issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the spark plugs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic a second time and the cooler pack was replaced. The contact was informed there was a misfire in cylinder #4. While driving, the temperature gauge rose to the hot level. The contact pulled over to let the engine cool down. The driver became aware there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. Additional coolant was added on several occasions. The contact called the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 61,500.
Last month I was at one of our clients location, I arrived on-site and parked the vehicle on one of there designated parking spots. I proceeded inside and came back out approximately 1 H.R. later and got inside the car and proceed to turn the ignition on the vehicle and car refused to start. I immediately called AAA they attempted to jump start the vehicle and that failed. They then proceeded to check the battery and the battery is fully charged. Then AAA proceeded and removed the starter relay switch and bypassed the relay switch and the vehicle still refused to start-up. I then proceed to tow the vehicle and it was towed to Gaudin Ford. The vehicle as been in the shop numerous times regarding this matter and the battery as been replaced been numerous times and I have been told that it’s fixed. I was recently told by Gaudin Ford, that they can’t duplicate the problem. And I was told by “ Wheels” who currently owns the vehicle that the case is closed.I refused to drive a company car that is unsafe and being told by both parties that their is nothing wrong with the vehicle, but I keep getting stuck in the car. This is my current situation. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and shifted into reverse, the vehicle started jerking. The vehicle was shifted to drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle started to lose motive power. Additionally, the contact observed that the engine was revving unintendedly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to a coolant leakage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000
Check engine light came on, vehicle overheated. When towed to local Ford dealership we were informed that water had gotten into engine and whole engine needed to be replaced. The car is less than 6 years old and only has 59,000 miles on it. We were one month shy of paying off the vehicle when this happened. We were quoted $8,300 to replace engine. Ford offered only $4,000 in credit to cover the replacement. Dealership stated during our communication that this is a known defect with this make, model and year Ecoboost engine.
The engine developed a crack in the block. Antifreeze is pouring into the cylinder causing the vehicle to not accelerate properly. It’s a very dangerous situation when you try and pull out into traffic. Ford knows it’s a problem with 2017 to 2019 2.0 liter eco boost engine. Why haven’t they been made to fix this situation???
Lug nuts swelled and we could not loosen them to remove the tire.
Vehicle is at 130000 miles and Transmission pump is failing. Car stalls out at low RPM. Taken to Ford dealership for diagnosis and told about transmission pump and coolant getting into engine. This seems unreasonable for a 5 year old vehicle driven new with routine maintenance.