What 2,628 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape Gas

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH up an incline, the vehicle downshifted and stalled. The powertrain malfunction message was displayed. The headlamps had previously become inoperable. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle hesitated and was idling high while reversing. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ODI 11501207

I was stopped at a red light, in Drive, when the car suddenly died. All the screens went black and the engine cut. I was also unable to use my electric locks or hazard lights. The car was eventually jumped, driven to a mechanic for the alternator and battery checked, with battery changed. Since receiving my car back with new battery, the media console does not work. Buttons illuminate but don't do anything, screen only shows time/date/temperature and backup camera. No SYNC, radio, bluetooth, CDs. Ford support attempted multiple resets with no change.

NHTSA ODI 11498457

Repeated failure of passenger side low beam headlight bulb. The bulb has burned out 3 times within less than one year. No visible issues were found with the headlamp assembly. All new bulbs purchased to replace the previous, without defect, but have continued to fail. The first failure occurred in October 2021. Second failure in January 2022 and currently, the third failure October 2022.

NHTSA ODI 11491387

In 2020 my headlights just went out one day. All the fuses were good the bulbs were good and Ford replaced the BCM (Body Control Module). Luckily it was under the warranty because I only had approximately 28,000 miles. Fast forward to 2022 with approximately 49,000 miles, I was driving home late one night and the same issue happened while I was driving. Since the replacement in 2020 I have had to replace both headlights 3 times, this time replacing the headlights is not working and apparently, I will have to replace the BCM again. This apparently is the main computer system in the car, and it was very dangerous because the lights just went out at night. Upon further research several people are having the same issue; and have reported the problem on several webpages. (https://www.fordescape.org/threads/headlights-keep-going-out.116796/) (https://www.justanswer.com/ford/ioe1u-low-beam-headlights-stopped-working-2017-ford-escape.html) and many more pages and complaints when you google “2017 Ford Escape Lights stopped working” According to Ford customer satisfaction, they said that no one else has reported this, however, I don’t believe it with the number of complaints that I noticed with just one search. Had it only been one time I would deduct that it was one bad part, but due to the continued problem with the same issue, it appears to be a severe safety concern that Ford is refusing to remedy.

NHTSA ODI 11490487

The brake light assembly seem separates and water leaks in causing the brake lights to fail. I went online to see if this was an issue, it seems to be a very big issue with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11477802

With no warning the suv over heated and I took it to pep boys to see what was happening. They simple told me that I needed to replace the entire engine. This isn’t fair because I didn’t even get a warning. This suv has other problems as well that Ford should have issued recalls for but there’s so many to list. I would just like my suv to be fixed as I’m a single mom trying to make it through this trying times and now I have no car to get work, take my children to school, or even the day to day things that we need like a grocery store trip. I don’t 6,000 to 9,000 to repair my truck and I can’t afford to lose it either as I’m still paying the note on it. Can you please help us, I’m only trying.

NHTSA ODI 11471048

The body control module failed on a main road at night. My inside lights and dash lights emergency flasher along with the outside lights shut off. The car behind me had to swerve around me to keep from hitting me. My vehicle was not seen by the other drivers and was almost hit several times. Luckily I coasted to a light and made a sweeping turn onto a wider shoulder area of the road. It was towed to a shop but they were not able to do anything with the vehicle do I had it towed to a Ford dealership. It was almost 30 days before I got my vehicle back. Apparently there is a shortage of body control modules. I received no warning lights at all. Everything inside the vehicle flashed and then the car and electrical just shut off. Prior to that incident I had not had any other issues with the vehicle. The drivers side seat module had to be replaced as well.it cost 1005.38 for the body control module to be replaced and 786.00 for the seat module to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11466437

My 2017 Ford Escape began letting water inside of the tail light assembly, eventually filling up to the point that it shorted the brake light. When I went to replace the bulb, I found out that it is not replaceable unless you replace the ENTIRE tail light assembly, a $750 fix. Ford refuses to fix this for free, as they deem condensation not a reason. Upon doing research, it’s come to my attention 1,000s of people have had this exact same problem. The tail light assembly, the seam on top of the assembly has faulted. Not only did Ford produce a faulty product, they produced a light that costs $600 to replace. This is highway robbery, not to mention unsafe since the brake light does not function.

NHTSA ODI 11427216

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THERE WAS CONDENSATION BUILT UP INSIDE OF THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT. UPON A VISIT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE OCCURRING NEAR THE GAS TANK, THE DEFECT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FIRE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11405994

TONIGHT, 11/16/2020, MY ESCAPE STARTED TO IDLE ROUGHLY. THE TACHOMETER WOULD GO UP AND DOWN BY AT LEAST 500 RPM WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ME. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. THE DASHCAM I HAVE MOUNTED TURNED OFF. I TRIED MAKING IT HOME AND IT JUST DIED. LOST ALL LIGHTS. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE LEFT TURN LANE. WHILE DOING THIS, THE AUTO START SYSTEM TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISABLED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR MANUALLY, ABOUT FIVE OR SIX TIMES. IT FINALLY STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. I TURNED OFF THE HVAC AUTO FEATURE, MY DASHCAM AND RADIO IN CASE IT WAS A VOLTAGE ISSUE. JUST ONE MORE ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE IS FINICKY AND HORRIBLE. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE DEALER DO THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE [XXX] SYSTEM. IT STILL ACTS UP OCCASIONALLY LEAVING ME DEAD IN THE WATER UNTIL I CAN SHIFT TO PARK AND MANUALLY RESTART IT. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11374946

DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT INCLUDE TAIL LIGHTS. CARS DRIVEN AT DUSK, DAWN, OR WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE ADDED SAFETY ARE DRIVEN WITH ONLY DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHT AND NO TAIL LIGHTS. MANY TIMES CARS APPEAR TO BE DIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS, OR LIGHTS, ONLY TO SEE THEY ARE DRIVING WITH DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS. PLEASE ENGAGE ALL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS AT ALL TIMES FOR ADDED SAFETY. TOO MANY TIMES VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE NO TAIL LIGHTS. DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS WITH ONLY HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11180446

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2017 FORD ESCAPE, BRAND NEW, 6 MONTHS AGO. WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT PLASTIC COVER WAS FOGGING OVER MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE BRAKE LIGHT. AFTER CHECKING WITH OUR DEALER, MAC HAIK FORD, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NORMAL. NORMAL? SOUNDS MORE LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT WATER LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE LIGHT UNIT WAS ALSO ?NORMAL.? I CAN?T IMAGINE ALLOWING WATER TO COLLECT INSIDE AN ELECTRICAL ITEM AS IMPORTANT AS A BRAKE LIGHT AND IS VERY STRANGE AND VERY WRONG! IF IT?S FOGGING UP NOW WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE A YEAR FROM NOW OR EVEN TWO YEARS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY MADE A MISTAKE AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THIS BRAKE LIGHT UNIT! IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY KNOW IT. [XXX] , LEANDER, TEXAS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11098722