Home · 2017 Ford Escape Gas · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,628)Crash / fire / injury (69)Engine (1,530)Engine & cooling (501)Transmission & drivetrain (384)Electrical system (151)Fuel system (92)Wheels (76)Body & structure (62)Brakes (48)Steering (48)Lights (37)

69 of 2,628 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 3 of 3

Oct 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureCrash1 injury

ON OCTOBER 3, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 P.M. MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO OUR 2017 FORD ESCAPE. SHE HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN, BUT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, AS SHE WAS GETTING IN SHE FELT A JOLT, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD, THE DRIVER'S DOOR SIDESWIPED OUR OTHER CAR AND KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND. THE CAR ROLLED ACROSS THE STREET AND STRUCK THE CAR PORT BEAM AT THE ADJACENT HOME. SHE YELLED FOR HELP AND WHEN I GOT THERE SHE WAS TRYING TO STOP THE ROLLING CAR. THE CAR WAS IN PARK, I STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT OFF THE STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11133248

Aug 28, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 45 MPH WHEN ANOTHER CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND WE CONNECTED. I PUSHED HER CAR OVER A STOP SIGN. MY FACE AND BODY HIT THE DRIVERS WINDOW CAUSING A NECK AND BACK INJURY AND 9000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT HAD 2300 MILES ON IT LAST JAN. 17TH. WHY DID MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF TO PROTECT ME?

NHTSA ODI 11122938

Mar 31, 2018SuspensionCrash1 injury

COMPLETE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, WHEEL AND ALL ..AND CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION TRAVELING AT APPX 15 MPH. TOW TRUCK HAD TO RETRIEVE COMPLETE SUSPENSION AND WHEEL. NO BRAKES BECAUSE BRAKE LINE SEVERED.

NHTSA ODI 11082311

Jan 13, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

FRONT COLLISION CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FRONT SIDE NOTHING. ON FREEWAY GOING WEST 70 MILES PER HOUR WAS CUT OFF WHILE BRAKING RAN INTO BACK OF PARKED FULL SIZE SUV OUT OF GAS IN THE MEDIUM OFF THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11062542

Jan 12, 2018SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH ( THE SPEED LIMIT IS 75) I WANTED TO PASS A TRUCK WHEN THE STEERING GOT REALLY TIGHT, AT THAT SPEED THEIR IS NO TIME FOR PLAN B. I CLIPPED THE BACK LEFT OF THE TRUCK WITH MY RIGHT FRONT, WHICH PUT ME IN A SPIN AND THE CAR ROLLED A COUPLE TIMES. WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD ALL KINDS OF TESTS AND RELEASED THE NEXT DAY. MY INSURANCE CO DOES NOT BELIEVE ME BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. I READ MANY ARTICLES ABOUT FORD HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PRIOR YEARS OF THERE ELECTRONIC STEERING. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IF IT WAS NOT FOR FORD SEATBELT AND AIRBAG SYSTEM I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11062469

Dec 29, 2017Speed controlEngineCrash1 injury

I TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT INTERSECTION IN EAGLE RUN SHOPPING CENTER, NW OF WENDY'S, FROM WEST TO SOUTH ONTO THE PARKING LOT ROAD THAT ACCESSES THE W MAPLE RD & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION. I COMPLETED MY TURN AND DROVE SOUTH DOWN THE PARKING LOT ACCESS ROAD TO THE W MAPLE & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO WAIT FOR A GREEN LIGHT. I STOPPED A WAYS BACK FROM THE MEDIAN CURB OF THE INTERSECTION TO ALLOW FOR TURNING TRAFFIC FROM THE WEST. SHORTLY LATER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, I NOTICED A VIBRATION OF THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TACHOMETER WHICH SHOWED 1,200 RPM & RISING (600RPM IS NORMAL). IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN TO PHYSICALLY LUNGE FORWARD WITH INCREASED ENGINE NOISE SO I INSTINCTIVELY PLACED MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS NOW RACING WIDE OPEN & I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR'S RAPIDLY INCREASING FORWARD MOTION. AT THIS POINT, TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY BEING PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION, I STEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE SHOULDER HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11057372

Dec 29, 2017Speed controlEngineCrash1 injury

I TURNED FROM THE PARKING LOT INTERSECTION IN EAGLE RUN SHOPPING CENTER, NW OF WENDY'S, FROM WEST TO SOUTH ONTO THE PARKING LOT ROAD THAT ACCESSES THE W MAPLE RD & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION. I COMPLETED MY TURN AND DROVE SOUTH DOWN THE PARKING LOT ACCESS ROAD TO THE W MAPLE & BIRCH ST INTERSECTION WHERE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO WAIT FOR A GREEN LIGHT. I STOPPED A WAYS BACK FROM THE MEDIAN CURB OF THE INTERSECTION TO ALLOW FOR TURNING TRAFFIC FROM THE WEST. SHORTLY LATER, WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE, I NOTICED A VIBRATION OF THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TACHOMETER WHICH SHOWED 1,200 RPM & RISING (600RPM IS NORMAL). IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN TO PHYSICALLY LUNGE FORWARD WITH INCREASED ENGINE NOISE SO I INSTINCTIVELY PLACED MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH HAD NO AFFECT. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS NOW RACING WIDE OPEN & I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR'S RAPIDLY INCREASING FORWARD MOTION. AT THIS POINT, TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BY BEING PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION, I STEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE SHOULDER HITTING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11057381

Dec 5, 2017AirbagsCrash3 injuries

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THREE VEHICLE CRASH NOVEMBER 20, 2017. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT AND WAS IMPACTED ON THE SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ROTATED/ROLLED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD OVER $28K WORTH DO DAMAGE INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT FRAME AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE STUFFED EXTREME BRUISING, A CONCUSSION AND LOSS OF SKIN FROM IMPACTING INSIDE SIDES OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11052664

Nov 12, 2017Fire

I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 FORD ESCAPE TITANIUM AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ONE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. AS I STARTED TO GO, MY CAR STALLED. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. A PASSER BY BROUGHT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE SHOWED UP. THEY BOTH TRIED TO PUT FIRE OUT. THEY COULD NOT GET THE HOOD LATCH OPEN AND COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE SIDE WALLS TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11045506

Oct 14, 2017Electrical system1 injury

AS I WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA WHILE STANDING AT THE CENTER REAR BUMPER, THE LIFT HATCH STARTED COMING DOWN ON ITS OWN. IT WAS SO QUIET I DID NOT HEAR IT, AND WHEN I STOOD UP (I'M 5FT 1-77 YR OLD FEMALE, I STOOD STRAIGHT UP AND MY HEAD BANGED INTO THE LID WHICH WAS ON ITS WAY DOWN. THE FORCE OF IT HITTING MY HEAD CAUSED IT TO START ASCENDING BACK UP. I LATER WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE OF MY HEAD BRUISE AND PAIN. SCAN REVEALED NO INTERNAL BLEED BUT WAS ADVISED TO TREAT IT LIKE A CONCUSSION. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THESE EMERGENCY ROOM BILLS FOR A DEFECT AND NOW I'M PARANOID ABOUT THE LID. WITH ALL THE BEEPS ON THESE CARS, THE LID DEFINITELY NEEDS A WARNING WHEN IT IS COMING DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11033332

Oct 13, 2017Speed controlCrash1 injury

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I CAN PICK UP THE CAR EVEN THOUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS KEEPING THE CLAIM OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11033233

Oct 4, 2017Brakes4 injuries

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE WAS ON. I OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DOOR BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING THE CAR STARTED MOVING. THE CAR DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND RAN OVER MY RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. I WAS DRAGGED DOWN MY DRIVE WAY. THE CAR STOPPED AT THE STREET. THE BRAKE WAS STILL ON. EMS TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ODI 11031757

Aug 14, 2017Speed controlEngineFire

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 5:30 PM ON 8/11 AND, WHEN I GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND SAW THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN LEAKING OIL AND I WAS LOW ON OIL DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ONE MONTH PRIOR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 10:45 AM ON 8/12, THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING NORMALLY AND THE MPG READINGS WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WELL, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE COMPLETELY. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH AT THE TIME THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE SO I COASTED THROUGH AND SAW A PARKING LOT FOR TOLL BOOTH OPERATORS. AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY TO THAT PARKING LOT, SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. I COASTED INTO THE PARKING LOT AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RAN OUT AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE ESCAPING THROUGH THE GRILL, UNDER THE HOOD AND OUT THE BOTTOM. THE STATE POLICE ARRIVED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER AND USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. NO WARNING NOTICE CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION ABILITY COMPLETELY AT WHICH POINT THE SCREEN SAID TO SHIFT TO "P" AND MANUALLY RESTART. AT THAT POINT, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE SO I IMMEDIATELY VACATED, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND AM AWAITING CONTACT.

NHTSA ODI 11015119

Jun 24, 2017Body & structure1 injury

MY CAR WAS STOPPED ON THE PROPERTY'S DRIVEWAY, TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR, AND AS I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO GET IN, THE BOTTOM CORNER OF DOOR GOUGED MY LOWER LEFT LEG AND PEELED BACK A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF TISSUE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THIS PIECE OF BLACK TRIM (WHICH COVERS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE ESCAPE) IS DESIGNED TO FLARE OUT TO A SHARP POINT ON BOTH FRONT DOORS OF THE ESCAPE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A GROSSLY NEGLIGENT DESIGN. IT BORDERS ON AN INTENTIONALLY SUBSTANDARD DESIGN, ELEVATING THE CONTINUITY OF THE BLACK TRIM ABOVE SAFETY CONCERNS. IN MY OPINION, THAT HAZARDOUS POINT FAILS TO MEET EVEN THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS OF A COMMERCIALLY FIT AND MERCHANTABLE VEHICLE. RESULT: TEN STITCHES TO REPAIR MY LEG; TETANUS SHOT; ORAL ANTIBIOTICS; COMPLETE DISRUPTION TO QUALITY OF LIFE AS MOBILITY IS AN ISSUE AND I ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE WOUND CLEAN, DRY AND UNINFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11000956

Jun 23, 2017Electrical system1 injury

CHIME VOLUME LEVEL WHEN POWER LIFT GATE IS OPENING OR CLOSING IS VERY LOW. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE FOOT ACTIVATED OPEN/CLOSE BEING ACTIVATED UNINTENTIONALLY AND THE LIFT GATE COMING DOWN ON MY HEAD, RESULTING IN A BRUISE AND BUMP FROM THE LATCH. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER AND FORD MANAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. I THINK THE VOLUME LEVEL SHOULD BE INCREASED SO IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS GOING UP OR DOWN TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11000858

Jun 22, 2017SteeringWheels1 injury

MY CAR WAS RUNNING, BUT PLACED IN PARK, AND I WAS RUNNING TO GRAB SOMETHING FROM MY HOME. AFTER I EXITED THE CAR, I NOTICED MY CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN MY SLANTED DRIVEWAY, AND I RAN TO STOP IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR HIT ME AND RAN ME OVER RESULTING IN A BROKEN ANKLE. I BELIEVE THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING, AND REVERSED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11000741

Apr 11, 2017Electrical systemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ACTIVATING THE AUTOMATIC PARALLEL PARKING ASSIST, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PARALLEL PARK AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC PARALLEL PARKING ASSIST DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.

NHTSA ODI 10971899

Mar 31, 2017AirbagsSeat beltsCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGED; HOWEVER, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND CONTUSION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND A SCRAPED ELBOW, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND COLLAR BONE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,296.

NHTSA ODI 10969821

Oct 14, 2016AirbagsCrash4 injuries

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ON AN EXPRESS WAY TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND HAD MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS AND CONCUSSIONS FROM WHIPLASH.

NHTSA ODI 10916044

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 2,628 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Ford Escape Gas verdict →