Home · 2017 Ford Escape · Complaints

What 2,613 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape

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 (2,613)Crash / fire / injury (69)Engine (1,517)Engine & cooling (501)Transmission & drivetrain (381)Electrical system (150)Fuel system (92)Wheels (76)Body & structure (62)Brakes (48)Steering (48)Lights (37)

381 of 2,613 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 8 of 16

Jan 11, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 60-65 MPH that while veering right coming off an exit ramp and driving approximately 60-65 MPH, and then coming to a stop at a stop sign; the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was determined that the transmission had failed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11564856

Jan 10, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the gears seized. The vehicle failed to reverse. The transmission became inoperable. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer but was unable to obtain a timely appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11564539

Jan 6, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngineFire

I have a problem with my coolant leaking in the engine of my 2017 Ford Escape SE. case, [XXX] is from ford I have contacted ford several times on this issue. My vehicle is currently in the shop now since 11/14/2023. Ford says they are not going to fix my vehicle and it's a known issue I have included the service bulletin from Ford's website below. Any help getting my vehicle fixed would be greatly appreciated. I am also having problems with my transmission. VIN NUMBER [XXX] Bulletin [XXX] · Number: TSB [XXX] · Date: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11563913

Dec 14, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I started the vehicle and the engine was shaking, it had reduced acceleration and power while driving and the engine light started flashing with engine making popping noises and car bucking. I could not stay up with cars on freeway and after stopping would barely accelerate. I had to wait till traffic was not coming to turn across oncoming lanes to prevent being hit. I limped it back home and found low coolant and misfire codes for cylinders 2 and 3 . I am a 25 year ASE master certified auto technician , I pulled spark plugs and found coolant in cylinders 2 and 3. Engine was not overheating. this vehicle has 62120 miles. I found many complaints online for this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11560133

Dec 6, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission code fault I did not have power

NHTSA ODI 11558680

Dec 3, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFire

Hi my name is [XXX] and I have a problem with my coolant leaking in the engine of my 2017 Ford Escape 2.0 turbo all wheel drive SE. case, [XXX] is from ford I have contacted ford several times on this issue. My vehicle is currently in the shop now since 11/14/2023. Ford says they are not going to fix my vehicle and it's a known issue I have included the service bulletin from Ford's website below. Any help getting my vehicle fixed would be greatly appreciated. My transmission is also slipping. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11558182

Nov 21, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle occasionally stalled, hesitated, or jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11556313

Nov 19, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFire

TRANSMISSION cable broke. Transmission failed and we had to replace it for $5,500. Car was at 101,000 miles. Ford wouldn't help. Now getting a cylinder 4 misfire - P0304 code, U3000-04. Also, coolant leaks constantly and there is no leak. per the recall of the 2017 Ford Fusion, this coolant leak into the cylinders is happening to us as well.

NHTSA ODI 11555924

Nov 6, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Check engine light came on and a diagnostic check showed that there was coolant intrusion in the cylinders. This apparently is known by Ford that there was a manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ODI 11553780

Oct 25, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The engine began to misfire on cylinder 1.The check engine light came on and verified the problem. The sparkplugs were replaced and coil 1 was swapped with #2 to ensure the coil wasn't malfunctioning. the problem resolved for a couple of days and once again misfires and the check engine light indicated a misfire problem in cylinder one. This time I looked at the coolant level and it had dropped significantly. I believe I have a coolant intrusion problem that the 2.0 Ecoboost engines are known for. In speaking with the Ford dealership they estimated a new engine to be 12000-13000 dollars in repair costs. If I continue to use the vehicle I am certain the engine will overheat possibly blow and catch fire as the coolant will run out or thin the oil. Ford should be held accountable for this problem

NHTSA ODI 11551876

Oct 24, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The vehicle began experiencing a slight vibration when accelerating. When the vehicle reaches 28 mph through 54 mph, the vibration is noticeable. Very noticeable when going uphill. It feels like the rumble strips you drive over at a road construction area. When the vehicle reaches close to 60 mph the vibration is not felt. It began around May/June 2023 and got worse as the months went on. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they said it was a known issue with some Ford vehicles where a transmission torque converter would fail. Their recommendation was to pay them $6K for a new transmission that would come with a 3-year warranty. I already paid them $8K for a new engine for another known problem. I am not giving them another penny.

NHTSA ODI 11551714

Oct 19, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the Auto START/STOP feature failed to operate as needed and the engine failed to restart after depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to immediately start after refueling. The contact stated that the “Auto START/STOP - Shift to Park(P) and Restart Engine” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11550826

Oct 11, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Short Block replacement needed because of coolant inside engine. Current status at dealership for repair advisement. During routine drive to work, car reduced power, indicated 'over temp' light and check engine indicator while in the middle of morning commuter traffic. Inspected by Serra Ford, who indicated coolant leaked onto bearings and into engine requiring replacement of engine. Only warning issue was coolant level slightly low at last oil change ~3,000 miles ago.

NHTSA ODI 11549463

Oct 11, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

Rough startup and idle, white smoke out of tailpipe. Local shop ran Ford's TSB 22-2229 to find that coolant had leaked into cylinder #1 and that the long block needs to be replaced per Ford. I was quoted $9,600 for the repair. Upon further research, this is an engine design defect in the Ford 2.0L ecoboost 2017-2019 where the open deck block design creates thinner gasket areas prone to fail and leak coolant into the engine. Ford is making customers pay to replace engines with a faulty manufacturing design, out of pocket. It is completely unacceptable and needs to be a recall. The same issue is present on their 1.5L and 1.6L ecoboost engines.

NHTSA ODI 11549481

Oct 10, 2023Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH the check engine light illuminated and a chime went off and "service engine now" appeared on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that he pulled over and turned the engine off due to seeing the "over heat" warning illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer due to a known manufacturer problem with the motor. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA ODI 11549221

Oct 6, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Transmission. Was replaced at 101,000 miles. Made driving situation unsafe, at risk for transmission failure. Replaced at independent service. Has been brought to a ford dealership and looked at. Check engine light appeared. 6 months before replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11548752

Sep 13, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the gear shifter was firm causing the vehicle to become inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11544265

Sep 9, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission would shift from 2nd gear to 3rd gear extremely hard out of no where after about 120k miles. It would also violently shake the entire car when shifting from drive to reverse. No warning lights. Dealer claimed they couldn't confirm it until transmission completely went. My safety was at risk as the car would shake when shifting at highway speeds and would not accelerate when I came to a complete stop on the highway or local roads. The Transmission failed and the Waldorf Ford has the old transmission. To repair cost me $6000 WALDORF Ford has all transactions.

NHTSA ODI 11543534

Sep 5, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally. The contact’s wife depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11542683

Sep 4, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Just purchased this vehicle on July 3rd and now have Coolant Intrusion and need a new long block engine. I've read online about the MULTITUDE of people having this same exact issue. 2017 Ford Escape SE (2.0 engine) Ford even issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) about it, but refuses to recall the vehicle, which doesn't make any sense. Ford TSB 22-2229

NHTSA ODI 11542539

Aug 18, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that while shifted to drive(D), the vehicle was unintentionally reversed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was shifted into park. The contact’s husband also experienced the failure and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 72,400.

NHTSA ODI 11539416

Aug 12, 2023Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Auto restart stopped working Coolant leaking into 2 cylinders, causing full engine replacement

NHTSA ODI 11538093

Aug 2, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 11536087

Jul 31, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

2017 Ford Escape 2.0L Ecoboost at 50K miles after "the works" oil change at Ford Dealership I noticed coolant tank was empty, engine was heavily leaking oil, engine was running very rough, whitish exhaust smoke, check engine light came on "misfire code", replaced spark plugs and ignition coils, added coolant and engine oil fluid every week, it just kept rolling downhill from there. It is criminal what is going on here...the repair costs aren't worth it and clearly don't fix the problem...do you want to buy a used Ford Escape that either needs a new engine or has had the engine replaced once already before 60K (and probably needs another new engine)? Do you want to buy a new(er) Ford Escape? "Ford Motor Company has issued a new recall for 125,322 model year 2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2022-2023 Ford Maverick and 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair vehicles for a risk of fire due to engine failure. 2020-2023 recalls on ford escapes." I'll never buy another Ford vehicle again. I shouldn't have to investigate Ford dealerships/Fords work to make sure they are being honest about my vehicle, it's condition and the warranty, I shouldn't have to explain and argue with Ford dealership / Ford to try to get them to fix the situation, I shouldn't be stuck with it and have to wonder or double check if my vehicle is low on essential fluids every time I go somewhere due to Fords design flaws and constantly buy more fluids (there's no way that this meets environmental regulations), I shouldn't have to worry about my vehicle catching fire and/or lose all function at any moment while driving it or after driving it, I shouldn't have to fear parking my car in my garage (catching fire and burning house down with it) or being stranded where I am (whether I'm close to home or far away). I paid good money for a vehicle that was advertised and marketed (by Ford dealership/Ford) as top rated, safe and reliable vehicle (is this not false advertising?). Ford should be held accountable and at a loss, not me.

NHTSA ODI 11535509

Jul 31, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

2017 Ford Escape 2.0L Ecoboost at 58K miles after "the works" oil change at Ford Dealership I noticed coolant tank was empty, engine was heavily leaking oil, engine was running very rough, whitish exhaust smoke, check engine light came on "misfire code", replaced spark plugs and ignition coils, added coolant and engine oil fluid every week, it just kept rolling downhill from there. It is criminal what is going on here...the repair costs aren't worth it and clearly don't fix the problem...do you want to buy a used Ford Escape that either needs a new engine or has had the engine replaced once already before 60K (and probably needs another new engine)? Do you want to buy a new(er) Ford Escape? "Ford Motor Company has issued a new recall for 125,322 model year 2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2022-2023 Ford Maverick and 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair vehicles for a risk of fire due to engine failure. 2020-2023 recalls on ford escapes." I'll never buy another Ford vehicle again. I shouldn't have to investigate Ford dealerships/Fords work to make sure they are being honest about my vehicle, it's condition and the warranty, I shouldn't have to explain and argue with Ford dealership / Ford to try to get them to fix the situation, I shouldn't be stuck with it and have to wonder or double check if my vehicle is low on essential fluids every time I go somewhere due to Fords design flaws and constantly buy more fluids (there's no way that this meets environmental regulations), I shouldn't have to worry about my vehicle catching fire and/or lose all function at any moment while driving it or after driving it, I shouldn't have to fear parking my car in my garage (catching fire and burning house down with it) or being stranded where I am (whether I'm close to home or far away), could cause accident, injury and/or death. I paid good money for a vehicle that was advertised and marketed (by Ford dealership/Ford) as top rated, safe and reliable vehicle (this can't be legal). FIX THIS NOW BEFORE...

NHTSA ODI 11535513

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Working with the data? Download all 2,613 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 7, 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 verdict →