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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)

7 of 2,613 complaints match · Electrical system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 22, 2022Electrical systemAirbagsEngineCrash

I was in an accident 12/24/2021due to other parties at fault, and my air bags did not deploy. The diagnostic with the collision Calliber (78216 zip code) reflected there was a faulty air bag and should have deployed . I suffered neck and back injuries. Half a year later my entire AC compressor needed to be replaced a month later my Entire engine needs to be replaced (8700 price). I’ve only had this car over a year and work remotely. I have under 50k miles on this car and have had so many dangerous And unfortunate high cost issues. The

NHTSA ODI 11480634

Oct 26, 2020SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)1 injury

1. HANDS FREE TAILGATE/TRUNK WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT WHEN OBJECTS OR A PERSONS BODY IS PRESENT. FAUB/ KEYS ARE NOT BEING PUSHED BY ACCIDENT, NOR IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT UNDER NUMBER THAT WOULD SENSOR DOOR TO CLOSE. WHEN IT DOES DO THIS, IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE FOR THE SENSOR TO REALIZE THERE IS AN OBJECT THERE AND TAKES SOME TIME TO OPEN AGAIN. 2. WHEN VEHICLE SLIPS ON ICE PATCES OR LARGE PUDDLES OF WATER--- WHEN THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON MY DASH BOARD, IT SEEMS TO TRIGGER MY ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, BRAKES STOP WORKING AND NO ELECTRICAL FROM THAT POINT ON. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 TIMES NOW, WITH THE NEED TO HAVE TO CALL A TOW. FOR BOTH COMPLAINTS, FORD SERVICE SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND CANNOT GET EITHER COMPLAINT TO DUPLICATE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS POINT BY FORD TO FIX OR COMPENSATE FOR ANY OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11366350

Aug 22, 2019Electrical systemEngineFire

I WAS THE OWNER OF A 2017 FORD ESCAPE WITH UNDER 27000 MILES. ON 7/16/19, IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 6 HOURS AT MY PLACE AND I WAS AWOKEN AT 12:30 AM BY FIRE/POLICE THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGER HOOD AREA. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS AND FIRE DEPT DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. STILL WAITING ON THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. I'M JUST GLAD THAT I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE OR HAD ANYONE WITH ME WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THIS IS THE SECONDARY CAR I HAVE GOTTEN FROM SAM PACK'S 5 STAR FORD IN CARROLLTON. THE FIRST CAR I PURCHASED FROM THAT DEALERSHIP WAS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE PRE-CERTIFIED USED BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS WITH ISSUES, IT TURNED OUT TO BE PART OF AN INSURANCE FLOOD SCAM AND WAS NOT LOOKED OVER FOR IT BE CERTIFIED USED. THEY PUT ME IN A NEW 2017 FORD ESCAPE WHICH HAS NOW BURNED UP. I HAVE NOTHING FROM THIS WHOLE SITUATION. I HAVE ALSO CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND GOT A CASE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD BE CONTACTING ME. STILL HAVE NOT HEAR BACK FROM FORD AND THAT WAS OVER 2 WEEKS AGO. THIS SEEMS TO BE BAD BUSINESS AND THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE CAR THAT COULD AFFECT OTHER CONSUMERS. AT THIS POINT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY/HOW THE PARKED CAR CAUGHT FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11245626

Jun 19, 2019Electrical system1 injury

MY ESCAPE HAS THE LIFT GATE THAT OPENS AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE WAVE OF A FOOT. A FEW MONTHS AGO (DEC. 2018 I THINK) I WAS LOADING MY GROCERIES INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY, THE LIFT GATE CRASHED DOWN ON MY HEAD AND THEN CONTINUED TO CLOSE. I HAD TO DROP TO THE GROUND TO KEEP IT FROM CLOSING ON ME BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T STOP. IT HURT TERRIBLY BUT I DIDN'T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO GO THE ER. I CALLED FORD AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN AND I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE IT IN AT THE TIME. LAST WEEK, I WAS AGAIN AT THE GROCERY STORE AND A YOUNG MAN WAS LOADING MY GROCERIES WHILE I STOOD AND WATCHED. FORTUNATELY, I SAW IT COMING THIS TIME BEFORE THE LIFT GATE CRASHED DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE LIFT GATE TO STOP IT. I KNEW I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT THEN. I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHO COULD BE DECAPITATED IF IT CLOSED ON HIM. YESTERDAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND JUST HEARD FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TURNS OUT WHEN A FOOT IS DETECTED BY THE SENSOR; IF THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN, IT CAUSES IT TO CLOSE. THERE IS NO SENSOR TO MAKE IT STOP IF THERE'S A BODY IN THE WAY. PER MY SERVICE MAN, THERE'S NO WAY TO DISABLE THE FEATURE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A LIFT GATE THAT CAN COME DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND CRUSH OR DECAPITATE ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE STANDING UNDER IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS ALREADY HURT ME AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE DEADLY TO MY GRANDCHILD. I HAD REALLY LIKED THIS CAR TIL I REALIZED WHAT A HAZARD THE LIFT GATE IS. I HOPE YOU CAN REMEDY THIS PROBLEM FOR US ALL BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI 11221308

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

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

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

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 →