What 563 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Escape Gas

Consumers claim the engines in their Ford vehicles overheat due to an internal coolant / antifreeze leak that allows coolant to enter into the cylinders of the engine. In many cases, the defect is alleged to have caused total engine failure and to require replacement of the engine block.

NHTSA ODI 11674012

The car had a rough idle (only for the first few minutes) for one day before the engine light came on. The car was taken to the dealership on the third day (less than 20mi of driving between the light coming on and the car being inspected). According to their scans, my 2.0L engine is experiencing water (coolant) intrusion into the clyinders (after only 5 years of service). The Ford technician said it is TSB 22-2229 (a known issue since 2019 TSB 19-2172). There are currently no NHTSA Customer Satisfaction Programs or recalls for this TSB, which is astonishing, as there is one for the 1.5L engine made in the same plant AND Ford completely redesigned the engine because they know it is so bad. The fix is to completely replace the engine ($10,000-$15,000). The danger is that the manufacturer knew there was risk of water intrusion, which can crack the block…this could leave the vehicle in a dangerous situation if driving at highway speeds or in heavy traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11674047

The number 2 cylinder is cracked allowing coolant to leak into the combustion side of the engine. my dealer is asking for $15,000 to replace the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11670727

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12: (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the VIN was not included in program. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the program and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670903

The coolant kept getting low. I brought it to the Ford dealership I bought it less than a year ago. They ran some tests and said the coolant is leaking and the engine needs to be replaced. I'm waiting for them to hear back from Ford to see if it's under the extended warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11670944

Last year my vehicle has a recall for the Ecoboost. Ford in Boonville, IN. replaced engine. I am again having a foggy windshield, sweet smell, dizziness, and I can taste the coolant. I sent email to Ford motor company but haven't received a response yet. I left a message for the service department at dealership as well. I'm waiting for someone to get back to me. It's my understanding that if the same problem returns or is related to the recall it will have to be fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11670419

The failed component is the coolant leaking into cyl 4 TSB 22-2229 which has been a problem with this model in the 1.5 L turbo before. This model is the 2.0L turbo but having the same problem. According to the dealership, "This is the entire process need to either rebuild or replace the vehicle's engine. This is a process needed when the vehicle's engine is in need of serious repair." Reasoning according to the dealer: "Without replacing or rebuilding a damaged engine, the car will not be able to function and will be left useless." This car has only 46,391 miles on it for 2019 and has been meticulously taken care of since it's purchase in Aug 2021 as a used vehicle from the dealership. After an oil change was completed on the vehicle at 46,300 miles, the check engine light came on and the vehicle was taken into the dealership for it to be assessed. That's when it was found to be cyl 4 that was the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11670470

On or about June 1, 2025, the vehicle began losing coolant without a visible leak. Took the vehicle to dealer for a diagnosis. Dealer claimed than a coolant hose was bad and required an $1100 repair. I reported to the dealer the low coolant, water in the oil and white smoke at start up but they dismissed the complaint. Stated they would need the $1100 repair done before any other diagnosis could completed. July 1, 2025, after consulting Ford corporate directly, they are "looking" into my concern. No offer of repairs, at all.

NHTSA ODI 11670502

Presence of coolant in the engine cylinders, Ford has it as a known issue but won't issue a full recall. Causing cylinder misfires. Needs new engine. Ford design flaw!

NHTSA ODI 11669775

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a rumbling sound coming from the engine, causing the vehicle to shake abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure, and that the cam shaft was damaged. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11669782

The engine on my 2019 Ford Escape failed due to coolant intrusion — the same issue previously addressed by Ford recall #19S22. The recall repair was completed by a certified Ford dealership in 2022. Within days of making the final payment on the vehicle, the engine failed completely and became inoperable. It had to be towed to a Ford dealership for inspection. Before the failure, the same symptom I experienced prior to the original recall occurred again: white smoke coming from the exhaust, indicating coolant was leaking into the engine. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages. When my car did not turn on, I thought it was possibly the battery so I bought a new one and changed it. When that did not work I went ahead and had it towed to get a full diagnostic. The diagnosing Ford dealership confirmed the engine suffered catastrophic failure due to coolant intrusion — the exact defect previously addressed under the recall. Ford acknowledged the diagnosis but declined to fully cover the cost of repair, stating the recall work was “out of warranty.” They initially offered $3,976.18, and when I didn’t accept, this was increased to $5,301.58 — still leaving me with nearly $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs before tax for a full engine replacement. The affected component (engine) was inspected and confirmed by the Ford dealership and is still available for inspection. This failure occurred in the first week of April, and I have been without a working vehicle since. The recurrence of this issue — even after the recall repair was completed — raises serious concerns about long-term safety, durability, and accountability associated with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11668219

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. In addition, the contact became aware of an abnormal coolant consumption. The check engine warning light was occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with OP code: 62. The contact was informed that the short block needed to be replaced. The local dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to TSB: 19-2208; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,645.

NHTSA ODI 11666736

Coolant is leaking into #4 cylinder causing misfire. This will lead to a blown engine. It is a known issue with Ford but there isn’t a recall as of today. TSB 22-2229 has been released. I spent a lot of money with the plan this car would be safe and reliable for 10+ yrs and well over 100k miles. I am afraid to drive it but have no choice as I work to support my three children and myself. I have owned five Ford vehicles in 40 yrs and have felt loyal to the co. The co needs to be loyal to its customers and fix the issue in my Escape and all others that this disaster is effecting. Thank you. Feel free to contact me.

NHTSA ODI 11665899

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle jerked, and white smoke was coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with spark plug failure. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and determined that the coolant level was low, and the coolant reservoir was refilled. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir needed to be refilled constantly; however, there were no visible coolant leaks. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.

NHTSA ODI 11664525

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and jolted independently while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined the converter assembly, pump assembly, and a screen assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was previously repaired at the same local dealer for converter assembly, pump assembly, and a screen assembly; however, approximately 30,000 miles later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11664315

Vehicle indicates a misfire on cylinder number 2 . Diagnosis of the issue appoint to a leak of coolant into the cylinder bore.

NHTSA ODI 11664432

At 100k miles the engine needs to be replaced for coolant intrusion. Its a 10,000 dollar repair.

NHTSA ODI 11664194

2.0 liter engine misfires cyl 1 &3 coolant loss. Ford tsb 22-2229 States engine needs to be replaced for $10000. 66,000 miles and 6 years. engine number [XXX] [XXX]. Ford says if engine was made 37 days later it would not be defective. ( known defective engine put in my car which I purchased new.) [XXX] original owner INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11664005

Ford eco boost coolant intrusion super common problem ford knows about… quoted 8k for a new motor on a car that’s worth 13k. No warnings, barely and coolant leaking, just started overheating when driving one day. Only has 80,000 miles. It has been look at by a ford dealer and a family friend mechanic. It’s not good to overheat on a 4 lane highway and have to get out of the car to put coolant in it.

NHTSA ODI 11663463

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost motive power with the engine revving abnormally. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle however, after driving 100-feet, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,133.

NHTSA ODI 11663077

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was running rough, with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that there was a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact stated that when the spark plug was removed, the spark plug fractured, and part of the spark plug was left inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11661917

During the month of January my vehicle started to overheat. I pulled over immediately and opened the hood. The coolant was bubbling over and I let it cool down. Once it cooled down I checked the level and noticed it was low. Which was weird since there had not been a leak. I filled it up and went on my way to work. I had my mechanic look at it and there was coolant in the engine. He stated take it to Ford ASAP. Which I did. I had it towed to the ford dealer and was told they would assess it and give me quote for repairs. After a week they cam back with it needs a new engine and the quoted repair was $7800. This car has 80K on it and was purchased from a ford dealer with 33K and was serviced regularly. Zero reason to need an engine unless it was a manufacturing defect. I start to look into recalls and low and behold there is a recall for the same issue from 2017-2019 of April. My car was produced in June I believe. I call Ford Motors and start a claim. After 30 days we finally come to an agreement. I pay $3200.00 and they pay the balance which was helpful considering I was still making payments. Finally get my car back the end of April.

NHTSA ODI 11661156

What component has failed and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine is failing due to coolant intrusion. This is a known issue that can lead to engine fires and failure whilst driving. This problem is reproduce able. The dealership has inspected the issue however it is intermittent and did not occur while they checked. CEL does come on for the issue and first appeared in early 2025.

NHTSA ODI 11660623

Coolant leaking into Cylinder. Causing overheating. Numerous attempts to fix.

NHTSA ODI 11660210

Coolant intrusion into #2 cylinder. Causing total misfire of engine. Data collected on this issue revealed this failure resulted from faulty design in manufacturing.

NHTSA ODI 11658670