10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 21,531 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
On [XXX] at [XXX] I called the hot line and a case number was created [XXX] I believe I got real specific on the problem at that time....however...to review.... I started experiencing the symptoms of engine idling rough upon starting the car and have DTC code PO301. My engine is 2.0L Ecoboost. Ford issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 that lists the exact same issue for Ford Escapes same year, but with 1.5L Ecoboost Engines. The program offers a no-cost, one-time repair for same issue and with the 1.5L engine. My daughter had the exact same issue on her 2017 Ford Escape and we had to replace engine at a cost of $9000. I took our 2018 Ford Escape to our dealer, Ken Grody Ford and we were told that they could not help, because of the engine size. We fit all other conditions of the 21N12 Satisfaction Program. If this engine fails, we could be at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Oceanside, CA, USA
I am the original owner of a 2018 Ford Escape that has been well maintained and serviced regularly at a Ford dealership. Recently, the check engine light came on. Diagnostic codes were P0012 & P0014 in PCM. After a diagnostic inspection, the dealer removed the spark plugs and scoped the cylinders. They found excessive scoring and confirmed that coolant had entered the engine cylinders-?"a known and widely reported issue in EcoBoost engines. The dealership informed me that the engine would need to be replaced at a cost of $12,000. Although the vehicle is still running at the moment, they indicated it-??s only a matter of time before it fails. This Escape has less than 100,000 miles. Through research and conversations with other owners, I-??ve learned that this is a recurring issue with Ford EcoBoost engines (1.5L, 1.6L, and 2.0L) from 2013-?"2019. There are numerous complaints of coolant intrusion into the engine, leading to misfires, white smoke, stalling, and eventual engine failure. Ford appears to be aware of this issue and issued TSB 22-2229, which recommends replacing the long block engine under certain conditions. However, they are not offering repairs or cost assistance unless the customer presses the issue-?"and often only after filing complaints or escalating to regional reps. I have personally spoken with at least three other Ford owners who experienced this exact problem. This is a serious defect that could result in unexpected vehicle failure or even fire risk (as some reports have noted) while driving. It poses a safety concern and should be investigated. A recall should be considered.
- Plymouth, WI, USA
Coolant leak into cylinder resulting in a misfiring cylinder and engine overheating. This is a known issue that FoMoCo has a service bulletin for. [XXX] My vehicle falls within the parameters of this, however, there are no active recalls for this problem. Doing some Google searches, it appears this issue is wide-ranging and is affecting a lot of Escape owners whose vehicles fall within the service bulletin. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Elkhorn, NE, USA
Coolant is leaking into the engine causing a code of p1299 stating coolant head temperature sensor bad but change out and problem persisted come to find out that coolant goes missing with any apparent leaks outside did an pressure test and coolant is going into engine.
- Miami, FL, USA
Coolant leaking and also p0302 code. Engine is about to go and is a common failure within these cars.
- Wellington, CO, USA
Vehicle has 62,151 miles. I am making this complaint as the original owner of this vehicle. We performed all recommended maintenance on this vehicle at the dealership on schedule including the three recall repairs. On [XXX] I noted a rough idle for a few seconds at start up. Later that day the check engine light came on. Dealer diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders and noted that this is a known issue in 2017-2019 Escapes that were manufactured in Louisville, KY but no recall was ever issued. Instead Ford opted for a Customer Satisfaction Program (21N12) and did not inform owners of the program proactively. They just let engines fail and owners lose the value of their investment overnight. Had this happened to my car 6 months ago they would have fixed it. We called the Ford Customer Assistance line, and Ford has declined to assist with the repair of their faulty manufacturing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Overland Park, KS, USA
Leaking antifreeze into Cylinder 2, causing mis firing the engine, damaging the engine.Also overheating the engine, hesitation when trying to accelerate.
- Louisville, KY, USA
When driving home from a hike my car over heated. I was mostly going downhill and my air-conditioning was off. I was 15 minutes into my drive home and I was 15 miles from any sort of gas stations, food, water, bathrooms, ect. I had to park on the side of a mountain road while other cars flew past me on the winding road with limited pull off options. I took my car to the only gas station within 30 miles. My coolant was dried up even though I topped it off with the proper orange coolant only last month when we were replacing spark plugs. I mad it home and then took my car to a shop. 2 days later. The new jug of coolant I had put in 2 days prior was now dried up. My car now needs a new engine due to issues with the eco boost leaking coolant nto my engine. Ford apparently offers some possible assistance finically if your car has less than 88,000 miles. My car hit 88,888 just before it over heated on that drive. So helpful. This is a know issue for my specific vehicle and not was was i made aware. I do well keeping up on regular maintenence and the recall for the transmission shifter is being addressed at this moment.
- Greeley, CO, USA
The engine is misfiring and riding rough, with the check engine light on. After a series of service calls to an independent mechanic to replace other components, and the issue not resolving, I took it to a Ford dealership. Ford concluded that coolant is leaking into cylinder #3 of the engine, requiring a complete engine replacement. This is identified as a known design issue, with the root cause specifically being a defect in the engine block. If left untreated, this coolant intrusion (causing engine misfires) will lead to unburned fuel and coolant entering the exhaust system, which will then overheat and/or poison the catalytic converter, eventually destroying it. To discover this root cause, several auto parts were needlessly replaced and discarded: spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel system fluids, and an air intake tube.
- Phoenixville, PA, USA
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" The component that failed is the engine cooling system, specifically due to a known issue with coolant intrusion into the short block. This failure led to significant engine damage in my son-??s 2018 Ford Escape. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The sudden engine failure posed a serious safety risk. If the vehicle had stalled while in motion-?"particularly on a highway or in heavy traffic-?"it could have led to a collision or left the driver stranded in a hazardous location. In this case, my son's car failed unexpectedly, which could have resulted in harm had the conditions been different. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center" Yes, the issue has been confirmed by a certified service technician. It matches a known problem in 2018 Ford Escapes involving coolant leaking into the engine block, which has been documented in Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) issued by Ford. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others" At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, the diagnosis and confirmation of coolant intrusion was made by a mechanic. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No. Only engine coolant container was empty without warning.
- Fresno, CA, USA
2018 Ford Escape with 86k miles, low for its age, diagnosed with a cracked cylinder block.Ford had issued a Technical Service Bulletin. 22-2322 for Escapes manufactured between 2017 and 2019 with the symptoms described in the bulletin-?"code P0303, low coolant in reservoir, rough idle, and white smoke and Ford said they couldn-??t help. An $8600 bill on a car that retails around 14k makes this car disposable in the sense that it makes no sense to repair. Extended warranty purchased ran concurrently with manufacturer-??s warranty so repair is no longer covered. Ford knows the issue; yet won-??t take responsibility for their defect.
- Thornton, NH, USA
Per the dealer service shop - "found coolant intrusion in the cylinders" and stated entire engine would need to be replaced at a cost greater than the value of the vehicle.
- Fairfield, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there a misfire coming from the engine, with an abnormal coolant odor on the inside and outside of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local O-??Reilly-??s, where it was diagnosed with a #4-cylinder misfire, and the power pack was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic for a second opinion, where it was diagnosed with the same failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The local dealer was contacted and advised that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #4; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle needed to be towed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,500.
- Muskegon, MI, USA
A check engine light came on. I brought it to a local mechanic and my Ford Dealership and they both confirmed coolant intrusion into the 1.5 Liter Ecoboost engine. The only fix would be a replacement engine. My safety was at risk because the engine could have catastrophically failed while I was driving due to the coolant intrusion into cylinder 2. This could have caused serious injury or death. Ford knows about a design flaw in their 1.5 Liter Ecoboost engine that can lead to serious injury or death but has chosen to do nothing about it. Before the check engine light came on the car was emitting a rotten egg smell. Also when reversing, the whole car would shake. The rotten egg smell eventually went away but when the check engine light came on, the car still would shake when reversing. The car would also occasionally jerk when going to stop or accelerate after the check engine light came on. Reading online this exact issue has happened to thousands of people on several different Ford models with Ecoboost engines. Ford is ignoring the engine defect and forcing people to spend thousands of dollars on engine replacements when the issue occurs. Please force a recall before someone gets seriously hurt or dies due to this issue.
- Greendale, WI, USA
At 121,000 miles, my 2018 Ford Escape SE developed a crack in the 2nd cylinder wall as reported by an independent service center owner. Based on an internet search, this is a common issue among many Ford Escape owners. Our safety was put at risk, as the car became unsafe to drive.
- Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Coolant levels drop without leaks, assuming coolant intrusion into engine cylinders. This is a known issue that requires engine block replacement yet Ford dealership says my VIN is not covered by their own TSB. This was purchased new from Ford dealership, serviced properly and has less than 55K miles.
- Meridian, ID, USA
The engine lost compression as determined by a mechanic resulting in a used engine being installed into my vehicle. The used engine that was installed into my vehicle started leaking coolant into the engine after only 500 miles of driving.
- Winsted, MN, USA
There is a design flaw in the engine block of this vehicle that allows engine coolant to enter the combustion cylinders causing the car to buck and kill the engine.
- Lafayette, IN, USA
While driving my car my check engine light started blinking and then went solid. I went to get the codes checked and they had originally thought it was something with the spark plug. After driving the car around a little longer the check engine light started to blink and then my engine would not allow me to go over 25 miles without shuddering violently. I took my car into a local dealership where I bought it and they checked everything over and found out that the coolant was leaking into the engine and certain cylinders. The mechanic told me that this is apparently a common problem with this car however he told me there was no recall at the time that allowed for my car to be repaired by ford. Had I not stopped driving my car and got it towed to the dealership there's a very good chance I could have been injured due to serious engine malfunction. The fact that Ford is not picking up this tab is absolutely absurd.
- Hobart, WI, USA
- Naperville, IL, USA