My 2017 Ford Escape began leaking transmission fluid in May of 2025. I had it assessed at my local engine and transmission exchange shop and they found that the leaking was coming from the font main seal and the front pump bushing of the transmission was damaged. The only fix to ensure that this issue would not happen again was to put a different transmission in the car, because this model was so prone to have this issue. I spent the money to have a new transmission installed and the car worked well. Two months later, however, the car began having episodes of not starting, or the engine completely shutting down, no matter where I was on the road. When this occurred, a messaged popped up on the dash counsel stating "Engine Fault, Service Now." I had the car looked at at the same car shop and they found the engine now had an issue. A head gasket was damaged allowing coolant to enter the piston cylinders, fluid locking the engine and shutting down the car. Like the transmission, the only repair is to replace the engine with a new model due to the original model being so prone to this issue. Ford does have a warranty for these issues for a model that is less than 7 years old and less than 84,000 miles. I purchased this vehicle preowned and already outside of that warranty date, therefore these expensive fixes are not covered. The dealership did not report these issue or recalls when selling us the vehicle.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

I was told the head gasket was leaking coolant fluid into the engine and the engine needs to be replaced. I have only driven 37,000 miles on it, always treated on time and only in Ford dealerships. I found out Ford knew about that problem and did not issue a recall or extend the warranty on that issue. I was quoted $14,000 to replace the engine, which is roughly the value of the car.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

My check engine light came on and my mechanic found codes P0300 and P0316 for engine misfires. Upon further inspection, they found coolant leaking onto cylinders, which they deemed could be a failed head gasket, cracked cylinder blocks, or a cracked engine block, which does include a warranty extension for this. They referred me to the dealership because this is a documented common problem, but the dealership is saying that there are no extended coverages pertaining to that on my car. My vehicle is available upon request and there were no symptoms prior to the failure. It seemed to happen out of nowhere.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Engine block/head gasket failed prematurely (approximately 75,000 miles) allowing engine coolant to enter the cylinder leading to engine failure/replacement.

- Port Orchard , WA, USA

I am reporting a serious engine and reoccurring defect in my 2017 Ford Escape (1.5L EcoBoost), which poses a safety risk due to recurring cylinder misfire and engine failure.This issue aligns with Ford's known TSBs 19-2346 and 22-2134, and DTCs P0302 (Cylinder 2 Misfire) and P0316 (Misfire on Startup). This defect presents clear safety concerns, including rough idling, loss of power, increased emissions, stalling in traffic, is unsafe to drive, and potential risk of other mechanical failures with continued use without repair. In 2022, at approx. 83,747 miles, the engine was replaced by Bill Currie Ford under a recall related to cylinder 3 head failure. Now, less than 37,000 miles later on the replacement engine, the exact same issue has returned, with identical fault codes and driveability concerns. Despite this being a known and documented defect across the EcoBoost engines and replacement engines, Ford and the servicing dealership, Bill Currie Ford, refuse to cover the cost of another repair, claiming no further responsibility. Of note, the vehicle was habitually serviced there and the defective engine was installed by them. Multiple reports suggest this issue continues even after engine replacement, raising concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the recall and it actually being "fixed" with the replacement engines. I have contacted Ford Motor Company and the dealership directly to escalate the issue, but I have been denied resolution. I am now urging the NHTSA to: - Investigate the long-term safety and effectiveness of repairs done under the TSBs and related recalls. - Determine if replacement engines are also defective. - Consider expanding or reissuing a recall campaign for affected vehicles. - Ensure owners are not left with recurring failures at their own expense. - Assistance in helping me get my engine replaced by Ford, at their expense. Thank you for your attention to this safety matter.

- Tampa, FL, USA

The engine has a coolant leak into cylinder number 2 causing a misfire which was diagnosed by an auto repair business. The vehicle has 39,960 miles on it and Ford is saying that it would require a new engine at my cost of $8,000. Not acceptable with a known issue with this engine. I am scared to drive it due to this as this is supposed to be an issue that could leave me and my family stranded.

- Billings, MT, USA

Engine light illuminating due to a known issue by Ford due to coolant leaking into the engine. Could potentially lead to fire within the engine. Ford has confirmed although they are aware of the issues, there are no recalls to fix the issue and we must pay for it on our own

- Lewisberry, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, white smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe, and the engine overheated while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the used car dealer, where the vehicle was purchased, and the spark plugs, ignition coils, and oxygen sensor were replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2346 (Coolant in Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/or Illuminated MIL); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

- Wrentham, MA, USA

Engine light came on and then 3 days later, the car would not drive. Got the car inspected and found out the coolant is leaking into the engine.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that an abnormal, rumbling sound was coming from the vehicle at start-up, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a tune-up was performed on it. Despite the tune-up, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed there was coolant intrusion into the engine and the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to two other independent mechanics, who advised the contact not to replace the head gasket because it was not a permanent repair. The contact was advised to replace the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 67,895.

- Brick, NJ, USA

Coolant leak into an engine cylinder.

- Brentwood, CA, USA

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" The engine coolant system failed due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known defect in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. This caused white exhaust smoke, engine misfires, overheating, and eventual engine failure. The vehicle is currently undriveable and available for inspection upon request. A Ford dealership diagnosed the issue and provided a written estimate for full engine replacement. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle experienced loss of engine power, stalling, and overheating while driving, posing a significant safety risk on the road. There were instances where I felt unsafe continuing to drive the vehicle, and I was concerned about the possibility of engine failure while driving at highway speeds or in high-traffic conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by Colorado Engine, which provided an $11,000 estimate for a complete engine replacement due to coolant intrusion. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been discussed with a certified Ford dealership. I have not involved police or insurance representatives at this time. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" Yes. Symptoms included: Low coolant warnings (despite no visible leak) White smoke from the exhaust Rough idling, engine shaking, and occasional stalling Intermittent engine overheating warnings These symptoms began in late May 2025, roughly 3 years after I purchased the vehicle from CarMax. The issues progressively worsened until the vehicle became undriveable.

- Denver, CO, USA

Coolant leaking unknown source

- London, OH, USA

Engine failure. Engine was confirmed by a dealer to have engine failure from coolant intrusion into the cylinder body. Check engine light appeared before failure occurred.

- Leroy, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the transmission downshifted and upshifted intermittently, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to slow down and exiting the highway, the brake pedal was depressed however, the brake pedal was extremely stiff. The vehicle was shifted to neutral(N) for the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved information that the cam shaft sensor was not working properly, and the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the brake booster was defective and failed to build up pressure as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.

- Houlton, ME, USA

My car began throwing codes for a Cylinder 2 misfire in October of 23. We did a tune up. Within a few months, same issue. By Oct of 24 my head gasket needed replaced. Now it is August of 25 and I am having the same issue and signs that the head gasket is bad again. I am told by dealers this is due to a faulty head gasket that Ford knowingly put in the vehicles. There is a limited recall for the 1.6L but not the 2.0 EcoBoost motors. I am now out thousands of dollars for the new head gasket less than a year ago and am being told the only fix is to replace the engine as a whole which will be thousands of more. This is due to Ford putting in faulty parts, and not taking responsibility. I am now out of a car, while working full time with an [XXX] and a baby on the way because Ford my & my childrens safety is not worth driving a car that could break down at any moment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Barnhart, MO, USA

coolant leaking into engine causing overheating

- Johnson City, TN, USA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" 1.5L short block, due to coolant intrusion to the cylinder bores How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine could stop running. I drive with two small children so their safety would be at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?Confirmed by a dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" Check engine light. This is a known issue that Ford is aware of. I did not receive any communication that this should be fixed and am now facing a repair that exceeds that value of the vehicle.

- Indian Trail, NC, USA

I am loosing coolant into the engine, most likely into cylinder#2, spark plug is seized in the block, I have to add coolant every 3-4 days to prevent overheating.

- Springfield, IL, USA

I bought a used 2017 Ford Escape Titanium in September of 2024. Around a month and a half later, the check engine light came on and had the code P0302. The check engine light has been intermittent since then. My car only has 56,558 miles on it and it is a 2017 so this has been extremely frustrating.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA