10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 6 / 10
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 23,244 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Engine coolant leaks into the engine and it shuts down. Happened 3 times. We repaired not knowing it was same issues and now it broke down again on the highway. Now the mechanic says "you need a new engine". Perfect service records.
- Hernando, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. 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 advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
- College Grove, TN, USA
Engine block problems, fluid leakage.
- Ashley, IL, USA
Check engine light came on and code said cylinders 1 and 2 were misfiring. Took it to dealership and were told coolant leaked/intrusion that has ruined the engine. Dealership stated that Ford is aware of the problem that is due to a design flaw but has yet to rectify the problem for customers. This is absolutely putting the safety of vehicle operators in danger as well as others on the road.
- North Chesterfield, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact's daughter stated that while driving 40 MPH around a bend, the brakes failed to function as intended. The contact's daughter depressed the brake pedal, but the brake pedal seized. The contact's daughter had to depress the brake pedal with force. The vehicle came to a stop when the contact's daughter shifted the vehicle into park(P). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with vacuum brake booster pump failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact's daughter stated that when the mechanic took the vehicle for a test drive, the timing belt fractured. The vehicle was then diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000.
- Wadsworth, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting and driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle hesitated with a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
Our engine light came on in our 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with 51,917 miles on it on February 3, 2025, so we immediately visited our Ford dealer. The codes were P0302 and P0316 for misfire. Repairs completed included spark plugs, induction kit, air intake cleaner, sealant belts and gaskets, brake cleaner, antifreeze, and oil conditioner. We paid $3,979.21 for this repair. We picked up the vehicle and shortly later at 52,144 miles, it exhibited the exact same symptoms. We went back to the dealer and we were told that we then needed a new engine due to a coolant leak that had damaged ours. They did credit us back a small amount from the previous repair, but we paid this time $7,371.85 to have our car repaired. All of this has happened before 53,000 miles. We were told there was a coolant leak and that is what damaged the engine. Ford is very aware of this problem. We did speak with our service advisor as well as the service director.
- Sun City, AZ, USA
Block has crack in it and is losing coolant and running rough. I found out that is a problem with lots of 2017 Ford Escapes.
- Thurmont, MD, USA
Transmission failed turbo failed electrical systems failed.
- Abingdon , VA, USA
Coolant intrusion, a defect where coolant leaks into the engine's cylinders, causing misfires and engine damage.
- Wellington, OH, USA
My 2017 Ford Escape 2.0 liter has a crack in the engine block and coolant leaking into the #1 cylinder. My car was diagnosed at Columbia Ford in CT. My car has < 80,000 miles and needs a new engine! No recalls found at this time. I did contact Ford and am waiting to hear back. This is a known problem by Ford and I believe there is a recall on the 1.5 liter engine with the same problem.
- East Hampton , CT, USA
Engine failure. Known Ford engine problem due to antifreeze intrusion into the engine.
- Perry, MO, USA
On February 3,2025 I was driving car on highway when engine's red light came on. I called local Ford dealership and they said to drive car in to them. On February 19, 2025 after they performed inspection I was told engine light came on due to " long block due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #2".
- Hanford, CA, USA
coolant leak and intrusion into cynlinder. resulted in spark plug corrosion, siezed spark plug, unable to remove
- N Barrington, IL, USA
My engine died due to coolant leaking into the cylinder due to a manufacturing defect that FORD had known about for many years but about which we, the drivers were not warned. This could have happened on a busy freeway and been very dangerous.
- Newcastle, WA, USA
The engine has a coolant leak to the engine block. Faulty engine design.
- Wellington, KS, USA
Had the motor replaced in 2021 for cylinder 3 misfire, i had the car parked in my driveway & i go to start the car & the temperature is immediately going to hot. I had the car diagnosed and the motor is blown once again. My car is well taken care of with oil changes & maintence.
- Finleyville, PA, USA
I was driving from Colorado to Moab, Utah in Feb 2025 when my car-??s engine started making a ticking noise. It had only about 80,000 miles on it at the time and had never had any major issues in the past. I-??ve only ever taken it to the Ford service department for regular maintenance and they do a multi point inspection every time-?"I went in January a month before the trip to Moab and they had found no issues. I took it into 2 mechanics and both said I-??d need to replace the engine. The diagnostic from Ford is below. Customer Reports: C/S HEARING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. CHECK AND ADVISE. Caused by: AUDIBLE TICKING NOISE AROUND CYLINDER 3. NO CODES. REQUIRES TEAR DOWN TO PINPOINT. ADVISE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. Because both mechanics said we-??d need a new engine for $6-9k we had to sell the car in Moab and try to figure out how to get back home to Colorado.
- Silverthorne, CO, USA
Issues described in Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229. 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant in Cylinders, white exhaust smoke and/or illuminated malfunction indicator light.
- Kissimmee, FL, USA
- Shoreline , WA, USA