10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 6 / 10
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 23,369 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.
Coolant intrusion into engine causing the car to over heat and break down multiple times. On going issue unable to be repaired by multiple mechanics for a year and a half. Coolant leak confirmed during diagnostic using a scope.
- Laurel, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle remotely, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started manually, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #4. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred three days later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,900.
- Redmond, OR, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart but was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Firestone but was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a cracked fuel injector had leaked fuel into cylinder #3, creating a hole in the cylinder and the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
- Strongsville, OH, USA
Known issue with coolant intrusion into EcoBoost engines
- Duncansville, PA, USA
The engine block of this vehicle is suspected of having a coolant loss/coolant intrusion fault per my independent, certified mechanic. Issues began about a year ago, before 70,000 miles. Several trips to the Ford dealer did not yield any helpful information. This issue started with an occasional misfire or rough idle on startup. A MIL engine scanner revealed code P0302, cylinder 2 misfire. The code was reset and the issue went away for a short period of time. However, it has been returning more frequently, and I've been stranded more than once out of fear of the engine overheating. Coolant consumption is higher than usual, and it is being replaced with approved Ford coolant only. An independent mechanic performed a few tests, the most basic being inspection of the plugs and cylinder, and noted possibility of coolant in cylinder 2 and 3. A midstream sample of the oil during an oil change was bottled and sent to a specialty laboratory for testing. The oil test confirms presence of small amounts of coolant in the used engine oil. My own research into the issue reveals there was a Ford TSB 19-2346, "Coolant in cylinders, white exhaust smoke and/or illuminated MIL, " of which I was never informed by Ford as the original owner since new purchase of the vehicle in 2017.
- Princeton, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling at several different gas stations, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact added fuel cleaner to the fuel tank. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V187000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
- Covington, GA, USA
I have been noticing radiator fluid loss the past few months along with a recent engine light coming on so I took my Ford Escape to Vanderhyde Ford Dealership in Cedar Springs Michigan and they were going to do a leak check on the cylinders to see if antifreeze was leaking but they were only able to get 3 of the 4 spark plug out of engine block. They said they didn't want to break the spark plug off inside the block. I asked what would cause the spark plug to corrode and they said it's possible my #1 cylinder is leaking antifreeze and corroding the aluminum intake manifold and the steel spark plugs. So, I took car back home and let engine cool and I was able to get spark plug out. I now have appointment 7/23/2025 to have cylinders checked for leaks. Updates coming if leak in cylinders is confirmed.
- Sand Lake, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Engine Fault Service Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,114.
- Jasper, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- Shillington, PA, USA
At 51,000 engine needs replaced due to defect that causes coolant to leak into engine. Vehicle has a very slow start when stepping on the accelerator due to no compression from the coolant leak into the piston. White smoke would come from exhaust when accelerating. When pulling out into traffic car will almost stall out. Check engine light had been on repeatedly for the issue and Ford service. They claimed they did not see any issues. I had taken it to other places for service and they stated it should be under warranty with Ford. Ford does have a TSB on the issue but no recall
- Maineville, OH, USA
Check engine light illuminated. Produced codes 012, 014, 1299. Took to have it check out. Coolant level was low. Codes were cleared and a day or two afterward, check engine light came back on with same codes.
- Danville, PA, USA
Component/System Involved: Engine -?" Coolant Intrusion into Cylinder #4 Vehicle: 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost; mileage 47k. My 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine experienced engine misfires and sudden coolant loss. Upon inspection, it was confirmed by a Ford-authorized dealership (Koons Falls Church Ford, VA) that this is due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #4-?"a known defect with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine in many Ford models from similar years. This issue appeared on July 9, 2025. The issue began with a misfire warning and engine vibration around 47,000 miles. The Ford dealer diagnosed coolant entering the combustion chamber as the root cause, requiring engine replacement. The engine is available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a clear safety hazard, as coolant entering the cylinder can lead to engine stalling or complete failure while driving. The loss of power and unexpected misfire episodes posed a risk to me, my spouse, and our two children while driving. Ford Motor Company denied goodwill financial assistance, citing the vehicle-??s age (>7 years), despite its low mileage (47k), excellent service history, and the well-documented design flaw. The defect is known to occur between 60K-?"100K miles across various Ford vehicles with the same engine type, yet no recall or consumer repair program has been issued. I am reporting this for safety and accountability reasons and urge NHTSA to investigate this issue further. No check engine light appeared until the misfire occurred, and there were no prior warnings of coolant loss.
- Arlington, VA, USA
The coolant leaks into the the cylinders. I bought this car June 7th 2025 and was told it was being sold as is due to hail damage. I have no issue with cosmetic problems but I come to find out that there is major defect with ford escapes. My vehicle started to overheat with my children in the car so I checked the coolant and it was empty. I have been keeping my eye on it and filling when needed but when I went to turn it on a couple days ago it will not start at all. I put 4,000 down on this car and got into payments because I trusted the dealership to put me in a car that was not known for these issues. I had no idea because I am not in the car business and I scrambled to get a car because mine was wrecked. The check engine light even came as the salesman was pumping gas to give me the car after I bought it and told me they would check into. I was told a couple days later it was a loose ignition coil and that they topped off the coolant for me. It was within the same week that I started having these issues because I am sure this issue was preexisting but they did not want to tell me.
- Fayetteville, AR, USA
Check engine light came on and engine began to run rough. After inspection by Ford Dealer, it turns out this was because of a known issue with 2017 Ford Escapes. Continuing to drive could cause catastrophic engine failure or engine fire. This issue was diagnosed by Crossroads Ford of Apex, NC, where it was determined that coolant entered the combustion chamber and spark plug #1 has seized. This is a well-documented design flaw in the 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines and is identical to cases addressed under Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 and TSB 22-2133. When the dealership requested assistance from Ford Representative the request was denied. Now the estimate to fix car that we bought new in preparation for retirement and diligently paid off is $10708. We have also requested an escalation of this issue with Ford Customer Relations at of July 15, 2025. As of this time, dealer says car could die while driving at any time, leading to fire or accident.
- Cary, NC, USA
Coolant leaking into cylinder of the engine. Recommendation from the dealer is that the engine has internal damage and replacing the main engine to fix it (long block). Cost estimate provided is; $10,000.
- Troy, MI, USA
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a serious safety defect in the Ford Escape equipped with the Ecoboost engine, which is known to suffer from internal coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. This defect poses significant safety risks, including engine misfire, sudden loss of power while driving, and the potential for engine fires. In my specific case, a Ford dealership has confirmed that my vehicle is experiencing coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, which has led to a cracked cylinder sleeve and engine misfire. Despite this being a well-documented issue linked to a flawed engine design, my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) was not included in the Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, which addresses this exact problem. The symptoms and confirmed diagnosis of my vehicle match the description and root cause identified in Ford's internal documents and the scope of the CSP. However, Ford has not taken responsibility for vehicles outside the limited range of VINs it chose to cover, leaving many owners-?"myself included-?"at risk of catastrophic engine failure and serious safety consequences. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue more comprehensively. The scope of Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 is clearly too narrow and excludes many vehicles suffering from the same dangerous condition. This issue warrants a formal safety recall, not a limited service program, due to the substantial risk it presents to vehicle occupants and others on the road. Please take action to compel Ford to take full responsibility for this defect and protect consumers from preventable mechanical failures and fire risks.
- New Market, MD, USA
The engine light came on while driving, and the car immediately started sputtering and producing a lot of smoke. Luckily, I was able to pull over safely and turn off the vehicle. After the car cooled off, I inspected the oil level and noticed it was low. I had my partner bring me new 5W20 oil, and I refilled the oil compartment, but upon restarting the engine, the light did not go away. The vehicle had to be towed to the shop, where it was diagnosed with low pressure on piston #2 caused by coolant intrusion and recommended engine replacement, with a quote of $12,391.83. There were no signs or symptoms before the catastrophic failure. The car is very well taken care of and has had all oil changes done at the recommended frequency. The car is 8 years old and has 92,855 miles, just outside of the limits covered by Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. I feel that there should have been a recall for this known issue that put my life at risk due to Ford's negligence. I still have the car and it is available for inspection, but I don't know what to do since the repair is more expensive than the retail value of the vehicle.
- Concord, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on three occasions, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jumpstarted on each occasion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that on two occasions when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone where a handled diagnostic machine retrieved a code that the VVT valve timing solenoid had an error. The vehicle was taken to the residence and the part was replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred after several days. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on two occasions the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not reared. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure was approximately 150,000.
- West Springfield, MA, USA
It stopped at a red light with no warning. It would only drive 5 miles per hour. The temp gauge was topped out. Mechanic said that it was leaking fluid in the cylinder and cracked the head. Having to get a new engine. I-??ve read that this is an ongoing problem with Ford. Should not have to pay to replace a defective engine
- Franklin, KY, USA
- North Beach, MD, USA