2017 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into the engine and advised the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 80,000.

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.

My 2017 Ford Escape has been exhibiting recurring transmission and torque converter-related issues, especially during low-speed driving. The vehicle frequently hesitates when accelerating and experiences sudden reductions in power, creating unsafe driving conditions in traffic and on inclines. These symptoms often occur below 40 MPH and are accompanied by a noticeable shudder and jerking sensation. Despite regular maintenance, the drivability continues to deteriorate, resembling the widespread problems other owners have reported. I am submitting this complaint in hopes that Ford will acknowledge and address this serious mechanical defect.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking and vibrating abnormally, and the engine became overheated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine head gasket was blown and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,000.

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.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, there was an excessive amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to not drive the vehicle because the engine could seize. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,900.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,500.

Transmission total catastrophic Internal failure. Parts of the transmission broke loose internally and came out the side of the bellhousing. Total replacement cost is over $5000 and parts are unavailable due to frequency of issues with these transmissions.

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.

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.