2017 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

In 2020, my vehicle experienced a coolant leak, which caused the engine to overheat and fail. I had the motor replaced at a Ford service center. Today, in July 2026, my vehicle is experiencing the same issue. The coolant intrusion caused the motor to fail. The vehicle had been inspected and serviced by the Ford service center in December of 2025 and has had annual service/inspections since I purchased the vehicle in 2016. Both times, my safety and the safety of other drivers were put at risk. This issue comes on suddenly, with no warning, and has occurred each time going 65mph on the interstate. There is a sudden loss of power/sputtering combined with high engine temperature. There was no warning until the issue became critical and the check engine light began to flash.

Vehicles auto start stop malfunctions and turns car off at red light. Message states to shift to park and then to press ignition.

The car developed a sudden metalic rattle noise and with no service indication lights on the dash. It was immeaditley serviced by the local Ford dealership and diagnosed as a cracked flex plate in the drivetrain after just 51,000 original miles. This is still within the original milage warranty but outside the warranty limit by years dispite the fact a flexplate doesn't go bad by age. Failure of the flexplate (between engine and transmission) can result in a sudden and major failure of the vehicle's transmission and risk to occupants. I have learned this is a very common point of failure for Ford Escape, Fusion, and Edge vehicles with the 1.5 and 2.0 Ecoboost engines. A CSP repair notice 22N12 and 22N112 has been issued pertaining to certain Fusion and Edge vehicles with 2.0 engines. However, neither the Escape model or the 1.5 engine is included although it uses the same flex plate part and transmission. In addition, the problem was also in SSM-48725 that missing or damaged aliginment pins is a primary cause of failure in the flex plate. Ford is knowingly putting people at risk of harm and financial hardship with a documented and chronic failure of this specific defective part.

The engine overheated and went into limp mode while on the busy interstate, we nearly were hit trying to get off the road because we could not keep speed. The car is available for inspection. It has the typical symptoms of the coolant intrusion as acknowledged by Ford in Technical Service Bulletins 19-2139 and 22-2322. These include startup misfires, rapid loss of coolant into the combustion chambers without external leaks, and severe overheating causing the vehicle to enter limp mode. The misfire's are throwing engine codes P0302 (Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected) and P0303 (Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected) This just happened on July 8, 2026 and the car has 105,203 miles.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Coolant system coolant is leaking into cylinder #3, causing misfires; head gasket leaking into cylinder. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? UNKNOWN Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed via dealer diagnosis 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? Unknown when the underlying problem first occurred.

Coolant intrusion in cylinder #4. Documented in Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. Requires engine replacement. Vehicle has 40k miles.

Check engine light came on XXX. Engine coolant level was extremely low, shuddering "start" several times the previous week. My 2017 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost Turbo engine, with only 38,245 original miles has the well known and documented issue with the 2.0L EcoBoost block with the P0302 misfire code. Numerous TSB's have been issued about this (some are TSP 19-2346 and TSB 22-2229). The engine coolant has intruded into Cylinder 2 necessitating a long block engine replacement. This was the formal diagnosis by the Ford Service Department at my Ford Dealership on XXX, after running a cooling system pressure test and a borescope inspection with photos proving coolant is in Cylinder 2. I've seen numerous other complaints online and on this website ([XXX]) about this exact issue with the same yr/make/model/engine. Since this is a premature failure of a major powertrain component due to a known factory defect which can cause safety issues, please issue a recall for 2017 Ford Escape cars with the 2.0L EcoBoost Turbo engines. This can cause a fire (and has from what I have read) and damage the catalytic converter if driven. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving my 2017 Ford Escape with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine AFTER an oil change, I noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. Shortly afterward, the check engine light began flashing. I immediately stopped driving the vehicle and had it inspected by an independent repair shop. The shop diagnosed the vehicle with a cracked engine related to coolant intrusion, requiring an engine rebuild estimated at approximately $4,000. The vehicle is currently inoperable and remains at the repair shop awaiting repairs. The vehicle has approximately 84,000 miles. I contacted Ford and opened a customer assistance case requesting goodwill assistance because I understand there have been widespread reports of coolant intrusion and engine failure involving the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. My request was denied. I am submitting this report because I believe a sudden engine failure accompanied by heavy white smoke and a flashing check engine light presents a potential safety concern and may be related to a defect affecting other vehicles with the same engine.

The car is having coolant intrusion in the engine block, it’s misfiring and popping codes po301-po303. It’s shooting white smoke out the back.

On 7/6/26 the car started to rough idle and engine light was coming on/off/on - so we took into the local shop and check for misfiring - mechanic opened up spark plug and scoped and immediately noticed coolant inside the cylinder #1/4. Proceed to call me and note this particular engine they have seen dozens of these issues and the engine block needs to be replaced. TSB was pulled up noting that the engines were defective from a certain period of time and Ford was replacing them. Took to dealer on 7/7/26 and they proceeded to tell me the same issue but this was out of any warranty that Ford would offer. I understand this TSB was issued in 2022 or maybe earlier as I am just gathering information at this time. I do not recall seeing a recall issued for this issue. Is this a known issue to the NHTSA ? Why has a recall not been issued or is their a process to have this issued ? Are there any class action lawsuits for this engine ? The obvious safety concern is an useable engine, extreme cost to replace and Ford knowing that this engine had some issues early on. The car only has 74,000 miles and I am told Ford will not warranty this. Please provide clarity on known issues and what has or has not been done about it.