Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from underneath the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and noticed the plastic coverage under the vehicle near the engine had folded up. The contact was able to slowly continue to drive to the local dealer who inspected and removed the remaining plastic coverage from the undercarriage of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the vehicle no longer needed that piece and it did not need to be replaced. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and replaced some of the plastic screws that held up the remaining front plastic cover however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that several of the skid plate bolts had detached, causing the front of the skid plate to fall. The independent mechanic informed the contact that only two rear bolts were still attached to the skid plate. The independent mechanic removed the skid plate. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the skid plate bolts had been replaced twice, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
The roof metal is defective. I brought my car to the dealership because the rain was pouring in all around the inside of the vehicle coming from the roof, they misdiagnosed it as rodent damage to the sun roof drainage tubes. I had another mechanic look at it who found that the water was coming through the roof rack. He was able to see inside of the car through the roof metal. Doing a bit of research, I found this is a common problem with these cars and/or Ford roof metal. There is in an open lawsuit from the collapse of a roof that resulted in the death of a couple. I drive with my 2 little children and I'm very concerned about the safety of my car and other Ford vehicle owners.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the roof. The contact stated that the leaks were present at several locations inside the vehicle which included the rear hatch area, the rear driver's, and passenger's side roof areas above the windows, and the from driver's side roof area above the window. The contact also stated that mold was present inside the vehicle due to condensation from the rainwater. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 25,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated when parked the lift gate would independently start to close while she was loading the trunk. The contact stated that the lift gate failure had become constant and eventually became locked and could not be raised or lowered. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who determined that the lift gate automatic system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while receiving a routine inspection on the vehicle, he was informed that there was corrosion around the windshield of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed the corrosion and stated that if the corrosion was not treated, the windshield was at risk of detaching. The structure around the windshield was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the 5-year warranty coverage had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,800.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the ABS sensor lights was illuminated. Additionally, the engine block was previously replaced and there were unknown failures with the windshield wipers and windows operating previously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the undercarriage of the vehicle was in a flood and was rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to unlock the liftgate, the contact was unable to unlock the liftgate using the key fob or the button inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced paint chipping on the roof of the vehicle near the front windshield causing a visibility and safety concern for the driver. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 67,000.
Underneath safety shields Heat shield came loose due to broken clips that held it up Took the vehicle back numerous times,while under warranty ,and requested it to be fixed dealer said it was fixed but it would fall down soon as started driving. Scraped the road when it fell down. Took it back was told to just remove it because that's what most people do well I refused to remove it and will not remove it. I called Ford main headquarters was told not to remove it and take it to another dealer. I took it to another dealer they actually ordered clips and installed new clips to hold the panels up. Within 2 weeks of being fixed it has another clip broke again. I feel this is a huge safety hazard when driving and should one or both panels fall off it could cause a wreck and or damage to other vehicles that may be behind my vehicle. …
Body complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2017 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the body & structure of the 2017 Ford Escape, 2% of the model year's 2,700 complaints. The component named most often is body (53 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Ford Escape body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2017 Ford Escape, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Escape body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.