Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 called on behalf of her husband, who owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that her husband was approaching a stop sign at 5 MPH, and upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal with both feet in order to bring the vehicle to a complete stop; no warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions where the brake pedal failed to stop the vehicle. On a most recent occasion, the contact parked in an empty lot when the vehicle accelerated, causing her to crash into a wall in front at an unknown speed. The building's wall was damaged, and the vehicle came to a stop upon impact. The vehicle was towed to a local repair center. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. No injuries were reported. …
The contact's wife owned a 2017 Ford Escape. While the contact's wife was driving at 80 MPH, both a stop engine and check engine warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact's wife called the contact who was then informed to immediately pull over. As the contact's wife pulled over, black smoke began to emit from the engine. The contact's wife exited the vehicle as the vehicle quickly caught fire. The authorities were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owned a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while at a stop light a plastic electrical type odor was present coming from the air conditioning vents. Moments later while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and smoke was present coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled and caught on fire. The contact indicated that the flames started in the engine compartment and quickly engulfed the entire vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed away from the scene. The cause of the fire was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently started jerking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and opened the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that he noticed that the vehicle did not have coolant and he refilled the coolant. The contact stated that as he continued to drive the vehicle, the vehicle started jerking significantly and was misfiring. The contact checked the engine coolant level and noticed that it was almost empty 15 minutes later. The contact stated that he added distilled water to the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that as he continued to drive that same day, the vehicle was jerking significantly. The contact turned off the vehicle and was unable to restart the vehicle without a jump start. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that cylinder #1 was misfiring. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where cylinder #1 coil pack was replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that his father noticed that the coolant temperature appeared higher than normal. Upon inspecting the coolant reservoir, the contact's father noticed that the coolant level was low. The contact's father refilled the coolant reservoir; however, the coolant level was low upon inspecting the coolant reservoir for the second time. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that the vehicle started to hesitate then shuddered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine misfired and cylinder and the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, a month later the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light intermittently flashed. The contact veered to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that cylinder #2 had misfired and the coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. …
I have had to have my engine and my transmission replaced within 2 months apart I keep writing and calling everyone I can I keep hearing the 1.0 l engines are blowing up too due to the wet belt and they're doing nothing with the 1.5 l engines due to the coolant issues I had no warning lights going off in my car and it blew the motor if it wouldn't have been for me going downhill I could have easily been killed. I need some reimbursement I have worked out over almost 20 grand between the transmission and engine for repairs and I owe people money I can't afford this anymore. Why can you not make Ford pay for these. All of these engines are bad and the 1.0's and the 1.5 leader engines. I have all the documentation from what I paid for both all I would like is for half back. It seems like nobody's doing anything about this you keep asking for the approximate date and I do not remember. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contacted stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front end and the rear end of the vehicle were shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission was replaced; however, the front end of the vehicle continued to shudder while starting the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that cylinder #2 was misfiring. The mechanic replaced the shock absorbers and spark plugs; however, the failure persisted. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly, causing the vehicle to vibrate abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that ignition coil #2 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the air intake assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where the same diagnostic was provided to the contact that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. …
Engine complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2017 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 1,993 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2017 Ford Escape, 74% of the model year's 2,700 complaints. The component named most often is cooling system (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Ford Escape engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 10 fires and 5 injuries to engine & cooling 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.