I have coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, pressure in the coolant tank, white smoke from the exhaust. I had code that indicated misfire in cylinder 3. I have taken it to Ford dealer and they did a diagnostic and stated the engine needs replaced. in my research I have found this is a very known issue with thousands of complaints, multiple class action lawsuits for the exact issue i have experienced. The dealer and Ford has stated that there are no active recalls for my vehicle even though it is such a wide spread issue. around 5k miles ago I had to replace the transmission in this same vehicle. I am being told there is no help with repair cost. What are my options. Now with the cost of the new engine on such a know issue and the transmission I feel that Ford has a responsibility in the repairs Yes the Vehicle is Currently at the Ford Dealer in Grand Junction Colorado I feel that with the new transmission and a Very well know engine issue, Ford should replace the engine
2015 Ford Escape: misfire or rough idle
22 of the 1,148 complaints about the 2015 Ford Escape describe misfire or rough idle.
- owner complaints
- 22
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 114,000
- recalls
- 0
Misfire or rough idle by model year
What owners say
MIL activated, reported misfire in cylinder 2. Attempted to replace spark plugs but they had seized. Took to dealership: was told coolant leaked into cylinder and entire engine needed to be replaced. Technician said this was common with Ecoboost engines for this model year, but not enough to merit a recall. Cost to replace engine more than the vehicle is worth
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon scanning the vehicle with a vehicle scanner, the contact retrieved diagnostic trouble codes indicating an engine misfire. The contact replaced the ignition coils; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while replacing the spark plugs, the spark plug thread of cylinder #4 remained stuck in the cylinder head. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the spark plug thread might be stuck because the cylinder head had melted around the spark plug thread. The mechanic determined that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and recommended the cylinder head replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an undisclosed recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
My 2015 Ford Escape, VIN [XXX], equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, has experienced a repeat engine failure due to what appears to be the known “coolant intrusion” defect currently under active litigation (Miller v. Ford). The original engine failed due to loss of coolant into the cylinders, causing rough idle, misfires, abnormal engine noise, and loss of performance. Ford replaced the entire engine under warranty approximately 24.5 months ago. The replacement engine is now exhibiting the same symptoms, including: Rough/unstable idle, especially on startup Abnormally loud engine noise Suspected internal coolant loss with no visible external leaks Reduced performance and hesitation This is the second major engine failure in a short time, creating a serious safety concern due to potential sudden loss of power while driving. The EcoBoost coolant intrusion defect is widely reported in Ford Escapes from this model year and is the subject of a class action lawsuit. Ford has not issued a recall for all affected vehicles, leaving owners at risk of repeated engine failures. I am submitting this complaint to document the repeat failure, as it poses a risk to safe operation and may affect other vehicles on the road. I can provide repair records, photos, and video evidence upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
In March 2025 the check engine light came on. Diagnostic showed issue was a misfire for cylinder 3. Mechanic said spark plug in cylinder 3 was seized and he recommended bring the vehicle to a ford dealer. They removed the spark plug and retapped the cylinder outlet. In June 2025 the check engine light came on. Diagnostic showed issue was a misfire in cylinder 3. This time the ford dealer said the issue is a coolant intrusion and I need a new engine. I called the Ford Customer Satisfaction number only to be told my vehicle isn’t part of the recall for the coolant intrusion. They could do nothing to help me.
Coolant intrusion on the engine block which is causing misfires. Issue was confirmed by an independent service center.
Coolant leaking into cylinder causing misfire. The reason why the coolant is leaking into the chamber is because of a manufacturers defect. The engine block has impurities that eventually rusted away causing pinholes between the cylinder and coolant. This is a well known issue with mechanics. If someone has this issue and does not know the engine can seize or blow causing the engine to not work. If this happens while on a highway the potential for an accident goes way up. Please make Ford make this right. I have had this defect verified by a certified Ford dealership and two independent mechanics. This is a costly repair due to the entire engine being defective from the bad casting.
The engine suffered a catastrophic failure on 11/26/2024 with coolant leaking into the engine producing a white noxious smoke from the exhaust, engine overheating, and engine misfires. The engine light did not appear. It was the smoke from the exhaust that alerted me to the issue. At the time of the engine overheat I was driving interstate 10 in Desert Center CA. It was apparent the coolant was leaking. There were no mechanic shops nearby. A good samaritan driver had coolant to add to my engine. I had the engine inspected by three separate mechanics, all identified the issue as a known defect in the 2.0l ford ecoboost engine. The engine failure occurred at approximately 73,500 miles, which I believe is premature given the vehicle's maintenance history and mileage.
Vehicle was inspected by third party shop and a Ford Dealership. Both indicated that this is a manufacturer error and should be considered a recall. Lots of different Ford models have experienced this manufacturing error and this issue was considered a recall. This includes: 2015-2018 Ford Edge 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ 2017-2019 Escape 2017-2019 MKC My 2015 Ford Escape is built incredibly similar or the exact same as these other models and since it is experiencing the same issue as these other models, the recall should extend to mine and be covered under Ford as a recall. Error: Presence of coolant in the engine cylinders, white exhaust smoke and/or runs rough condition (with or without an illuminated MIL) 2.0L EcoBoost engine Error Code: P0217 TBS: 22-2229
The vehicle has coolant leaking into the cylinders. The dealership shows that it was due to overheating but the vehicle has not overheated. The dealership states that the engine needs replacement but is unable to verify any damage in the cylinders. The vehicle was taken in due to misfiring and the vehicle dying upon starting after a short period of time being turned off.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her daughter was operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed an engine misfire in cylinder #1 due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was a white cloud of exhaust smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an excessive amount of exhaust odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #1, causing an engine misfire. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic advised the contact to keep the coolant reservoir filled with coolant to prevent complete engine failure until the vehicle was repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an...
- Illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018,...
- Oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
- Lack of cooling caused by the A/C inlet line breaking at the compressor
- Low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated...
- Ssm 47948 - 2010-2019
- For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related...
- Some 2013-2018 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L/1.6L/2.0L EcoBoost, 2013-2018 Fusion vehicles equipped...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2015 Ford Escape misfire
Is misfire or rough idle a common problem on the 2015 Ford Escape?
22 of 1,148 owner complaints about the 2015 Ford Escape (2%) mention misfire or rough idle. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2015 Ford Escape?
There are 0 recalls and 23 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2015 Ford Escape
Backup camera 138Check engine light 97Transmission failure 83Stalling 81Overheating 80Engine failure 46Screen failure 39Fire or smoke 34Jerking 33Hesitation 31Loss of power 30Power steering loss 28Door locks 21Won't shift 18Won't start 17Slipping 16Shudder 15Seat belt 11No deployment 10Grinding brakes 10Harsh shifting 10Headlights 10ABS 9Key fob 9Fuel smell 7Steering lock-up 7Wipers 7Whining noise 6Brake failure 5Knocking 5Fuel pump 5Sunroof shattered 5
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