Coolant leak into an engine cylinder.
2017 Ford Escape engine complaints
Page 15 of 68: complaints 401 to 430 of 2,003, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine coolant system failed due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known defect in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. This caused white exhaust smoke, engine misfires, overheating, and eventual engine failure. The vehicle is currently undriveable and available for inspection upon request. A Ford dealership diagnosed the issue and provided a written estimate for full engine replacement. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle experienced loss of engine power, stalling, and overheating while driving, posing a significant safety risk on the road. There were instances where I felt unsafe continuing to drive the vehicle, and I was concerned about the possibility of engine failure while driving at highway speeds or in high-traffic conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by Colorado Engine, which provided an $11,000 estimate for a complete engine replacement due to coolant intrusion. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been discussed with a certified Ford dealership. I have not involved police or insurance representatives at this time. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. Symptoms included: Low coolant warnings (despite no visible leak) White smoke from the exhaust Rough idling, engine shaking, and occasional stalling Intermittent engine overheating warnings These symptoms began in late May 2025, roughly 3 years after I purchased the vehicle from CarMax. The issues progressively worsened until the vehicle became undriveable.
Coolant leaking unknown source
Engine failure. Engine was confirmed by a dealer to have engine failure from coolant intrusion into the cylinder body. Check engine light appeared before failure occurred.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the transmission downshifted and upshifted intermittently, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to slow down and exiting the highway, the brake pedal was depressed however, the brake pedal was extremely stiff. The vehicle was shifted to neutral(N) for the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved information that the cam shaft sensor was not working properly, and the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the brake booster was defective and failed to build up pressure as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.
My car began throwing codes for a Cylinder 2 misfire in October of 23. We did a tune up. Within a few months, same issue. By Oct of 24 my head gasket needed replaced. Now it is August of 25 and I am having the same issue and signs that the head gasket is bad again. I am told by dealers this is due to a faulty head gasket that Ford knowingly put in the vehicles. There is a limited recall for the 1.6L but not the 2.0 EcoBoost motors. I am now out thousands of dollars for the new head gasket less than a year ago and am being told the only fix is to replace the engine as a whole which will be thousands of more. This is due to Ford putting in faulty parts, and not taking responsibility. I am now out of a car, while working full time with an [XXX] and a baby on the way because Ford my & my childrens safety is not worth driving a car that could break down at any moment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
coolant leaking into engine causing overheating
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 1.5L short block, due to coolant intrusion to the cylinder bores How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine could stop running. I drive with two small children so their safety would be at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?Confirmed by a dealer. 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? Check engine light. This is a known issue that Ford is aware of. I did not receive any communication that this should be fixed and am now facing a repair that exceeds that value of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at a red traffic light, a driver walked up to the contact and informed the contact that there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal sweet odor coming from the exterior of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the engine was consuming coolant excessively. The contact was informed that the engine block assembly needed to be replaced. The contact was informed of Ford Technical Service Bulletin Number: 22-2229, which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
I am loosing coolant into the engine, most likely into cylinder#2, spark plug is seized in the block, I have to add coolant every 3-4 days to prevent overheating.
I bought a used 2017 Ford Escape Titanium in September of 2024. Around a month and a half later, the check engine light came on and had the code P0302. The check engine light has been intermittent since then. My car only has 56,558 miles on it and it is a 2017 so this has been extremely frustrating.
I discovered, after my Ford Ecoboost engine light came on, that my engine needs a total replacement with only 67,000 miles on the engine. I have learned that it was a KNOWN design flaw by Ford Motor Company since 2020, the year I purchased my vehicle slightly used with 20k miles. The engine can overheat, catch fire, or seize up while driving, due to coolant leaking into the piston chambers. I was NEVER sent a recall notice, or warning of any kind from Ford Motor Company, even though this could cause an accident. I am expected to pay over $10,000 for a new engine that SHOULD have been recalled, due to their own design flaws. I see that there are multiple class actions law suits pending over this issue.
Check engine light came on for a fouled spark plug. When taken to repair shop, technician discovered that coolant was leaking into an engine cylinder. This is a known manufacturers defect that Ford Motor Company refuses to accept responsibility (see Ford Technical Service Bulletin 19-2208 - attached). Coolant is leaking at approx one gal per month. If not replaced, engine can overheat leading to further engine damage. Coolant in engine cylinder decreases driving performance with multiple misfires possibly leading to inability to avoid or causing an accident. White smoke from exhaust can hamper visualisation of following vehicles. Recall on all Ford models with Eco Boost engines is indicated with company paid repairs if coolant is leaking into engine.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop on several occasions, the vehicle sputtered and stalled. The message "Engine Fault - Service Now" was displayed. The contact related the failure to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 21N12. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the cylinders through the engine block. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided due to the mileage of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 80,065.
The contact's mother owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The message "Engine Fault" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was related to the failure of Ford Technical Service Bulletin Number: 22-2322(- Low Coolant, White Exhaust Smoke And /Or Illuminated MIL -); however, the vehicle was not covered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a vehicle safety complaint. The failure mileage was 27,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to coolant intrusion and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
My engine died at 63,000 miles. I'm thinking it's a coolant leak issue that I've read about online. I am severely disappointed.
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that approximately one year ago, the engine was misfiring, and the vehicle was shuddering when the vehicle was started. The contact stated that his wife had not seen any warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the same mechanic and was informed that the cylinders in the engine had failed a pressure test and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2346 (Coolant intrusion into the cylinders - Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the program to replace the engine did not cover the vehicle and had expired. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Coolant intrusion in engine. My Ford escape has only 89,000 miles, it looks brand new. It’s a manufacturer defect, the local Reno Ford is charging $9,000 to fix it. Why is not a recall from Ford? Thank you
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle was running rough on several occasions. The service light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was like Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was determined that there was a coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 121,764.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not fully diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the engine had failed, and that the contact would be notified what part of the engine needed to be repaired, or if the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
On Sunday, 7/6 the check engine light came on. The vehicle was dropped off at a Ford dealership for review and it was determined that a coolant leak into cylinders causing internal damage to the engine. Recommendation is to replace the main engine assembly (long block) at $10,000. Which is more than what the car is worth. The car currently has 102,062 miles. This appears to be a known issue among the model year of the Escape and engine type. Currently there is no assistance in helping with the cost of repairs. We have contacted Ford and asked for assistance as we are long time Ford vehicle owners. They logged the following: CXH-05084174-H2Q6H1 and recommended that we log an issue with the NHSTA.
Started having issues with the power of the engine, white smoke from exhaust, and loss of coolant. Apparently there are multiple TSBs about this problem, and has been discovered to be an engine design failure for several models under Ford and Lincoln and it is still not a recall. This issue is known to ruin the head gasket and ultimately crack the cylinder head. If I had not spoke to my mechanic about the white smoke and power loss, he would not have recommended that I check my fluids and saw I was losing coolant untimely. Due to it leaking into the engine every time I drove my car. He also stated that he’s seen this issue before, found multiple sources around the country that have seen the same issue and basically fixing the issue won’t ultimately fix the problem. Because the engine design is defective, the problem will happen again. The engine would have to replaced. Which costs more than the car is worth. It’s very dangerous to have a faulty engine design and not do a proper recall or replacement plan.
I own a 2017 Ford Escape with approximately 102,000 miles. I am the original and only owner and have had regular maintenance done on my vehicle the entire time I've owned it. After a recent 9-hour road trip, I experienced sudden engine failure with no prior warning signs. My local dealership has diagnosed the issue as coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused catastrophic engine damage and now requires a full engine replacement at a cost of $8,800. After researching the issue, I discovered this is a known and widespread problem with EcoBoost engines in 2013-2019 Ford Escapes and other Ford vehicles. Ford has issued Technical Service Bulletins regarding this, and there is at least one ongoing class action lawsuit related to engine failure caused by coolant intrusion. This problem poses serious safety concerns, especially when it causes vehicles to fail unexpectedly at highway speeds or in unsafe conditions. I am filing this report to document the issue and urge the federal safety agency to investigate this known defect.
[XXX] Car began to run rough as if it had bad gas and the engine would not idle smoothly. When I got into the vehicle the next day the instrument panel flashed lights and the vehicle stalled. I had it towed to the repair shop thinking it was overheating due to a bad thermostat. I was told that the engine coolant was leaking into cylinder 4 of the engine and I would have to replace the engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle has been suffering coolant intrusion into the engine, specifically the cylinders, causing significant damage and leading to my vehicle overheating. After discovering the issue at my mechanic, I found out there was a recall for my specific vehicle for this issue, but my VIN was not included. Not being notified of this issue by a recall risked my vehicle overheating and potentially starting a fire which could have been hazardous to myself and any passengers.
There is an issue with the type of engine used in these vehicles where coolant leaks into the engine causing cylinder misfires. This is a known issue that has not been issued a recall. I have had a complete repair done in the past involving the complete reconstruction of the engine, however after only 21,000 miles the repair failed.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge displayed that the engine was overheating. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #4, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,993.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start in the morning as expected. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block replacement after Coolant Intrusion). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.
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