Bought the car used in 2021 from a non Ford dealer, 3 months after purchase the engine failed due to coolant leak in the 3rd cylinder, was told Ford had created a new engine to fix the problem so went $5,000 in the hole for the new engine by Ford and had it replaced by a Ford certified mechanic. Now in March 2026 the car started having issues with skipping limited power. Took it to the mechanic and once again being told we need a new engine because it misfiring and low compression in the same cylinder number 3 and it's an internal issue. The new engine we purchased only had 60,000 miles on it. Ford needs to issue a recall and replace the engines for free and refund what consumers have already paid out for repairs. This issue is dangerous and Ford has done nothing to fix the issue. This year model for the escape has had nothing but problems and Ford knows it and does nothing
2017 Ford Escape engine complaints
Page 8 of 68: complaints 191 to 220 of 2,003, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Engine failure due to coolant intrusion. Ford has issued a technical bulletin to its technicians regarding this issue. While my wife was driving the vehicle, a warning light first appeared indicating that the engine temperature was high. Shortly afterward, the warning escalated to a red alert stating that the transmission was blocked. My wife immediately turned off the engine to prevent further damage. The vehicle was then towed to a Ford dealership for inspection. After evaluating the vehicle, the dealership informed us that the engine had suffered severe damage and would need to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. We have maintained the vehicle responsibly and have documentation of regular oil changes and other maintenance and repairs. When we contacted Ford Motor Company, we were informed that the vehicle was outside the warranty period. We opened a case with Ford’s customer relationship department requesting assistance; however, the case was denied. Although the vehicle is outside the warranty period, Ford has acknowledged this issue in a technical service bulletin, indicating that coolant intrusion is a known problem affecting this engine design in the Ford Escape 2017.
White smoke from vehicle exhaust. Vehicle misfires and jumps when trying to engage gears. Then vehicle goes limp after running for a while.
Our car just turned over 91,000 miles. The check engine light came on so I had spark plugs replaced. The repair shop noticed that our coolant level was way down so they ran a scope into the cylinders. They found fluids leaking into the #4 cylinder. I took car to Ford dealer and they confirmed water leaking into cylinder. They say I need a completely new motor and want to charge full price even though this has been a known "issue" for this motor since 2019 (Tech service bulletin 19-2346). They refuse to give any discounts and are telling me it will cost over $9,400 to replace the motor. I'm now being told it will be unsafe to drive the vehicle any long distances.
2017 Ford Escape SE 2.0L critically malfunctioned on my way home from work due to coolant intrusion. The engine started sputtering, a warning came on the dash, and lost all acceleration. This is a known design flaw by Ford that requires a full engine replacement but a recall was never issued and I, like many customers are burdened with the financial responsibility to replace the engine or buy a new car.
When driving, the car has stopped 4 times in the last 3 years. Last week the car came to a red light and the inside lights started flashing. There was a warning that read "transmission not in park." The car's power steering and brakes went out and the car went through the red light. Three other times the car was on the expressway and it died with the same warning. Fortunately, the car was in the slow lane and was able to pull onto the shoulder. Once the car is put in Park and turned off, it is able to be restarted and everything is working.
misfire in Cylinder 3 and coolant loss. My mechanic believes it is the coolant intrusion issue described in Ford TSB 22-2229
My 2017 Ford Escape equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine is experiencing coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, resulting in misfires, rough startup, and significant engine performance issues. The vehicle currently has approximately 150,000 miles. The issue presents itself with a rough idle and shaking at startup, followed by the engine smoothing out after several seconds. Diagnostic trouble codes indicate a cylinder misfire consistent with coolant intrusion. Upon further inspection and research, this appears to be a well-documented issue affecting this engine design. There were no external coolant leaks visible, and coolant levels dropped without explanation, indicating internal coolant intrusion. This type of failure poses a serious safety concern, as the engine can misfire unexpectedly, lose power, or potentially stall while driving. Loss of engine power while operating the vehicle creates a hazardous situation, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. We purchased this vehicle as safe and reliable transportation for our daughter, and there was no prior disclosure of engine issues. The failure appears to stem from a known defect related to the engine design rather than normal wear and tear. Given the widespread documentation of coolant intrusion problems with this engine platform, I believe this issue represents a significant safety and reliability concern that should be formally investigated.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTC: P0301, P0302, and P0304 were retrieved for a misfire in cylinder #1, #2, and #4. Due to the failure, the spark plugs and ignition coils were replaced. Approximately one week later, the check engine light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, and the same codes were retrieved as before. The contact continued driving the vehicle, and the message "High Engine Temperature - Stop Safely" was displayed before the vehicle lost power and shut off. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with an estimate for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The car started misfiring, check engine light came on. Took the car into shop to find out what the problem was. I was told coolant was in the cylinders and the engine was gone.
Vehicle Information • 2017 Ford Escape SE • Mileage (around 80,000) • VIN [XXX] 2. Problem Description My 2017 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. The dealership confirmed a Technical Service Bulletin applies to my VIN. This defect can cause engine failure while driving, creating a serious safety risk. It is a Safety Risk including • Loss of power while driving • Risk of engine stall • Overheating risk • Highway safety concern I have had the dealer fix this and an automechanic has looked at it as well. It is still leaking Started in the summer of 2025 and still happening as of today 2-16-26 There were no warnings prior to the failure The Car is burning the coolant INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There is a searchable TSB for these vehicles from Ford basically stating the engine has a known defect and the only remedy is to replace the engine. Coolant intrudes into the cylinders causing premature engine failures or seizures
2017 Ford Escape 2.0 AWD with 155,000 miles with Known coolant intrusion issue... (Vin has not been apart of the recall) second owner, original owner never knew about engine replacement because issue never happened under him. now im stuck with a car that has plenty of new parts and i cant get it inspected or use it regularly because of the coolant intrusion, now I have to get a engine replacement which will probably be around 5 grand if im lucky and I dont have that money. now im stuck with a car I cant drive. yes the car is available for inspection on request. my dad was using the car as a daily out of town driver, driving on the high way first overheat issue happened. no the car has not been inspected by any other source. the only warning was the check engine light after coolant intrusion started.
Error code P0303 misfire cylinder 3. Engine rough idle along with white smoke from exhaust and low coolant. This is a known issue with Ford that should be corrected with short block replacement through warranty.
Vehicle: 2017 Ford Escape, 1.5L Eco Boost Component/System: Engine/cooling system The engine in my 2017 Ford Escape experienced a failure due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders, which was diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. The dealership advised that coolant intrusion is a known issue with this engine design and recommended full engine replacement, with an estimated repair cost exceeding $10,000. Prior to diagnosis, the vehicle exhibited rough idle, shaking, and intermittent check engine warnings. The condition worsened over time and posed a safety risk due to potential engine failure while driving, including hesitation and reduced acceleration. The vehicle has been properly maintained, and the failure was not attributed to neglect or lack of service. Ford Motor Company has acknowledged similar failures in this engine family through service bulletins; however, my VIN is not currently included in a recall or customer satisfaction program. The defective engine is available for inspection and remains unprepared due to the prohibitive cost of repair. I am submitting this complaint to document a suspected manufacturing/design defect that has resulted in premature engine failure and significant safety and financial impact.
I experienced a sudden and unexpected water pump failure on my 2017 Ford Escape while driving in active traffic. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in rapid coolant loss and engine overheating, causing the vehicle to lose power while in motion. This created a hazardous driving condition and required me to pull over to avoid a potential collision. Sudden cooling system failure presents a serious safety risk, as it can lead to engine stalling, loss of power steering and braking assist, and breakdowns in traffic or at highway speeds, significantly increasing the risk of crash or injury. Additionally, other owners of 2017 Ford Escape vehicles have reported similar sudden water pump failures without warning, often leading to overheating, loss of drivability, and vehicle breakdowns at relatively low mileage. These repeated incidents indicate premature component failure rather than normal wear and demonstrate a recurring safety-related defect that poses a significant risk to public safety and warrants further investigation.
I have a 2017 ford escape 2.0 engine ecoboost. I have an issue that the car tells me that its running hot and I am scared to drive it. I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle. It was purchsed in statesboro at ford dealership. The vehicle has regular maintenaince and is taken care of. I keep checking for a recall on it; and never see one. But reading the issue about the heating block. It should be on the list
Unknown. There's a white puff of smoke that comes out on a cold start every time. There is a small loss of coolant as well that I have to replace regularly. I was already told by the dealership to get rid of the car because it would need a complete engine fix that would cost 7000 to 10,000 dollars. It started doing this at 92k miles. The car was well maintained with regular oil checks and all maintenance recommended was done in a timely manner. All of the symptoms point to coolant intrusion.
Engine suffered coolant intrusion known design defect on ford escape 1.5 L engines. Needs engine replacement.
I am filing this complaint due to repeated and dangerous safety-related failures in my Ford vehicle involving both the transmission and engine. Prior to a transmission recall repair, my vehicle experienced severe drivability issues, including sudden jerking while driving, loss of power on the highway, unexpected stopping, and shutting off at traffic lights. These incidents nearly caused multiple accidents and placed me and others at serious risk. The transmission was later replaced under recall by a Ford dealership. After that repair, I am now experiencing a major engine failure related to coolant intrusion. This defect is well documented by Ford in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2322, which supersedes TSB 22-2134. The bulletin states that to resolve the condition, the engine short block and head gasket must be replaced. This effectively requires replacement of the core of the engine and confirms the severity of the defect. The symptoms associated with this engine issue overlap with the drivability symptoms I reported earlier (stalling, loss of power, unsafe operation). The vehicle was previously evaluated by a Ford dealership while this bulletin was already published, yet the engine defect was not identified or addressed at that time. Despite Ford’s acknowledgment of this defect through its own bulletin, I am being denied assistance and left responsible for an extremely costly repair involving what is essentially a partial engine replacement. This defect poses a serious safety risk due to the potential for sudden engine failure without warning. I am concerned that Ford is failing to proactively address a known safety-related defect and that similar vehicles remain on the road with the same risk. I believe this issue warrants further investigation to prevent serious injury or loss of life.
My wife had driven the car, it had given an error and I tested it for a code. The Code was PO304 Cylinder 4 Misfire detected. We scheduled a maintenance appointment with our local Ford dealership to have them look at this error and address a recall. We were informed that "coolant and freezant were leaking into cylinder #4!" The mileage is ~150300 and the vehicle has been serviced regularly. Prior to the Engine light on/code on, there have been no indication there was a problem. I am now reading about other 1.5L Escapes that have this same recall but mine was not included? This doesn't make sense, it's the same problem with the same motor that was manufactured in other facilities, with the same parts, and those engines were recalled but mine wasn't?? just fix my engine guys!
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The low oil warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive to the residence. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that a faulty wire connected to the spark plug had caused the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
The engine light came on. I plugged a diagnostic scanner in under the dash and it read “misfire on cylinder 1”. I installed a new spark plug and cleared the code. I also noticed the coolant level was low so I added some. I checked it the next day and the coolant was low again but it was not puddled on the driveway. The check engine light was back on again. I took the car to the local Ford dealer and after they run a couple of test, I was informed the car had coolant intrusion on cylinder #1. They said the engine had cracked and needed to be replaced . I did not drive the car until I was able to have it repaired. The cost was $9451.51.
Engine failure when coolant leaked into #4 cyclinder causing loss of power, excessive smoke and total engine failure while driving on interstate. Ford supposedly knows this was an engineering problem in the 2 liter eco-boost engine for several years yet sold vehiles anyway.
My engine light went on and the car was shaking, stumbling. When I took the car to the dealership, and then to another shop, it was reported that the gas analyzer showed presence of combustion gases in the coolant system. The coolant present in cylinder is due to coolant intrusion that is a defect from factory. Ford refused to fix the problem because they would only fix the problem for cars with less than 84,000 miles and I was told by a representative at the dealership that recall letters were sent but only to those customers who presented with this issue between 2015 and 2019 or before that mileage. I never received any notification that this was an issue, or I would have brought my cay in. Now, I cannot afford a new engine and I have been left without a car since the incident, which was almost a year ago.
In my 2017 my check engine light came on at 70,000 miles throwing a bunch of different codes, ignition coil misfire and actuator making vehicle overheat and run rough, made extensive repairs to the vehicle based on what the codes were which didn’t repair the vehicle, finally engine gave out on me at 93,000 miles and I had the vehicle towed to Classic Ford In Mentor Ohio and they diagnosed the vehicle with a bad engine requiring the engine to be replaced, I was then informed by the service department that what killed the engine was coolant leaking into the cylinders due to a design defect by Ford Motor Company and these issues with these Ecoboost engines are very well documented across the internet, Dealership quoted me over $9,000 to replace the engine which I definitely can’t afford at all, Due to this not being my fault and I’ve kept up with all maintenance but again what killed the engine was Ford’s design that allowed coolant to leak into cylinders, I’ve made several calls to Ford Motor Company and there corporate offices and they are declining to do anything to help this issue, my case number is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Coolant intrusion into the engine from a manufacturer defect.
The **engine system** failed due to **coolant intrusion into cylinder 2**, causing engine misfires and loss of power. This condition is consistent with known EcoBoost engine defects in this model year. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This failure created a **safety risk** due to potential **loss of power or stalling while driving**, increasing the risk of a crash. An additional issue exists with the **electrical system**, specifically the **driver’s door control panel circuit**, which intermittently malfunctions and affects vehicle operation. The engine issue has been **confirmed by diagnostic trouble codes indicating a cylinder 2 misfire**. Dealer confirmation: **UNKNOWN**. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Prior to failure, the vehicle displayed a **check engine light**, rough idle, and misfiring. Electrical issues occurred intermittently. Exact onset date is **UNKNOWN**.
Coolant leaking into engine cylinder 2 possible head gasket issue associated with known problem for this vehicle. Will cause overheating due to coolant levels needing to be refilled on a regular basis.
My [XXX] daughter was driving her 2017 Ford Escape 1.5L EcoBoost check engine light came on and a message to pull over immediately. Vehicle was out of coolant. The coolant isn't leaking. The vehicle has a design flaw that causes coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Extremely dangerous and could leave someone stranded. The cost to fix is about the same as the value of the car!! Thousands of dollars!! This is a known design, flaw, and thousands of customers are experiencing it. It can leave drivers stranded and dangerous situations, including drivers like my teenage daughter. Ford should be responsible to fix this dangerous design flaw! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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