2017 Ford Escape: won't start

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Engine · NC

The 2017 Ford escape left me and my young child broke down on the side of the road would not crank was running rough. Had the car towed to a mechanic there is coolant leaking into the motor. Replacement of motor is needed. Ford has changed the block on this vehicle because of this problem why is there no recall

Filed Apr 30, 2026 · Engine · IN

I am reporting a potential safety-related engine defect on my 2017 Ford Escape 1.5L EcoBoost. The vehicle has a history of repeated coolant loss and white smoke, followed by engine failure/no-start. The trouble codes later provided by the dealer included P1285 and P1299, which are related to engine over-temperature protection/thermal event concerns. The local Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle as “out of time” and recommended a major timing/engine repair path. However, after repeated written questions, the dealer confirmed that my prior history of repeated coolant loss and white smoke was not taken into account as part of the current diagnosis. I am concerned that the vehicle should have been evaluated under a coolant-intrusion / thermal-event failure pathway associated with this engine family, rather than being limited to a timing-only diagnosis. My concern is that this may represent a safety-related engine failure pattern involving coolant loss, overheating protection, and possible coolant intrusion, which could cause sudden vehicle disablement or engine failure. I have also opened a case with Ford requesting an independent review: Case CXH-07588177-W3Z8K7.

Filed Feb 26, 2026 · Electrical · PA

My vehicle started slowing down, check engine light came on, and then the vehicle went into limp mode. The vehicle won't go faster than 10-15 miles per hour. I had the accelerator and sensor replaced, but the vehicle won't start or move. My car is not running and hasn't run for over a year.

Filed Aug 17, 2025 · Engine · MO

Purchased car 4 months ago. 80k miles on it. About 88k miles, engine fault code kicked in along with check engine light. Code was for a misfire on cylinder 4. Started loosing coolant, roughly putting in a gallon every week and a half. Thought it was a faulty cap, so replaced the cap. Vehicle began registering that the key was not in the car, so I replaced the battery the same day. Rough idle was still there. Went to buy coil packs to fix the misfire the next day, however the car would not start. After 2 weeks of running tests, coolant intrusion was noted. Car has only 92k miles on it. Car was also sold as is, no problems noted at purchase, and is still under loan.

Filed Jul 16, 2025 · Engine · AR

The coolant leaks into the the cylinders. I bought this car June 7th 2025 and was told it was being sold as is due to hail damage. I have no issue with cosmetic problems but I come to find out that there is major defect with ford escapes. My vehicle started to overheat with my children in the car so I checked the coolant and it was empty. I have been keeping my eye on it and filling when needed but when I went to turn it on a couple days ago it will not start at all. I put 4,000 down on this car and got into payments because I trusted the dealership to put me in a car that was not known for these issues. I had no idea because I am not in the car business and I scrambled to get a car because mine was wrecked. The check engine light even came as the salesman was pumping gas to give me the car after I bought it and told me they would check into. I was told a couple days later it was a loose ignition coil and that they topped off the coolant for me. It was within the same week that I started having these issues because I am sure this issue was preexisting but they did not want to tell me.

Filed Jan 3, 2025 · Engine · VA

The engine blew up while driving down the road full of traffic. Smoke bellowed out of the back. I managed to move over 2 lanes to get out of the traffic into a parking light where it died. It could have been much worse as no one was hurt no colisions. we had it towed to by son's house who confirmed that a hole had been blown thru the block. It would not start. Pieces of metal and oil on the inside. It would of course not start. Other technicians have confirmed that there is a design fault in those engines that causes the engine to fail in this manner. There was mo previous warning , no oil or coolant leaks no warning signals.it is presently available for inspection but I have not taken it to a dealer because they have not offered any help other than oh well...my Vin has no recalls and they want $200 to look at it and $8500 to replace the motor. What are my options. I want to file a complaint at the least. If I get rod of the car I assume I will have no option but it's not worth that cost to repair it.

Filed Dec 29, 2024 · Engine · AR

Sept. 2024, while driving my 2017 Ford Escape, four-cylinder Eco boost engine 2 L down the highway, without warning all the dash lights came on and the engine quit running leaving me stranded on the side of a very busy highway. I had not noticed any engine problems at all until this moment. After a Good Samaritan told me the radiator was almost completely empty of fluid, he added water to my radiator reservoir and told me to immediately ‘gently nurse it’ to an auto repair shop. Which I did. The shop owner took several hours to examine the engine. He told me it ran hot because the radiator fluid had leaked into the oil. He later told me the smoke also coming from the tailpipe, the way the engine was hesitating to start up and radiator fluid in the oil was an indication my engine had a cracked head. He showed me the oil which was a chocolate brown. The shop owner told me it was not supposed to be that color. He told me it was a direct indication that my radiator fluid/antifreeze had leaked into the oil. He informed me this would lead to complete engine failure, and I needed to immediately take it to a shop/dealership where the engine could be rebuilt or completely replaced (he already had several vehicles he was currently working on and would not have time to get to it for several months). I drove my SUV home which was just 4 miles from this shop. It took me awhile to make arrangements for a local Ford dealership. In the meantime, I had not tried to start it back up at all. The morning I was to take my SUV to the dealership it would not start at all. I had to call a wrecker to have it towed to the Ford dealership, where they confirmed the findings of the initial mechanic. My SUV only has 89,748 miles on it. I still owe $11,000 and it will not start at all.

Filed Nov 10, 2024 · Engine · WI

After driving 200 miles for a vacation, the car overheated and would not start. The coolant had leaked into cylinder head and evaporated. Smoke was coming from underneath the hood. Had it towed to a shop where they did $2500 in repairs. Car ran for two months, and the same thing happened again. After looking online, discovered Ford knew about the design flaws that cause engine failure. There have been recalls regarding this issue, but not in Wisconsin.

Filed Oct 8, 2024 · Engine · MI

These vehicles have a defect that causes coolant to leak into the engine’s cylinders, which can cause corrosion, oil dilution and contamination, and engine failure; and Ford failed to disclose these defects create a safety risk, because the lack of coolant created by the leaks causes overheating and can result in the cylinder head cracking, total engine failure, and/or engine fires. My car has shut off with my [XXX] son in the vehicle with me while I was driving, I also have to put gas in my vehicle while the vehicle is powered on or else my vehicle will not start for 20 minutes and now if I leave it running while getting gas it shuts off completely right when I pull away from the gas pump. I contacted Ford when I had 87,977 miles on my vehicle and they refused to cover the repair or buy it back. My car claimed to be overheating during the middle of a winter blizzard and wouldn't even turn over. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 18, 2024 · Engine · GA

Ford Escape 2017 78,831 miles. 5/13/24 Had car inspected at Brannen Ford of Perry. I was concerned that the check engine light was illuminated. The Ford service department noted the Code P0456 but cleared the code and did not advise repair. [XXX] Drove from Georgia to Memphis and began to notice rough crank with cold start only. 5/19/24 In Memphis took to Autozone for a OBD scanner read. Scanner said P0456 and P031. First cylinder is misfiring. 5/20/24 Took to Holt Automotive to investigate code. 5/23/24 Holt referred to Madison Automotive since technician believed the code indicated an engine issue beyond the scope of Holt. 5/23/24 Delivered to Madison Automotive for diagnostics. Ran codes and noted a 2.0L engine. Removed and replaced the ignition coil and relevant spark plug per OBD scanner. Cost $526.39 6/1/24 Took back to Autozone for OBD scan due to check engine light coming on again. Same codes. 6/3/24 Took back to Madison Automotive. Ran codes again and realized, by coincidence, purge valve was bad. Replaced purge valve. Cost $462.47. Could not note the rough start or find a specific leak. Informed that usually leaks only occur with temp change, hence the rough cold crank noted by us. [XXX] Check engine light on again and would not start at gas station. Had to go through manual start process. 6/14/24 Took back to Madison Automotive. They decided to try a cold crank in the morning after it sat unused through the night. White smoke filled the parking lot. Confirmed that defective head gasket is leaking coolant into the cylinders. Recommended replace engine. 6/17/24 Called Ford Motor in Memphis. Told representative of codes and symptoms and was informed of TSB 21-233 which informs Ford of these exact defects. No recall issued as of yet. Since these same issues were noted in the 1.5 L engines and recalls were issued, I am contacting you with the same request to have Ford recall 2.0 L engines from these defective years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

Filed May 23, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · ME

2017 Ford Escape SE 4WD with a 4 CLYINDER D 1.5 DI TURBO engine. We purchased this vehicle used, in 2019 with 42,384 miles. We have kept up with all scheduled maintenance through the dealership. Until April of this year, we have had ZERO issues with this vehicle! First, the check engine light came on Upon starting, another warning "Engine Fault Service Now" would appear. Aside from the lights, the only initial indication something may be off was the "sloshing" noise that came from the engine after shutting it off. Initially, we took the car to our independent mechanic who informed us that the car was experiencing coolant intrusion into the engine and the only remedy would be to replace the engine. He shared with us that this type of engine is NOTORIOUS for this malfunction. Being as Darling's could not give us an appointment promptly, , we just kept checking the coolant levels and cautiously drove the vehicle. On May 3, I was driving when the dash lit up with "High Engine Temperature-stop safely" warnings and the gauge went from normal to all the way to H. We added coolant and this did not happen again. However, between May 3 and the date of our appointment at the dealership, May 17th, a host of new problems seemed to happen overnight. The car would not start several times both after being driven and sitting overnight. While backing down my driveway, the car stalled and wouldn't start again, luckily I wasn't in traffic. Right before our appointment and the final straw was when I was leaving for work. The car wouldn't start, so I left it for a few minutes and I was able to restart it. I drove down the street maybe a block away when all this white smoke filled the inside of the car along with pouring out the back exhaust. Darling's stated it "coded P0304, for a misfire on 4, coolant was entering cylinder 4, needs a motor". Cost to fix is more than what the car is worth and we still owe $4000 on it. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?

Filed Apr 23, 2024 · Engine · FL

I own a 2017 Ford Escape SE with an eco boost engine. All service of the vehicle was done in the dealership except the tune up. At 100,000 miles, I had a full tune up done on the vehicle. 30 days later, the engine light turned on so I had it checked. The frequency of the light turning on increases. I notice a slight shaking at times when the vehicle was cold. The company that did the tune up told me that they notice the car is loosing coolant but there were no visible leaks. When the coolant is replenished, the light turned off and the car works until one morning it just would not start. I towed the vehicle to the dealership to have it checked. They kept the vehicle for three weeks trying to figure out what was wrong with it since the car was not giving them any codes. They notice the second cylinder bore was corroded and so was the spark plug indicating that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores. The car never gave me any indications of overheating. I spoke to Ford customer care to address the issue and was told I’m out of luck. I had found a letter they sent to me back in 2020 “ Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37. The letter described coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores that can lead to coolant loss, excessive tailpipe smoke, or illuminated malfunction indicator lights ( MIL ) due to engine misfire and could potentially lead to engine damage. Ford dealership said this recall has expired. They diagnosed the issue of the car as engine failure due to coolant intrusion in the engine and quoted me $10,000 to replaced the engine. Upon my research I learned that there’s a class lawsuit again Ford regarding this issue with their eco boost engines. I have a voice message from regional manager of the dealership claiming that all recall on this issue has expired and they can not do anything about it. The fact that the car did not give proper code for its engine light is a safety issue. Please investigate.