Recall on the fuel injector , recieved a recall alert in the mail . Informed me that Ford dose not recommend not driving the vehicle. Caught fire while I was driving it and burned up .
Ford Escape fire or smoke problems
831 of the 27,594 owner complaints about the Ford Escape describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2017 model year.
- owner complaints
- 831
- worst model year
- 2017
- typical repair cost reported
- $6,450
- typical mileage
- 85,000
Is there a fix? There are 13 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 198Overheating 176Engine failure 102Misfire 78ABS 59Stalling 54Hesitation 24Loss of power 21
Trouble codes mentioned
P0303 6P0302 6P0316 4P0304 3P0301 3P26B7 2P1299 2P0300 2P2560 1P2196 1
What owners say
We've been having check engine light on "Cylinder 2 misfire". We had the spark plugs replaced and the ignition coil replaced, which fixed it for about a month, but it returned. We had further diagnostics done with video into cylinder 2 and found that we have engine coolant leaking into the cylinder. Apparently, this is a known, unrecalled issue from Ford on this engine with the coolant intrusion. Only fix is to replace the motor. Car has about 120,000 miles on it, but well taken care of. Works great otherwise, but with this issue, the engine could lock up or catch on fire on the road.
In early XXX, my 2022 Ford Escape SE (1.5L EcoBoost) experienced repeated engine stalls while my wife was driving with our children inside. The vehicle had only 33,028 miles. Whenever the A/C was engaged, the engine stalled and could not restart normally until the A/C was turned off. With the A/C off, the vehicle could restart and drive. Turning the A/C back on caused the engine to stall again. A strong burning/electrical smell accompanied the malfunction and persisted even with the A/C off. The failure occurred suddenly, without prior symptoms. Whether dashboard warning lights appeared is UNKNOWN. Losing engine power while driving created a serious collision risk for my family and other motorists. I drove the vehicle to [XXX] of [XXX], and reported the problem. The dealership documented the engine stalling while driving and burning smell under Repair Order #XXX, dated XXX. [XXX] diagnosed a catastrophic internal A/C compressor failure with metal contamination throughout the A/C system, requiring extensive repairs. However, identifying the failed compressor does not explain why it failed or its precise relationship to the engine stalling. Despite repeated requests since XXX, Ford has not provided a technical explanation of the root cause or whether a manufacturing or supplier defect was considered. Ford Customer Relations closed my case with these questions unanswered. Whether the dealership reproduced the stalling during testing or Ford conducted a separate physical inspection is UNKNOWN. The vehicle remains at Germain Ford awaiting repair authorization. To my knowledge, the failed components remain installed and available for inspection. I have requested their preservation. I request the federal safety agency investigate this potential safety defect to determine whether other Ford Escape owners may be at risk. I am concerned this failure could occur without warning in other vehicles, putting additional families at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I suffered catastrophic engine misfires with a sudden loss of power and white smoke coming from the exhaust. This was due to a design flaw in the Ford ecoboost 1.5l engine which allowed coolant into the #3 cylinder.
The "check engine light" came on. We brought it to the Ford Dealership for checking. They told us there was coolant intrusion in the engine, and that the car was unsafe to drive and required a new engine. We had only put approximately 6,000 miles on the car after buying it used 2 years prior. We surrendered the car to the dealership and took a payout of only $1,500, for a car that only had 46,000 miles on it. We were told that the engine could go on fire and it was dangerous to drive. We were also told that "coolant intrusion" is a common thing that happens to these engines.
Failed Component/System: The engine assembly/engine cooling system. The internal structural failure of the cylinder block (open-deck design defect) allowing engine coolant intrusion into combustion chambers, cylinders 2/3. Safety: The vehicle is experiencing severe engine stalling, immediate loss of motive power on active roadways, dense white smoke from exhaust which blinds trailing traffic. This causes immediate risk for rear-end collision, leaves others with the possibility to be stranded on dangerous traffic situations. The vehicle leaks hot fluids into the combustions system putting everyone at risk for under hood fires. Has the Problem been confirmed: Yes, my vehicle is currently at the Pennyrile Ford Dealership, they performed a cooling system pressure test and borescope inspection, and confirmed internal coolant intrusion requiring a total engine replacement. They have even confirmed and acknowledged that this is an on going issue! Dealer inspection: Yes Warning Lamps/Messages: Check engine soon light, raised engine levels, rapidly depleting coolant within days of refill, rough idling, cold start rumblings, sweet chemical smell and thick white smoke coming from tailpipe. Ford has already admitted this is an ongoing issue with these systems, I currently have a 2.0 engine but the recall is for the 1.0/1.5.
Dealership service department just called to inform me that my car is showing signs of the coolant intrusion issue that is known by ford for my 2017 ford escape titanium and that i should probably not waste the money to get the maintainance service done that I had taken it in for because the engine will most likely need replacing soon , and after further review online , vehicles with this condition have caught even caught on fire . And ford even acknowledging the issue is not willing to cover the repair costs .
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the head gasket of the engine cracked and the vehicle stalled. There was coolant leaking into the engine previously, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was leaking coolant. There was white smoke coming from the tailpipe with a sweet odor during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, where a case was opened. The contact was informed that there was no recall or manufacturer warranty on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the head gasket was cracked. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
At first, I just bought it two weeks ago. It was smoke coming from the engine and there was no coolant. The coolant wasn’t holding in the car now I was driving last night. I had coolant in it and there was just flames coming out by where the Oil is
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator, the vehicle hesitated and was idling rough. During initial start-up there was a backfire coming from the engine with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The maintenance warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and DTC: P0302 was retrieved. The cylinder was replaced. The contact stated that approximately 2 weeks later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and DTC: P0302 (Cylinder #2 misfire); was retrieved. The manufacturer was informed of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 53,967.
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305.
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C02.
Recall number 25V049000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery: management system/energy control module (bms/becm)
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
- Risk
- Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to charge battery till the remedy has been completed. Dealers will perform a battery energy control module (BECM) software update, and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 30, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S79.
Recall number 24V954000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Escape vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- During air bag deployment, the air bag cover may break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the passenger side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C38.
Recall number 24V850000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Escape, Super Duty F-250, Super Duty F-350, Super Duty F-450, and Super Duty F-550 vehicles equipped with a digital instrument panel cluster. The module may have been improperly soldered, preventing the instrument panel from illuminating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
- Risk
- An inoperable instrument panel cannot show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the module or instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C25.
Recall number 23V506000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L hybrid powertrains. Insufficient welds inside the high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on July 12, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S33.
Recall number 22V331000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Corsair and 2021-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S48.
Recall number 22V149000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 Escape vehicle equipped with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- A dealer will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. The owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S48.
Recall number 21V869000 · Recall details
Electrical system: body control module/bcm
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with a key-start ignition system. The Body Control Module (BCM) intermittently may not pick up the signal from the rear Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors or the Remote Key Fob. In the event of a low tire pressure condition, the TPMS system may not provide an adequate warning.
- Risk
- Low tire pressure may lead to poor vehicle handling and a possible loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the BCM, free of charge. Owners are advised that two key fobs are required for the repair to be completed. The recall began December 1, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S59.
Recall number 20V635000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
- Risk
- If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.
Recall number 16V617000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
- Risk
- The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.
Recall number 15V813000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Escape fire or smoke
Which Ford Escape years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2017 (135 complaints), 2014 (128 complaints) and 2013 (116 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Ford Escape?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $6,450 (median of 68 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Ford Escape?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history