While operating the vehicle, the engine experienced a loss of power accompanied by a strong burning oil odor. Inspection revealed engine oil leaking from the camshaft cover assembly and onto the exhaust system, creating a potential fire hazard. Mechanical diagnosis determined that cylinder #4 had lost compression, resulting in excessive blow-by and crankcase pressurization. Due to the engine's turbocharged (forced-induction) design, the increased crankcase pressure contributed to oil leakage from the camshaft cover assembly. The observed failure mode is consistent with Ford TSB 19-2346.
Ford Escape oil consumption problems
41 of the 27,609 owner complaints about the Ford Escape describe excessive oil consumption, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 41
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,500
- typical mileage
- 80,188
Is there a fix? There are 9 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 7Stalling 4Overheating 4Fire or smoke 4Engine failure 4Transmission failure 3Misfire 3Hesitation 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P0732 1P0087 1
What owners say
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.
This is related to the class action lawsuit 2:20-cv-01796-DAD-CKD Miller v. Ford Motor Co. Concerning alleged engine defects in Ford vehicles, specifically focusing on issues like excessive oil consumption and premature failure in certain EcoBoost engines. My engine has developed symptoms regarding the known coolant leak into the engine. The engine looses power when accellerating, and produces white exhaust after starting cold. Replacing spark plugs and coils did not resolve the issue. I checked the coolant level and it was below the minimum, and I had to add more coolant. The ECU has logged misfires at cylinder 2 and 4. The MIL turns on intermittently.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to Christian Brothers Automotive, where it was inspected, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption and the coolant level was abnormally low. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. Additionally, the contact stated that the message "Power Train Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The failure mileage was approximately 80,188.
Car has only 49,006 miles on it and the engine failed. It was working and then all of a sudden the check engine light came on and it started to run rough. Checked the spark plugs and they were full of gunk and changed them out. Car was still having problems and so we took it to the Ford dealer. The Ford dealer said that we needed to replace the engine because it was had scored cylinder walls at the number two cylinder and had no specific reason for it. The car was 1 quart low on oil even though it has regular maintenance and oil changes and there was still 38% oil life before we needed to change oil again. The check engine light only came on once it started to fail. Also, the engine compression at that point was only at 10%. Ford has refused to repair anything or pay any of it even though the engine is faulty.
I was driving on the interstate when all of a sudden I lost all power, the car started shaking violently, it started leaking and burning oil. I brought it to my local shop and they confirmed that cylinder 3 had a catastrophic failure and it can no longer create any pressure. There were no warning signs. This just happened randomly driving down the interstate.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The local dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V191000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the engine overheated and the vehicle stalled, nearly causing a crash. The messages "Engine Coolant Low" and “Overheating - Safety Stop" were displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the cylinder head was fractured, causing oil intrusion in the engine. The contact stated that the mechanic took the engine apart and replaced the cylinder head. Additionally, the contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact activated the hazard lights and drove the vehicle. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbo was leaking oil, and the turbo drain tube was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe while starting and while driving the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle mainly responded while depressing the accelerator pedal harder than normal. The contact also stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal tapping sound and was misfiring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was related to the purge valve; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact declined to pay for the repair. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The mechanic recommended a compression test and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The vehicle started to blow burning oil from the exhaust on a cold start. The vehicle started to occasionally lose acceleration. Also there was a clicking noise from the engine. After about a week, the low coolant trouble light came on. I took the vehicle to my mechanic and he stated that there were serious engine problems. He said the troubles were definitely engine problems. He said it was probably due to bad cylinders and cylinder heads.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on March 4, 2026.
Recall number 26V122000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
- Risk
- An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.
Recall number 25V372000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- Risk
- An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S54.
Recall number 25V345000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- Risk
- An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023 Escape and Corsair vehicles. For the other vehicles, dealers will update the powertrain control module software. If a connecting rod bearing failure is detected, dealers will replace the engine long-block. All inspections and repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S27. This recall expands and replaces recall number 22V‑484. Vehicles previously repaired under 22V‑484 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Recall number 23V380000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
- Risk
- An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S21.
Recall number 22V191000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
- Risk
- If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.
Recall number 17V209000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through June 2, 2013 and equipped with 1.6L engines. The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.
- Risk
- Leaking engine oil may come into contact with a hot engine surface potentially resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shielding, cooling and control systems, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall number is 13S12.
Recall number 13V583000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- This is an update to a recently announced recall. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through November 26, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines, as well as certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles manufactured from February 3, 2012, through November 29, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines. Coolant system leaks may cause the engines to overheat and leak flammable engine fluids.
- Risk
- If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicles hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine for coolant system leaks and reprogram the vehicles powertrain control module and instrument cluster with an updated calibration and overheat strategy software. There will be no charge to owners for this service. Owners were recently notified to contact dealers to arrange for alternative transportation as Ford developed a remedy. Owners will be shortly receiving notifications to contact Ford dealers to schedule the free remedy repair. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V551000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through August 31, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines. The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) may become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant.
- Risk
- As leaking engine coolant evaporates on the hot engine, the glycol may ignite causing an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will seal the existing plug and add a secondary plug cover, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 11, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V431000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Escape oil consumption
Which Ford Escape years have excessive oil consumption problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (12 complaints), 2017 (6 complaints) and 2006 (4 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix excessive oil consumption on the Ford Escape?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,500 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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