Ford Escape stalling problems

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Engine · CA

The vehicle suffered a major manufacturing defect known as internal cylinder coolant intrusion, which is common to Ford's 1.5L EcoBoost engines. The vehicle began experiencing rough cold starts and white exhaust smoke before being officially diagnosed by a certified dealership, Folsom Lake Ford, who confirmed internal coolant leaking into the 2nd engine cylinder. The dealership issued a repair quote of $13,000 for a complete engine replacement. Ford Motor Company Corporate headquarters was notified via certified mail but issued a formal courtesy denial letter refusing any financial or mechanical assistance because the vehicle is outside its standard warranty period. This defect creates a critical roadway safety hazard, as internal coolant leaks can lead to sudden engine overheating, catastrophic block failure, stall-outs in active traffic, or potential engine fires. The vehicle is currently un-driven and parked at my residence due to this safety risk. This newly purchased used car from a dealership was at the end of May 2026. Happened while driving home on the freeway from work, I noticed the engine was overheating. I had to quickly and very nervously move through traffic to get to the shoulder of the freeway in traffic hour. I was traveling up a steep grade and traffic was bunched and slowing, which compounded the problem. I was in the second lane from the left and had to get over, I think 3 lanes to get to the shoulder quickly. It was very scary with all the traffic. Everyone on the road near me was at risk including me. This is a known manufacture defect in this type of engine (1.5L). Happening in July 2026. Why has a recall not been done for this very dangerous known fault of Fords and for anyone to be on the road around these types of engine propelled cars is putting many at risk on the roads. How can this be overlooked???

Filed Oct 31, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · OH

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)

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · IA

Was sold a 2016 ford escape that apparently has a known coolant leak issue that is caused by a bad engine block. When I bought the car in 2021 I had to wait two weeks to get the car so they could fix a cylinder misfire issue. Had several issues with it overheating and was told that it just needed coolant added. In 2026 was told that the head gaskets was blown and to repair would cost $9000 at the same ford dealership where I bought it. I had another Authorized NAPA Garage replace the head gaskets for $5000 and with in a week had misfire on cylinder #4 again while on the freeway doing 55 MPH which caused the car to stall on the freeway in traffic! Started investigating the issues to find out that it is a well documented issue with 2016 fords having a bad engine and the only fix is replacement of the engine!

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · AR

My vehicle was traveling okay back in the beginning of June 2026. While driving down the road with my children in the car the vehicle started throwing several codes out of no where. The codes were pre-collision assist not available, Service Advance Trac, Park Break fault service now. I took it to O'reileys after calling the Ford Dealership that (at the time) was local and that was their recommendation. I had the car scanned and it recorded a first cylinder misfire. We had to disconnect the battery and jump the car to get it to start. I brought the car to the Ford Dealership I baught the car from on June 12th where they kept the car for a week returning it on the 18th and stated they reprogrammed the gateway module. A week and a day later I had the same issue arise but with MORE codes, not starting without jumping, stalling while driving. the dealership had my car from 07/06/2026 - 07/27/2026 and replaced and reporgrammed the new gateway module. I made it 45 minutes from the dealership when the car started throwing even more codes including powertrain codes, parking brake codes. Endangering the lives of me and my children. The dealership came and got the car 7/29 via private tow and checked it in 7/30. They kept my car until 10/22 due to numerous codes, safety concerns. Stated they replaced the wiring harness, all modules, tested the wires one by one, applied a pigtail from the wiring harness to the PCM. Yesterday 10/27, five day after ford had my car for 85 days and we are throwing all the codes YET AGAIN for a 4th time but now umongst the stalling and the codes and the braking concerns we are also now having power steering concerns. This has now endagered the lives of me my husband and my children under numerous occasions. Ford has had my car a total of 112 days in the last 5 months 85 of them concecutively. We have even contacted Ford Motor Company and BBB Auto Line and were told there is nothing anyone can do due to it being out of premesis or over mileage.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Engine · NY

1. The EcoBoost engine block suffered a severe structural failure caused by a factory manufacturing defect known as internal cylinder block coolant intrusion (as documented in Ford TSB 19-2208). Antifreeze leaks directly past the cylinder wall block grooves into the combustion chambers. This vehicle is currently parked and is fully available for physical inspection upon request at the location provided. 2. The engine suffered a sudden, severe mechanical malfunction while driving, causing an immediate drop in cylinder compression, engine misfires, and a dangerous loss of control and motive power. Driving a vehicle prone to sudden stall or failure creates an extreme hazard on public roads, dramatically increasing the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision or stranding the driver in live traffic without propulsion. 3. Yes. The vehicle’s loss of coolant, engine misfire codes, and cylinder block leak characteristics were physically inspected and confirmed by a private, independent auto mechanic. 4. The vehicle has not been inspected by the police or insurance as no crash has occurred yet. Ford Motor Company's customer service and Tier 2 Automotive Consumer Operations (ACO) divisions have been formally notified of the defect, and corporate Case File #CXH-0934-5907 was opened. However, a physical dealership inspection has not been completed due to the manufacturer's refusal to waive upfront diagnostic fees for an out-of-warranty vehicle. 5. Prior to total engine failure, the vehicle displayed an aggressive engine overheat warning indicator on the dashboard. The reservoir was found entirely stripped of coolant, with no visible external fluid leaks underneath the vehicle. These active symptoms and high engine temperature alerts first appeared suddenly on the dashboard on the day of the breakdown.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Engine · PA

The vehicle is experiencing ongoing coolant loss with no visible external leak. The coolant level drops consistently and requires frequent refilling. The issue began around mid‑mileage and has continued to worsen. The engine sometimes emits a coolant smell, and the temperature gauge rises more quickly than normal. Warning messages about high engine temperature have appeared during driving. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not find an external leak and stated the condition was normal, even though the coolant continues to disappear. No repairs have resolved the issue. Based on known problems with EcoBoost engines, an internal coolant leak or cylinder head defect is suspected, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. This creates a safety risk because sudden overheating can occur while driving, which may lead to engine failure, loss of power, or stalling in traffic. The issue is ongoing and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Transmission · WI

I was driving to work and the transmission faltered, grinded, tried to shift, and I thought the vehicle was going to crash. There were cars around me, and I was going about 30 to 35 miles per hour. I was able to pull over and turned off the car. I then drove it to an auto shop and the mechanic stated that it is the transmission. My Ford Escape 2023 has 68,000 miles. It has stalled twice on the road at a stop light/stop sign since August 2026 also. I no longer trust that the vehicle is safe.

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TX

On approximately September 28, 2026, the vehicle began sputtering when first turned on. It then progressed to running extremely rough. On September 30, 2026 the Engine Icon lit up first. A few days later, I received an Engine Fault Service Now message. I went to the Auto Zone on October 4, 2026 and they ran a diagnostic check. These are the codes that were found: Check Engine Fail Replace Ignition Coil and Spark Plug #3 P0303 Cylinder 3 misfire detected P0339 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent P0300 Random misfire detected Cylinder 3 On October 5, 2026, I took it to my mechanic and he began checking everything. He found oil on and inside the computer. He also found that there was antifreeze residue on the Cylinder and Spark Plugs. He did some research to find out what could cause this to happen. He found the following: 1,134–1,711 engine complaints depending on dataset. Failures typically occur between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. Main Engine Problems 1. Coolant Intrusion (1.5L EcoBoost – Most Common & Severe) Coolant leaks past the block/head sealing surface into cylinders. Not a head gasket failure—requires short-block or long-block replacement. Symptoms: Misfire codes (P0300–P0304) White exhaust smoke Unexplained coolant loss Rough idle, stalling, overheating. 2. Cracked Engine Block Often the end result of prolonged coolant intrusion. Leads to catastrophic engine failure requiring full replacement. On Friday, October 9, 2026, I drove my car to work, approximately 2.5 miles, after the Escape sitting for 3.5 hours, I started it. I immediately received the HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE STOP SAFELY, and the engine shut off. On the 3rd try, the Escape stayed running. I could only drive 11 mph. On my final turn onto a busy street, the Escape began sputtering and would not accelerate at all. I was stuck in the middle of the street, putting myself at risk of being hit. I finally made it to a parking lot but had to be pushed home by my son.

Filed Oct 11, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

At only 43,379 miles — well within the useful life expected of this vehicle — my 2019 Ford Escape developed two significant mechanical failures. (1) Fuel injector: the vehicle emits visible black smoke from the exhaust when accelerating at highway speeds; the dealership diagnosed this as a failed fuel injector requiring replacement (est. $1,200). Visible exhaust smoke during highway acceleration is a visibility hazard to following traffic. (2) Coolant intrusion into the engine: the dealership's service department diagnosed coolant intrusion requiring replacement of major short block components (est. $8,300), and told me this failure is in its early stages and the engine is likely to fail completely within 6 to 12 months if not repaired. The lead service technician stated this is a common, known issue with this engine, which is being discontinued. Complete engine failure could occur without warning, including while driving on a highway, creating a risk of a stalling-related crash. Rather than repairing the vehicle, the dealership's own service advisor recommended I sell or trade the vehicle to a third party such as CarMax while it still retains value and purchase a different vehicle — effectively passing a vehicle with a known, unresolved engine defect on to the next owner. Coolant intrusion and short block failures in this engine family have been widely reported by other Ford Escape owners. I am requesting the federal safety agency review this complaint alongside others for the same engine/model-year combination to determine whether a pattern exists warranting an investigation or recall.

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · KY

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.