KnownCarProblems2017 Ford Escape Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 2,700 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape, most often about the engine (74% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Escape model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2017 Ford Escape problems
Engine
1,993 complaints · 74%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
While driving on a city street my car begin to loose pressure and the immediately after the service engine now light came on and my car begin to shake very bad. So I pulled over turned the car off and started it again. The car drove okay and I was able to make it to the repair show but, every time I stopped at the…
When pulling out onto a busy highway, the check engine light and safety information notification popped up stating the engine was at an unsafe temperature and to safely park right away. The engine then began to stutter and shut down within seconds. The car had just been started only minutes before and the engine…
Transmission
391 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, shift linkage/cable/rod, driveline.
Ii took my car in for an oil change before it reached 60,000 miles. I ask them to check the transmission because it felt like it was slipping , it would go slow going up a hill sometimes and would feel like it wasn't moving when you pushed the gas pedal. The dealership said it was fine. At 74,000 miles the cars…
While driving on a city street my car begin to loose pressure and the immediately after the service engine now light came on and my car begin to shake very bad. So I pulled over turned the car off and started it again. The car drove okay and I was able to make it to the repair show but, every time I stopped at the…
Electrical
156 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, software, instrument panel.
'auto startstop' would not restart engine from this month, approximately once a day. Instrument panel message shows me to 'auto startstop, shift to p, restart engine'. After shifting to p and restarting engine, the engine works well. I feel so dangerous to restart engine by changing transmission shift because it…
I've had multiple problems with this vehicle.1st problem is when I came to a stop at the set of stop lights in gloucester ma. The engine shut off. At that point I have to restart the car. It has happened on multiple occasions.it didn't happen at the dealership so was told it would have to happen when the had the car.…
Other or unspecified
153 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
The turbos went out at 7,000 miles. And now my engine loses power and oil disappears out of motor. Only 27,000 now and bought it dec 2017. Not even 1 year and a half old. Very disappointed. I bought a new car because my old one broke down all the time .
I was the owner of a 2017 Ford Escape with under 27000 miles. On 7/16/19, it had been parked for 6 hours at my place and I was awoken at 12:30 am by fire/police that my car was on fire. The fire started under the passenger hood area. The car is a total loss and fire dept determined it was an electrical fire. Still…
Fuel system
94 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The vehicle would sputter and stall the evap system was faulty the contact stated that while driving at various speeds the check engine light would illuminate and the vehicle would sputter and stall. Also after refueling the engine would not immediately start. The vehicle was taken…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions while in park(p), the vehicle rolled forward inadvertently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed twice and held down to stop the vehicle. Additionally, on several occasions, the contact observed an abnormal sound coming…
Wheels and tires
82 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, pressure monitoring and regulating systems, sidewall.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to bondy's Ford lincoln (3615 ross clark cir, dothan, al 36303) for an oil change, he was informed that the lug nuts on the four wheels needed to be replaced due to swelling. The contact was given an estimate for the replacement and…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a tire rotation, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts were defective and needed to be replaced to perform the tire rotation. The lug nuts were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified…
Body and structure
62 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Rear tailgate is going out of alignment and Ford wants to charge me a few hundred dollars to get fix and my vehicle has never been in a wreck.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated when parked the lift gate would independently start to close while she was loading the trunk. The contact stated that the lift gate failure had become constant and eventually became locked and could not be raised or lowered. The contact stated no warning light…
Brakes
50 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles.
Within 17,000 miles on the 2017 Ford Escape the brakes and the rotors went out and within 8 months of having bought the Escape one of the rear seatbelts is not working
My 2017 Ford Escape with 18,000 had a master brake cylinder failure at 18,000 miles. The car was parked outside over night in single digit temperatures. When I started to drive it the next day on a residential street the brake pedal went to the floor the first time I applied the brakes at a stop sign. The brakes…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Ford Escape recalls
Visibility and wipers: power window devices and controls
Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26c29. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on july 6, 2026.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017 escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16v617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 118, "power-operated window systems."
Equipment: engine block heater
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed march 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26s01. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall b
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 focus, 2013-2019 escape, and 2015-2016 mkc vehicles equipped with a 2.0l engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Transmission: shift linkage/cable/rod
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed july 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed october 27, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s43.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 escape, 2013-2018 c-max, 2013-2016 fusion, 2013-2021 transit connect, and 2015-2018 edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Electrical: software
Risk: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2017 Ford Escape
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Escape?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (1,993 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles); transmission (391 complaints, typically around 75,500 miles); electrical (156 complaints, typically around 37,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Escape have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 9, 2026 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Ford Escape?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Escape model year since 2000, with 2,700 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.