2017 Ford Escape Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escape years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 27 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 2,696 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape. That ranks 2nd out of 27 Escape model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (1,578 complaints, 59%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 39 crashes, 15 fires, 56 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2,696owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 39complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 Ford Escape problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 1,578 | 59% | 70,000 | “coolant intrusion” (24%) | $9,100 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 508 | 19% | 82,038 | “coolant intrusion” (50%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 391 | 15% | 75,456 | “coolant intrusion” (9%) | $6,400 |
| Electrical System problems | 156 | 6% | 37,129 | “auto start” (10%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 153 | 6% | 24,994 | — | — |
| Wheels problems | 76 | 3% | 43,173 | “lug nuts” (80%) | $210 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 72 | 3% | 34,800 | “coolant intrusion” (17%) | — |
| Structure problems | 62 | 2% | 40,000 | “paint peeling” (15%) | — |
| Steering | 49 | 2% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 45 | 2% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 40 | 1% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 1% | 14,642 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 1% | 47,634 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 1% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 14 | 1% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 11 | 0% | 50,523 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 0% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 0% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7 | 0% | 26,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 0% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 0% | 56,065 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 0% | 121,380 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 0% | 94,301 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 0% | 57,187 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Firerelated | 2 | 0% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Ford Escape recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Problem: 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."
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.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: 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.
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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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.
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.
Electrical system:software; visibility:power window devices and controls
Problem: 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.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The head light bulbs continuously burn out every few months. Brights and fog lights work
ecoboost engine defect coolant leaks into engine cylinders causing engine failure . I have a ford escape 2017 with the above defect and i had to replace the eco booster twice and last time I had to replace the engine because the block cracked. ford is not helping at all to fix the problem
Our Escape has had the head gasket replaced twice (6/2023 & 8/2024) and now needs the engine completely replaced. We have paid almost $8,000 out of pocket for the 2 fixes and now have been given an estimate of $10k for a new engine. In all three cases we have had the engine light turn on, the…
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…
Purchased as a pair of aftermarket replacement headlight assemblies for a 2017 Ford Escape. Both left and right assemblies developed internal plastic melting around the projector area after several months of normal use. Seller states the assemblies are limited to a 60W 9005 bulb, but no such…
Other Ford Escape years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 Escape | 26 | 9 |
| 2024 Escape | 76 | 8 |
| 2023 Escape | 100 | 11 |
| 2022 Escape | 235 | 19 |
| 2021 Escape | 349 | 19 |
| 2020 Escape | 1,608 | 23 |
| 2019 Escape | 595 | 3 |
| 2018 Escape | 1,816 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2,696 | 4 |
| 2016 Escape | 1,154 | 4 |
| 2015 Escape | 1,113 | 9 |
| 2014 Escape | 2,089 | 16 |
| 2013 Escape | 2,750 | 18 |
| 2012 Escape | 603 | 1 |
| 2011 Escape | 1,317 | 2 |
| 2010 Escape | 2,070 | 3 |
| 2009 Escape | 1,693 | 1 |
| 2008 Escape | 1,974 | 3 |
| 2007 Escape | 254 | 2 |
| 2006 Escape | 464 | 3 |
| 2005 Escape | 1,394 | 4 |
| 2004 Escape | 499 | 6 |
| 2003 Escape | 558 | 7 |
| 2002 Escape | 1,027 | 8 |
| 2001 Escape | 996 | 13 |
| 2000 Escape | 5 | 0 |
See all Ford Escape problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Escape?
Owners most often report engine, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 1,578 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Ford Escape?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 Ford Escape a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escape model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.