2017 Ford Escape Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2017 Ford Escape, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 37,129 miles. The words owners use most often: “auto start” (10% of reports).
- 156electrical system complaints
- 37,129median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Auto start: mentioned in 15 of 156 complaints (10%)
- Put park: mentioned in 12 of 156 complaints (8%)
- Shift restart: mentioned in 9 of 156 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 85 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 156 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford Escape electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 2 | 67% | — |
| 2025 Escape | 7 | 27% | 18,250 |
| 2024 Escape | 27 | 36% | 9,000 |
| 2023 Escape | 41 | 41% | 15,500 |
| 2022 Escape | 19 | 8% | 58,595 |
| 2021 Escape | 34 | 10% | 39,000 |
| 2020 Escape | 158 | 10% | 17,500 |
| 2019 Escape | 37 | 6% | 3,400 |
| 2018 Escape | 57 | 3% | 17,349 |
| 2017 Escape | 156 | 6% | 37,129 |
| 2016 Escape | 95 | 8% | 43,734 |
| 2015 Escape | 135 | 12% | 61,000 |
| 2014 Escape | 216 | 10% | 62,000 |
| 2013 Escape | 339 | 12% | 61,000 |
| 2012 Escape | 42 | 7% | 58,600 |
| 2011 Escape | 117 | 9% | 53,000 |
| 2010 Escape | 216 | 10% | 58,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 143 | 8% | 85,500 |
| 2008 Escape | 136 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Escape | 30 | 12% | 75,000 |
| 2006 Escape | 34 | 7% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 153 | 11% | 104,000 |
| 2004 Escape | 31 | 6% | 77,500 |
| 2003 Escape | 39 | 7% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Escape | 123 | 12% | 60,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 136 | 14% | 89,250 |
| 2000 Escape | 1 | 20% | 55,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Service Engine Soon" warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster. On a separate occasion, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly while driving but was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the service center for an instrument panel failure, a diagnostic test was performed on the engine. The contact was informed that in addition to the instrument panel failure, there was coolant inside the cylinders…
The customer may notice coolant spots on the driveway or garage floor, a loss of cabin heat, powertrain unit overheating, or a warning indicator for a low coolant level. Additionally, the condition can cause heat damage to the block heater electrical wiring and connector and the customer may notice…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 Ford Escapes have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 156 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2017 Ford Escape (6% of the 2,696 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Ford Escape electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 37,129 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2017 Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “auto start”, in 15 of 156 complaints, followed by “put park” (12).
Other 2017 Ford Escape problems
- Engine problems (1,578)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (508)
- Power Train problems (391)
- Wheels problems (76)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (72)
- Structure problems (62)
See all 2017 Ford Escape problems or electrical system problems across all Escape years.