2017 Ford Escape

2017 Ford Escape with the 2.0L Ecoboost Engine. Engine failed with the known coolant intrusion issue with only ~65,000 miles on it. Engine started misfiring, and the check engine light came on (solid, not blinking). No leaks under the vehicle. Within 2 days, the cabin lost heat while running the defroster on a cold morning. Brought vehicle to Ford dealer where it was diagnosed for low coolant (no external leaks) and then coolant was found inside cylinder 2. It was recommended that I replace the engine long block, and was told that the replacement long block no longer has the same issue as the original. The original engine could have failed and stopped operating while I was driving putting me, and others, in a dangerous situation, and could have potentially started a fire. I am by far not the only Escape owner experiencing this; the service advisor that I talked to at the dealer admitted that he has seen "a lot" of Escapes with this issue, and there is an ongoing class action lawsuit (see below): XXX . The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that Ford Motor Company: failed to disclose that these vehicles have a defect that causes coolant to leak into the engine’s cylinders, which can cause corrosion, oil dilution and contamination, and engine failure; and failed to disclose these defects create a safety risk, because the lack of coolant created by the leaks causes overheating and can result in the cylinder head cracking, total engine failure, and/or engine fires. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11776648

Incident

Oct 1, 2026

During regular operation, the vehicle began running roughly, stalling at intersections, and triggering a 'Coolant Over-Temperature' warning alongside a Check Engine Light. A certified mechanic confirmed internal coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders—a documented defect in this model year. This defect causes unpredictable engine stalling and complete loss of motive power while driving. Operating a vehicle prone to sudden, unprovoked stalling in active traffic poses a severe safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and surrounding drivers."

NHTSA ID

11776121

Incident

Oct 28, 2026

My 2017 Ford Escape was diagnosed with a coolant intrusion. Apparently the only way to fix this is replacing the engine block for more than the car is worth (~$10,000). The car only has 70,000 miles on it. It is available for inspection upon request. This problem has been confirmed by a dealer ([XXX] Ford of [XXX]). The check engine light came on and the problem was originally diagnosed as a cylinder fault with the course of action being 4 spark plugs and 1 ignition coil replaced. The check engine light continued to flash and it was then diagnosed with coolant intrusion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11776017

Incident

Oct 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced catastrophic engine failure. While driving, the vehicle started sputtering and running rough before emitting smoke and excessive steam. The contact noticed a sweet odor coming from the exhaust before the failure. The steam became severe enough to obstruct the view of the driver. The contact discovered that coolant was leaking into the cylinders, causing the engine to hydro lock. The coolant contaminated the engine oil, and the engine oil became milky. The vehicle failed to start, and the engine seized. The contact notified Ford Motor Company of the failure and sent a complaint by certified mail. The manufacturer provided a case number and confirmed receipt of the correspondence but declined to provide any additional assistance. The contact visited the local Ford dealer and was informed that no assistance would be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 62,037.

NHTSA ID

11775711

Incident

May 20, 2026

Mileage

62,037 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly started shaking violently and sputtering while driving on the highway. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 19-2346. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The failure mileage was approximately 77,025.

NHTSA ID

11775457

Incident

Oct 3, 2026

Mileage

77,025 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking with the messages, " Cylinder #1 Misfire" and "Coolant Level Low" displayed. The coolant level was low. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a misfire in cylinder #1, replaced the spark plugs, and added coolant; however, the coolant level was low within the week and coolant was added. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 93,692.

NHTSA ID

11775102

Incident

Oct 14, 2026

Mileage

93,692 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11774063

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

THE ENGINE HASCOOLING INTRUSION TO DO MANUFRATURE DEFECT

NHTSA ID

11773927

Incident

Oct 24, 2026

Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program

Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k

This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to:  Display operation concerns  Navigation inoperative  Voice recognition concerns  Phone connection issues  Dropped phone connections  Applink related performance  Travel Link not present or showing incorrect traffic  Slow system response NOTE: Ford has found some of the APIMs replaced and returned for inspection contained an outdated software level and the APIM did not require replacement. The customer concern may have been resolved by updating the APIM with latest level of software. The SYNC 3 universal thumb drive will be able to update the APIM software without the use of a scan tool and does not require the process to be monitored. Ford will be monitoring APIM replacements to confirm TSB directed software updates have been performed.

Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance related concerns. related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present or showing incorrect traffic Slow system response This may be due to the SYNC software. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software. NOTE: Ford has found some of the APIMs replaced and returned for inspection contained an outdated software level and the APIM did not require replacement. The customer concern may have been resolved by updating the APIM with latest level of software.