2017 Ford Escape Body & structure Problems

Coolant leak and dealership advises that the car will need a engine replacement to fix the problem. The car is constantly running rough and misfiring. Driving this vehicle this way put myself and small children at risk that there could be a potential complete engine failure while driving the vehicle. This problem has been confirmed by the dealership and I was told that Ford Motor Co. is aware of the issue however they are choosing to do nothing about it or offer a recall. The vehicle has been inspected by a police officer who has driven the car and states that the car is very unsafe to drive. The car has a current "check engine" light constantly on. The car also has severe issues with the electrical system and sealing system. The car is now leaking water when it rains through the front windshield. Also, the pain is chipping in areas all over the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11727097

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

The paint along the windshield columnS and rear tailgate are flaking off in large sections. This is causing premature rusting which is left to a consumer to absorb the cost of an entire paintjob, can lead to lack of action causing structural integrity issues.

NHTSA ID

11714908

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Two different things are happening with my car. 1) the paint is chipping and has caused corrosion on the body. Apparently this is a known issue but the peeling/chipping has gotten worse and will keep doing so until it is fixed. 2) car keep running hot and losing coolant but no leak to be found even after several rounds of tests.

NHTSA ID

11708001

Incident

Dec 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the ABS sensor lights was illuminated. Additionally, the engine block was previously replaced and there were unknown failures with the windshield wipers and windows operating previously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the undercarriage of the vehicle was in a flood and was rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11680562

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Mileage

65,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced paint chipping on the roof of the vehicle near the front windshield causing a visibility and safety concern for the driver. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 67,000.

NHTSA ID

11679265

Incident

Feb 8, 2025

Mileage

67,000 mi

Rear passenger door latch no longer latches. The broken pawl spring tab in the door latch causes the door to not be able to close and stay closed. I see recalls for Ford Escapes up to 2016. It has not been inspected by a dealer No warning lamps or any other indicators before it broke. I shut the door and heard a crack sound. I inspected the latch myself and see a part is broken off.

NHTSA ID

11668459

Incident

Jun 22, 2025

White pearl paint is pealing from around the windshield. The bare metal of the frame is exposed. A local body shop reported the issue may be related to the windshield and could be a safety issue with the windshield getting loose. Other areas, such as the engine hood are also showing signs of pealing.

NHTSA ID

11612516

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

My blue Ford Escape has paint peeling near the left and right edge of the windshield area. This was first noticed in 2022. As of 2024, more paint is peeling.

NHTSA ID

11593117

Incident

May 28, 2022

The roof metal is defective. I brought my car to the dealership because the rain was pouring in all around the inside of the vehicle coming from the roof, they misdiagnosed it as rodent damage to the sun roof drainage tubes. I had another mechanic look at it who found that the water was coming through the roof rack. He was able to see inside of the car through the roof metal. Doing a bit of research, I found this is a common problem with these cars and/or Ford roof metal. There is in an open lawsuit from the collapse of a roof that resulted in the death of a couple. I drive with my 2 little children and I’m very concerned about the safety of my car and other Ford vehicle owners.

NHTSA ID

11584721

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

104,814 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the roof. The contact stated that the leaks were present at several locations inside the vehicle which included the rear hatch area, the rear driver’s, and passenger’s side roof areas above the windows, and the from driver's side roof area above the window. The contact also stated that mold was present inside the vehicle due to condensation from the rainwater. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11574173

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Mileage

25,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that several of the skid plate bolts had detached, causing the front of the skid plate to fall. The independent mechanic informed the contact that only two rear bolts were still attached to the skid plate. The independent mechanic removed the skid plate. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the skid plate bolts had been replaced twice, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11574004

Incident

Feb 23, 2024

Mileage

49,000 mi

this is before an accident will occur.Around the windshield[apillar,on top] the paint is falling off so if I get in a rollover accident or a front end accident is the windshield just going to pop off with any pressure. if the paint under the urethane which holds the windshield in doesn't adhere properly.whats holding it on?

NHTSA ID

11568749

Incident

Jan 30, 2024

1. Coolant is either leaking or evaporating which makes the coolant reservoir tank lose water that requires many refills after daily use. This led to the car to heat up without any notice in the middle of a busy highway with a narrow shoulder. This causes the car to release white smoke from the back with a chemical stench. A mechanic checked the car by raising it on a car lift for any leaks but there were no obvious leaks. 2. Car sometimes violently shakes upon turning on the ignition letting out a loud noise that can be heard from afar. The warning was a misfire on the #2 Cynlinder. We have replaced the old spark plugs and coils with new ones but the car still shakes at times and on the screen it says, 'Engine Fault Service Now". 3. There is also a warning on the system that reads, 'Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power'. Upon start of the warning the car abruptly slows to 35 mph max which is a great concern for safety when driving on the freeway/highway with many cars going 70-80 mph. A couple of mechanics have all mentioned something is wrong because the system slows down the car to avoid any more problems to arise and is a big concern for them as well. The computer used to analyze any issues does not directly call out a specific error even though there is an obvious issue with the powertrain. 4. There was an issue with the latch on the lift gate of the car but was fixed by Ford because it was covered under Extended Ford Warranty.

NHTSA ID

11568265

Incident

Dec 22, 2023

I’m submitting this on behalf of my daughter before someone gets hurt or killed. My daughter purchased a ford escape in 2018. Over years the driver rear door has gotten impossible to open. You have to pull so hard that sometimes the door is rip from your hand and snaps shut. Other times you can pull so hard that it rips the door panel off. So, she stop using that door. She then had a child and decided to put the car seat on the rear passenger side due to the door. Now that I know about her problem and she’s expecting a second child. Well, do I need to say more. She will need to use both side for car seats. If theres an accident and they can’t get the babies out, god forbid. The car hasn’t been in an accident and has been cared for properly with all maintenance done as scheduled. Please help. The dates and such don’t apply and there’s no N/A available. Since I’ve learned of her issue I’ve researched and saw there were recalls on door hinges but not for her year. Any help would be great.

NHTSA ID

11544813

Incident

Sep 15, 2023

I special ordered a 2017 Ford Escape.The paint on both side windshield pillars is peeling and blistering. I took it to the Ford Dealership and was basically told that Ford would not repair it. There are many with the same problem. My concern is that due to the fact that raw metal is visible it will eventually rust and weaken the windshield, possibly causing it to break or even fly off. Please help all of us. I live on Social security and can't afford to get it painted.

NHTSA ID

11525916

Incident

May 19, 2023

Our lift gate latch failed and worked sporadically for the past 6 months and sometimes it would not open at all either manually or by any of the electric switches associated with the lift gate. I feel that this is a serious safety issue because if someone was trapped in the back there is no way to manually open the lift gate. There is common lift gate latch problems with this vehicle as seen in a Google search. We have paid the Ford Dealer $586.00 to have this repaired.

NHTSA ID

11517000

Incident

Apr 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while receiving a routine inspection on the vehicle, he was informed that there was corrosion around the windshield of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed the corrosion and stated that if the corrosion was not treated, the windshield was at risk of detaching. The structure around the windshield was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the 5-year warranty coverage had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,800.

NHTSA ID

11516446

Incident

Feb 11, 2023

Mileage

55,800 mi

After buying the truck I noticed over time the body paint was coming off. When I first got it I noticed a few areas where it looked like there was no clear coat applied. About a month after I noticed there actually was no clear coat applied in certain places (mostly around all the windows). When I spoke to numerous dealers they stated they have seen this a lot lately with Ford giving no explanation. The other issue I have is the doors and lift gate don’t seal properly. I can hear the air whooshing around from everywhere and it even allowed flies into my truck who then decided to mate and it took me two weeks to get them all out.

NHTSA ID

11490385

Incident

Jan 20, 2022

Door latch failure, would not lock. had to get back door latch replaced cost $1600 for something that was Ford’s fault.

NHTSA ID

11486031

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

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 was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who determined that the lift gate automatic system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11485329

Incident

Jun 11, 2022

Mileage

43,000 mi

I am writing this to inform you of (4) safety issues in just the past year. Last August while driving in Massachusetts (I live in PA) I heard a strange noise. After pulling off the busy highway I found the bottom of my car dragging on the road. I had to find a place that sold duct tape as a temporary fix. Next problem was swollen lug nuts (never heard of such a thing). While getting new tires I had spent money for new lug nuts. The next problem again, the bottom of the car was falling off and dragging on the road. Most recently, two weeks ago while driving down the highway in West Virginia the car stated shaking and the engine light stated flashing. After being towed to Greenbrier Ford in Lewisburg, WV the dealer informed me the engine had a catastrophic failure. This is the second engine failure. Every time I get in this vehicle I feel unsafe because I never know what is going to happen next.

NHTSA ID

11484929

Incident

Sep 3, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to unlock the liftgate, the contact was unable to unlock the liftgate using the key fob or the button inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11470626

Incident

Apr 23, 2022

Mileage

48,000 mi

Liftgate trunk won’t open with key fob or button most times and my things are stuck in there sometimes overnight until it will just magically open.

NHTSA ID

11470618

Incident

May 31, 2022

Purchased a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium in lighting blue in October 2019. Now it's February 2022, the odometer reads 32,500 miles, and the paint is peeling on the driver's side next to the windshield. The warranty does not cover this issue. No accidents.

NHTSA ID

11453719

Incident

Feb 23, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from underneath the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and noticed the plastic coverage under the vehicle near the engine had folded up. The contact was able to slowly continue to drive to the local dealer who inspected and removed the remaining plastic coverage from the undercarriage of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the vehicle no longer needed that piece and it did not need to be replaced. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and replaced some of the plastic screws that held up the remaining front plastic cover however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11453438

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi