2017 Ford Escape Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle failed to immediately restart on several occasions. Additionally, the vehicle stalled on several occasions with the Check Engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the evaporator canister and purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The contact was informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 104,600.

NHTSA ID

11744553

Incident

Feb 15, 2026

Mileage

104,600 mi

Evap purge valve stuck open, coolant pooling in spark plugs, and oil combusting rapidly causing fire and explosion fears. Heavy smell of gasoline to where i didn't feel safe to start or drive

NHTSA ID

11737449

Incident

May 12, 2026

NHTSA Complaint SummaryVehicle: 2017 Ford Escape SEEngine: 1.5L EcoBoostVIN: [XXX] Defect: Engine Block Design Flaw / Coolant IntrusionTechnical Description of the Issue:My vehicle is experiencing a well-documented manufacturing defect specific to the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The engine block was designed with a "v-groove" between the cylinders that is prone to structural failure. This allows engine coolant to leak into the combustion chambers (coolant intrusion) and allows engine oil to contaminate the cooling system. My vehicle currently exhibits "milky," tan-brown sludge in the coolant reservoir, confirming that oil and coolant are cross-contaminating due to internal engine failure.Extreme Safety Hazards and Dangers:This defect creates several critical safety risks for the driver, passengers, and other motorists:Sudden Loss of Power at High Speeds: The mixing of oil and coolant destroys the engine’s ability to lubricate internal bearings. This can lead to a catastrophic engine seizure while the vehicle is in motion, causing an immediate loss of power and power steering, which creates a high risk of collisions on highways.Engine Fire Risk: When coolant enters the combustion chamber, it can cause severe engine misfires and overheating. Overheated oil or pressurized coolant spraying onto a hot exhaust manifold during a mechanical failure presents a significant fire hazard.Hydro-locking: If coolant floods the cylinder while the vehicle is in operation, the engine can hydro-lock, causing the engine to stall instantly and potentially throwing metal debris onto the roadway, endangering other drivers.Visibility Hazards: Excessive white smoke from the exhaust (caused by burning coolant) can suddenly obscure the driver’s rear-view visibility and the visibility of trailing motorists.Conclusion:Ford Motor Company was aware of this defect, as evidenced by Customer Satisfaction Program 21N08 and TSB 19-2346. However, because these programs have arbitrary expira INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (

NHTSA ID

11735289

Incident

May 2, 2026

The failure appears to involve the vehicle’s auto start/stop system and related electrical control systems, including the battery management system and/or body control module. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while driving and fails to automatically restart, displaying “Auto Start/Stop – Manual Restart Required” and “Shift to Park.” The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has shut off unexpectedly in active traffic, causing a sudden loss of power. This creates a dangerous situation where I am unable to accelerate or move with traffic flow, increasing the risk of being rear-ended or involved in a collision. This has occurred on public roads with other vehicles present, putting both myself and others at risk. The issue is intermittent and has not consistently been reproduced on demand. However, it has occurred multiple times during normal driving conditions. I am in the process of having the vehicle inspected and documented by a dealership. The issue has been reported to the manufacturer, and a case has been opened with Ford Motor Company. At this time, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives. There were no consistent warning lamps prior to the failure. At the time of the incident, the vehicle displayed messages including “Auto Start/Stop – Manual Restart Required” and “Shift to Park.” These messages appeared simultaneously with the loss of power. The issue has occurred intermittently without advance warning.

NHTSA ID

11731444

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

2017 Ford Escape 65,000 miles,1.5l coolant intrusion.#2 cylinder misfire code. First thing upon raising the hood noticed and acknowledged there was no coolant in resevoir. Attempting to replace spark plugs. Removed/replaced #4 plug. Attempting to replace #3 spark plug, plug broke off. Researching and collaborating with reputable mechanic concluded that short block coolant intrusion has occurred. Upon disassembly have encountered turbo boost and catalytic converter full of oil, also needing replaced. Head has been sent to machine shop for inspection and repair. Presently awaiting for repairs to be completed and costs established. Present estimate over $5000. I paid cash for this vehicle in 2019. Vehicle had been leased for 2 years previous. Vehicle had 20,000 miles on it. Ford was well aware of the coolant intrusion (bad engineering) is before they sold me the vehicle in November 2019. They never mentioned or offered any warranty specific to this issue. They sold me a a vehicle knowing that if enough things went wrong while driving this vehicle, catastrophic situation was possible. They should have corrected this issue before they sold it to the next customer.

NHTSA ID

11730565

Incident

Dec 18, 2025

Engines has a severe issue with coolant leaking into the engine cylinders due to a design defect in the engine block. This "coolant intrusion" lead to misfires, engine overheating, and complete engine failure, and is requiring a full engine replacement.

NHTSA ID

11729473

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

My vehicle was inspected by a mechanic after experiencing sudden loss of power and stalling while merging onto the expressway in active traffic. At the time of the incident, the vehicle became unable to accelerate properly, creating a serious safety hazard due to surrounding vehicles traveling at highway speeds. The mechanic determined that the fuel pump had failed. During inspection prior to replacement, the mechanic identified metal shavings present in the fuel system, which appear to have originated from the fuel pump. These metal fragments contaminated the system and pose a risk of further engine damage. This failure appears to be related to a known issue involving fuel pump defects in Ford vehicles. The design and/or function of the fuel pump may allow internal deterioration that leads to system-wide contamination and potential engine failure. This issue presents a serious safety concern due to the risk of sudden stalling and loss of power while driving, particularly during high-speed merging conditions.

NHTSA ID

11726599

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

The **engine system** failed due to **coolant intrusion into cylinder 2**, causing engine misfires and loss of power. This condition is consistent with known EcoBoost engine defects in this model year. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This failure created a **safety risk** due to potential **loss of power or stalling while driving**, increasing the risk of a crash. An additional issue exists with the **electrical system**, specifically the **driver’s door control panel circuit**, which intermittently malfunctions and affects vehicle operation. The engine issue has been **confirmed by diagnostic trouble codes indicating a cylinder 2 misfire**. Dealer confirmation: **UNKNOWN**. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Prior to failure, the vehicle displayed a **check engine light**, rough idle, and misfiring. Electrical issues occurred intermittently. Exact onset date is **UNKNOWN**.

NHTSA ID

11711844

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

While driving at a constant speed on the highway, the transmission shifted down a gear and revved into very high RPMs. I was dramatically slowing down despite pressing on the gas pedal. The car didn't provide any power and just revved while I had cars next to me going at highway speeds. Managed to get off the highway, a transmission fault indicator popped up on the dash. The car no longer was able to move. I had the car towed to the Ford Dealership. This car has a bad transmission at ~97,000 miles. Prior to this, I felt like the car's transmission maybe wasn't shifting on time but didn't make much of it. This could have easily resulted in a crash. Turns out this is a very well known problem with the Ford Escape. My friend has a 2016 Ford Escape who recently paid 8000$ for a new transmission. This is clearly unsafe and the failure is definitely premature.

NHTSA ID

11707206

Incident

Dec 26, 2025

Coolant intrusion into cylinders at 81,000 miles has damaged engine and transmission pump, requiring replacement of both. Appears this is a known issue with both 2.0L and 1.5L engines.

NHTSA ID

11699502

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

While driving the car- the front end started to shake and the check engine light came on. Took it to our local Ford dealership and the advised that it was a cylinder 2 misfire when they diagnosed. They advised that the engine block is porous and the coolant slowly leaks into the engine which is causing the misfire. Called Ford's customer assistance line and since the car is out of warranty- and there are no open recalls, that they will not cover the $9100.00 new engine repair. Our car is a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium- with approx 82k miles. We purchased the car as a certified pre-owned in 2021- and have had no prior issues. We did not purchase any extended warranty. We were advised that the car isn't safe to drive due to the engine misfire.

NHTSA ID

11696127

Incident

Sep 15, 2025

Code for camshaft timing and cylinder 2 misfire. Scoped coils and performed relative compression test. Dead cylinder on number 2. Recommend manual compression test and cylinder leak down test to identify cause of low compression Performed manual compression test and confirmed cylinder has 0 compression. Performed cylinder leak down test. Air coming from crankcase. This indicates an issue with rings, cylinder wall, or piston. Engine will need to be replaced. The coolant leaked into the cylinders, which lead to engine failure.

NHTSA ID

11692865

Incident

Oct 4, 2025

I have a coolant leaking issue, that has harmed my engine and QuickLane at Bill Brown Ford in Livonia, recommended an engine change. There is a class action lawsuit about this, so it is a known defect.

NHTSA ID

11690734

Incident

Aug 17, 2025

My Ford Escape 2017 at 77,000 was diagnosed with coolant intrusion, causing catastrophic damage to the engine & requiring a total engine rebuild. This is a known issue identified by Ford in CSP 21N12 by Ford and TB 22-2134, but Ford has refused to subsidize any repairs because the car warranty is over 7 years old (it is currently an 8.5 year-old car). This issue can cause overheating, engine failure, and fires & has been known by Ford since at least June 2022, but they failed to notify me via mail or otherwise & have refused all requests to grant an extension or partial coverage for the necessary engine repairs.

NHTSA ID

11689274

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, stalled, and hesitated while accelerating. Additionally, on several occasions, the vehicle failed to immediately start. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and became aware that there was an odor of fuel on the spark plugs, due to a faulty fuel pump. The fuel pump was replaced, but the failure later reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the fuel pump had been replaced three times. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11680349

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

Mileage

75,000 mi

Engine light came on and then 3 days later, the car would not drive. Got the car inspected and found out the coolant is leaking into the engine.

NHTSA ID

11678625

Incident

Jul 30, 2025

My car began throwing codes for a Cylinder 2 misfire in October of 23. We did a tune up. Within a few months, same issue. By Oct of 24 my head gasket needed replaced. Now it is August of 25 and I am having the same issue and signs that the head gasket is bad again. I am told by dealers this is due to a faulty head gasket that Ford knowingly put in the vehicles. There is a limited recall for the 1.6L but not the 2.0 EcoBoost motors. I am now out thousands of dollars for the new head gasket less than a year ago and am being told the only fix is to replace the engine as a whole which will be thousands of more. This is due to Ford putting in faulty parts, and not taking responsibility. I am now out of a car, while working full time with an [XXX] and a baby on the way because Ford my & my childrens safety is not worth driving a car that could break down at any moment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11677835

Incident

Oct 16, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart but was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Firestone but was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a cracked fuel injector had leaked fuel into cylinder #3, creating a hole in the cylinder and the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11675299

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

Mileage

92,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling at several different gas stations, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact added fuel cleaner to the fuel tank. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V187000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11675110

Incident

May 1, 2024

Mileage

120,000 mi

We are having a problem with the fuel injector system and maybe the fuel pump. It seems that there is not enough fuel getting the the engine and while on the road it seems like it wants to stall or something. I have had 2 different mechanics do a OBD and nothing shows up. There is no engine light that comes so they say they can't get a good read. I saw the article of ford recalls about low pressure fuel pump may fail. I called Ford to explain what is happening and they said there is no recall. I said maybe this is the start of something and they said to contact (NHTSA). I have tried fuel injector cleaners twice with 2 full tanks of 93 grade fuel and no change at all. The Ford escape might have the same problem with the other Fords that are being recalled. I hope someone can help me with this problem before something happens on the highway! Thankyou!

NHTSA ID

11674325

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

I own a 2017 Ford Escape with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The engine began exhibiting symptoms of coolant intrusion into the combustion chamber. A certified Ford dealership confirmed the diagnosis after inspection and advised that the engine needs to be replaced or rebuilt due to this issue. This defect is known and widespread in this engine type and can lead to engine failure while driving, posing a serious safety risk. Although Ford issued a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP 21N12) for this exact problem, my vehicle was just outside the expiration period, and Ford has denied financial assistance, despite this being a documented and recurring defect. There were no warning lights before the engine began running rough and misfiring. The coolant loss was gradual and internal. This issue has been confirmed and documented by a Ford dealership, and I have a case open with Ford corporate. I am filing this complaint because of the safety risks involved with coolant intrusion, the costly repair burden passed to consumers, and Ford’s refusal to support a known defect that could lead to sudden engine failure while driving.

NHTSA ID

11671544

Incident

May 29, 2025

Transmission failed turbo failed electrical systems failed.

NHTSA ID

11652222

Incident

Dec 18, 2022

Issues described in Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229. 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant in Cylinders, white exhaust smoke and/or illuminated malfunction indicator light.

NHTSA ID

11650006

Incident

Mar 23, 2025

The engine failed while i was driving through mountains. The car shut off and would not shut back on. The check engine light had been on for about 2 weeks

NHTSA ID

11649057

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

Need a new motor at 60,000 miles. Iv never missed an oil change

NHTSA ID

11646788

Incident

Feb 14, 2025