2017 Ford Escape Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 77,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 93,692 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 75,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, the vehicle started rolling backwards while shifted to park(P). The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the recall repair was previously performed in 2024. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 216,000 miles

Transmission failed/malfunctioned. Available for inspection. Safety at risk due to driving on busy road when transmission failed and car wouldn't move. Transmission recall for VIN [XXX] Vehicle component has not been inspected. No warning of any kind prior to failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 37,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 for a diagnostic test associated with the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. The contact check the vanity lights but there was no power inside the vehicle. The vehicle was without electrical power for approximately 30 minutes before power returned to vehicle. The contact was concerned about…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 73,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 75,000 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles. Parts named most: Lugs / nuts / bolts / studs (27).

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while taking the vehicle in for a routine tire rotation, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts were swollen, and the tires could not be rotated. The contact's wife purchased a tool to remove the lug nuts and purchased replacement lug nuts. The vehicle was returned…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 74,800 miles

This happened to all of my tires that were not even 3 years old yet. I purchased my used vehicle from Anderson Nissan in Lake Havasu City AZ a year and a half ago. The Scorpion Perilli Tires 235 45/R19 on my vehicle seemed to be like new. Starting in December is when I started to have problems my low tire pressure light came on and I…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (53).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.Owner complaint, filed 2026

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light was persistently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the brake booster and brake master cylinder assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 14,643 miles

Component: BRAKE BOOSTER While driving on the interstate (at 80mph), check engine light came on and vehicle struggled to maintain power to stay at speed, would downshift for power to get back but as soon as it up shifted speed would drop again. My fuel mileage also dropped drastically as well as forced me to exit interstate on order to…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 57,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 wattage limitation or overheating warning was…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V374000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and a mechanic was sent to the residence to perform a software update, but the mechanic was unable to complete the software…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering assist message was displayed; however, the driver continued driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an intermittent…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 59,555 miles

My wife was driving when power steering went out . Power steering assist fault shows on the dash. She was almost in an accident due to it going out suddenly. This is incredibly unsafe. It shows no recall yet the same issue happened twice in our 2009 ford escape as well as many complaints filed for this same issue by many individuals.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The vehicle was taken to glenwood springs ford (55 storm king rd, glenwood springs, co 81601) where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective accelerator pedal mechanism…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 74,312 miles

The contact owns a 2017 ford escape. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle did not respond and then suddenly surged forward. The contact stated that the failure occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased in 2016. The vehicle was taken to barber ford of hazleton (1112 n church st, hazleton, pa 18202) at least six…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 14,642 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passenger's side front end of the vehicle hit a cow and was significantly damaged. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated after the crash. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and back pain, and bruises on the chest from the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 150,000 miles

On [XXX], I was driving on the left lane of freeway [XXX] All of a sudden curtain airbags (both sides) deployed for no reason. The force/impact of the airbags felt like something extremely heavy or big landed on top of the roof. My vehicle slowed down automatically and then went into crash mode and was unable to start/drive. I stepped…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

2017 Ford Escape In 2025 driver's side front seat belt would not retract. Car taken to Balise Ford in Hyannis, MA. Balise Ford did an inspection (for which a charge was imposed) to determine if repair can be done. Seat belt could not be repaired and needed to be replaced. Replaced in January 2025. Information is being submitted since it…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The driver seatbelt will not lock when fully extended or in the event of an accident. This will be the third time that I will have had to have this repair done. Ford warrants the part for 5 years or 60,000 miles. I am out of the five year window but I just turned 60,000 miles. Repair will cost upwards of $800. Unfortunately I am not in…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 ford escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, it was discovered that the rear shock absorbers were leaking fluids and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer columbia ford located at 234…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 34,000 miles

Driving at low speed, about 15 MPH, on a residential street. The right front suspension came off the car. The car pulled to the right, a parked car on the right was sideswiped mostly at the rocker panel level, caused by the right front wheel of my car. When the vehicle came to a stop, the right front tire was flat, the rim had cracked…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 19,200 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon attempting to reverse, the back over prevention camera screen display failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the message "Rear-view Camera Not Available" was displayed; however, there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was blurry with a warning message indicating that the rearview camera was not functioning properly. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no open…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 68,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Ask for a hybrid battery health report from a dealer or hybrid shop.
• Watch for warning messages at startup and on the test drive, and confirm the car switches between gas and electric smoothly.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2007 ford escape hybrid. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. Once the vehicle was restarted, it operated normally. The vehicle stalled again every time the speed exceeded 55 MPH. The vehicle was repaired by wynne ford (1020 w mercury blvd, hampton, va 23666) per NHTSA campaign…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 104,000 miles