The 2017 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,078,749 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3,210 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY26V3740002026-06-0918,124 affected
Defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…
Consequence
A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become…
EQUIPMENT26V0110002026-01-15116,672 affected
Defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying…
POWER TRAIN22V4130002022-06-102,925,968 affected
Defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Consequence
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were…
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…
Consequence
If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
1,513
7crashes10fires5injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
481
POWER TRAIN
363
5crashes3fires5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
149
3crashes5fires4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
144
2crashes1fires4injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
71
WHEELS
54
1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
53
3crashes4injuries
STEERING
49
2crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
45
2crashes4injuries
Total complaints3,210
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Transmission, aamco inspected and verified, no warnings just grinding noise and jerking of vehicle”
“The engine block cracked and leaked coolant, causing sputtering and misfiring. It has been reported to the nhtsa that ford is refusing to fix our car.”
“The vehicle was misfiring, smoke emitting from the exhaust, overheating, and constantly running out of coolant. The service engine light first appeared roughly a year ago. A code scan revealed a cylinder misfire. I replaced the spark plug and timing coil and noticed the coolant was extremely low…”
“While driving on the highway at speed of 65-70 mph, there was a loud and felt "clunk" and immediate loss of power. Dashboard screen said "faulty engine service immediately" and warning bells came on. Frightened, I immediately pulled over in the shouldee of the highway and turned off ignition. When…”
“Coolant reservoir keeps losing coolant. Took it to a mechanic who said it has a blown head gasket. Ford knows about this issue for this exact vehicle and has known since at least 2020, but hasn't issued any recalls. There are at least two service bulletins about this car.”
“Coolant for car engine was discovered by ford service technician in cylinder causing the spark plug to misfire and break. The engine miss fires and idles very rough. The check engine light keeps coming on flashing, which is another tell tale sigh, according to service advisor, that there is a…”
“Coolant intrusion for the second time. The entire engine was replaced due to coolant intrusion. Ford did the replacement. Now a handful of years later, the engine has coolant intrusion again. This block has a known issue with the design.”
“I have the 2.0 l eco-boost engine that has the coolant leak. It’s ford service bulletin tsb 19-2346”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2017 Ford Escape as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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