general problems of the 2017 Ford Escape - part 2

Well known issue with this 2017 Ford Escape with faulty coolant system leaking into engine cylinders causing internal engine failure. This was the formal diagnosis by a qualified repair shop on or about may 26, 2026.

My problem was with the cooling system. My car has run great. Absolutely love my car on the way home 2 weeks ago. The coolant hose busted. I towed it to the mechanic shop and he informed me that it wasn't just a busted hose that somehow my coolant is leaking into my motor somewhere. It has not been fixed yet but as doing research is where I seen that most Ford Escapes apparently has a coolant problem and I'm very disappointed that this was not handled and now I'm out of vehicle. If I cannot figure out a way to afford to get it fixed there was no warning signs. I've never missed a oil change. I had the spark plugs change and now I'm just out of vehicle. If I cannot get this fixed and to read that y'all knew about this problem is very disheartening.

Check engine light came on. Had it checked at the dealer and they confirmed coolant intrusion on the engine and that it needs an engine replacement. There was a technical service bulletin issue on this exact issue but Ford is refusing to help with any assistance. They estimated $12,000 to fix it.

My vehicle is suffering from a severe coolant intrusion to cylinders 2 and 3 and I’m constantly getting bad misfire codes while driving.

Coolant leak into my engine, causing engine failure. Common issue with this vehicle and Ford wont do anything to fix the problem they created.

The engine in my 2017 Ford Escape ecoboost experienced a known “coolant intrusion” defect in which engine coolant leaks into the engine cylinders. This defect is widely associated with the 1. 5l and 2. 0l ecoboost engines and can cause engine misfires, coolant loss, overheating, corrosion, and catastrophic engine failure requiring engine or short-block replacement. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is driven by a college student traveling away from home. The coolant intrusion defect creates a serious safety concern because the engine can suddenly misfire, lose power, overheat, or fail unexpectedly while driving. A sudden engine failure could place the driver and others at risk, especially during highway driving or in remote areas. The issue developed shortly after the vehicle was purchased from a dealership in June 2025. The symptoms are consistent with the widely documented Ford ecoboost coolant intrusion defect acknowledged by Ford through customer satisfaction program 21n12. The vehicle has exhibited symptoms including coolant loss and engine performance concerns consistent with this known defect. The dealership has been notified of the issue. The dealership has been contacted regarding the issue. Ford has previously acknowledged this defect through customer satisfaction program 21n12 relating to coolant intrusion in affected ecoboost engines. The vehicle experienced symptoms consistent with coolant intrusion, including coolant loss and engine performance concerns/misfires. These symptoms are widely reported with the affect ecoboost engines and has progressed to severe engine failure.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was idling rough while driving. While inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the engine coolant was extremely low. The contact stated that coolant was constantly added to the coolant reservoir but there was no coolant leaks found. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant inside the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 98,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. While driving in traffic and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and was choking and hesitating. The contact pulled over to let the vehicle cool down, after which the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven to the residence, but the vehicle was unable to drive up a steep hill. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder 1 at start up, and coolant intrusion in cylinder #4, and a critical loss of compression in the engine. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,345.

In mid-xxx the engine light came on my 2017 Ford Escape titanium ecoboost 2. 0 vehicle. I took the vehicle to an auto parts store & was told the problem code was p0303. Onxxx called earnhardt Ford dealership in [xxx]. Spoke to a service tech that advised based on the code the problem is the coolant leaking into the engine cylinder and the fix is a long block replacement. The cost could be $10,000 maybe more & there were no recalls for this problem on my vehicle & I no longer had a warranty because even though I purchased the extended warranty it expired in 2023. There is currently only 60,800 miles on my vehicle. Xxx I called Ford customer service & filed a claim & was given case number & was told by the customer service rep the same decision. No recall, no warranty, claim denied. Xxx supervisor from Ford called & also denied the claim. Doing some research revealed this is a known design defect that Ford is aware of on 2017-2019 Escapes as well other vehicles. Research also discovered there are multiple class action lawsuits against Ford such as miller-v-Ford-motor-CO-28, [xxx]; [xxx] Ford has put myself, any passengers in my vehicle including my grandbabies at risk for engine failure while driving. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Coolant intrusion into cylinders from block.

I am the only owner of this vehicle and it has 114,000 miles at 90,000 miles I had to replace the transmission and now, its at the dealer due to turbo leaking oil internally and externally and coolant intrusion. These issues are commonly known and the coolant intrusion is from a design flaw. Why is this engine not included with the recall for the very same issue on other Ford ecoboost engines.

Complete engine failure in my 2017 Ford Escape 1. 5l caused by coolant intrusion. I only have 67,000.

Coolant leak into the engine. Told that Ford knows about this but refuses to do anything to help me. Said the car would need $14,000 worth of fixes when I only bought it for $12,300.

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.

Engine failed at 71,700 miles due to cracked block causing coolant intrusion into cylinders. Motor would quit while driving. Ford dealer tested and confirmed known problem. Motor would misfire then stall.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle started shaking and lost motive power. The vehicle was coasted to the next town, approximately a mile and a half away. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who attempted to change the spark plugs and fuel injectors. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then diagnosed using a code reader, and a code for a cracked engine block was retrieved and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Engine replacement required due to coolant intrusion. Codes p0303 and p0300.

Engine light came on started blinking vehicle had oil and coolant intrusion into coils and engine and engine is requiring of replacement. No issues prior. Maintenance regularly done.

The vehicle’s engine malfunctioned while driving. The check-engine light illuminated, the vehicle began running rough when starting, and the engine shut off approximately three times while being driven. An authorized Ford dealer inspected the vehicle and confirmed "diagnostic code: p0303. Dealer diagnosis: coolant intrusion into cylinder #3 dealer cited TSB 22-2322". The unexpected engine shutdown and loss of power while driving created a safety risk because the driver lost the ability to maintain speed and safely maneuver in traffic. The vehicle currently has approximately 78,419 miles. The engine and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. Ford was contacted for goodwill assistance, but assistance was denied under Ford policy.

Engine overheated, dashboard told driver stop immediately, find somewhere safe to pull over. I filled it with coolant and took it to my local chevy dealer. They told me the long block was porous, coolant was getting into the cylinder and my engine needed to be replaced. There is no external coolant leak, it is all going into the block. I have the 2. 0l ecoboost engine.

See attached document for complaint.

Total engine failure due to coolant leaking into the engine. Car would sometimes not start requiring it to be jump started but I thought it was due to an old battery but after the car couldnt be started. Agter replacement it was brought to the dealership who said it was the engine. We did have to keep adding coolent regularly which we thought was strange at the time but were unaware that this was an issue with some Ford leaking coolant. I worry that the car would have just stopped running while I was driving. Luckily it didnt but I still believe that this should be looked at.

I am reporting a confirmed safety defect in my 2017 Ford Escape involving engine coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores. This is a sudden, random manufacturing defect that occurs without warning. I have exercised full due diligence as an owner regarding upkeep and maintenance on my vehicle. I now have a formal, written diagnosis from a Ford service center confirming this internal failure (consistent with TSB 22-2229). This defect creates an extreme safety hazard because it leads to unpredictable engine stalling and sudden engine failure at any time. The verified diagnosis proves my vehicle is currently a high-risk hazard that could lose power without warning on high-speed roadways. Ford’s customer satisfaction program 21n12 is an insufficient response to a defect that causes vehicles to become disabled and vulnerable in traffic. I am requesting that NHTSA escalate this to a mandatory safety recall based on the documented, spontaneous nature of this failure despite my proven maintenance history. I purchased the recommended extended warranty and lifetime powertrain warranty recommended by tri-county Ford where I purchased the vehicle. They are also refusing to fix the issue because it was not caused by an internal part failure. Now I am being forced to either pay $12,000 for a replacement engine or purchase a new vehicle.

Coolant intrusion into one or more engine cylinders causing rough startup and coollant loss not accountable externally. A known issue and understood by Ford to be a design flaw. 2017 Ford Escape with 2. 0l ecoboost engine, 81,000 miles.

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 (.

Coolant and oil completely gone. Mechanic says the engine has froze up from timing chain jump. SUV is a 2017 Ford Escape with 54000 miles on it. Oil has been changed every 5000 miles. No leaks showed up on ground until Saturday and it was not noticed until today. The coolant was checked in February for antifreeze before the first freeze and there was no coolant at that time and mechanic filled it up. It makes no sense that a vehicle with such low mileage would need a new engine.

Vehicle is at 83,000 miles and the engine was diagnosed with a need to replace TSB 22-2322 (intrusion of coolant into engine cylinder) this issue could cause the vehicle to stop running or break down in transit. The only fix is to replace the entire engine which was designed with a flaw. Ford service center quoted me $15,000 to replace engine. Miller vs. Ford motor company class action lawsuit claims this defect was known to Ford and they sold faulty vehicles anyway. Ford denied repairing my vehicle. Freeway Ford service center in denver colorado.

In November 2019 I bought a used 2017 Ford Escape titanium 1. 5l eco boost with 11k miles. On may 1,2026 my check engine light came on and the car started missing. Took it to my mechanic and he said I needed a coil pack. Put that on and no change. Tried to put new spark plugs in and 1 plug will not come out. I was told my car has a coolant intrusion. Ford has a recall for this motor but coincidentally my motor isn’t part of the recall. My motor is ruined and cannot be driven. It has only 129k miles. My motor should be covered like all Ford Escape 1. 5l eco boost motors.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning and a " engine fault service now message appeared and also idled roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed as a coolant leak into the engine block that caused misfires in cylinder two and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a coolant leak into the engine block that caused misfires in cylinder two and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

* the 2. 0 ecoboost engine has failed due to coolant puddling on top of the piston of cylinder 1 * the safety of any driver and others on the roads is at risk due to the potential of the vehicle overheating and engine seizing while driving * the symptoms (rough engine operation, check engine light) were reported and reproduced by a local Ford dealer, and inspected by the same dealer who cited technical service bulletin 22-2229 which we were not made aware of at any time since purchasing the vehicle. * the symptoms included a rough operating engine and intermittent check ending light incited us to schedule the diagnostic service in April 2026. The vehicle was serviced 4. 5 months earlier in December 2025 for a 100k mileage service, and the check engine light symptom occurred and was serviced prior in August 2022 and April 2025. At no point were we informed of the apparently known TSB 22-2229.

2017 Ford Escape with 2. 0 liter turbocharged engine. At 66,000 miles, car hesitated when moving from stop position. Dealer stated it needed a turbocharger replacement. $3,000 to replace with car just 6,000 miles over warranty. Notified Ford about this problem, not a word back. At 91,000 miles, check engine light came on. Ford dealer diagnosed and stated coolant entering into cylinder #2. Dealer stated the engine needed to be replaced. $7966 to replace! from research on the internet, this model year and other years have problems with coolant leaks that require engine replacement. At this time, I have spent over $11,000 to keep this vehicle road worthy!.

I own a 2017 Ford Escape se with approximately 96,665 miles. The vehicle developed coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, resulting in coolant loss, misfires, rough running, and risk of engine failure. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle as requiring a full engine replacement. Ford has acknowledged similar coolant intrusion defects in certain 2017 Ford Escape vehicles through customer satisfaction program 21n12 and related technical service bulletins, but my VIN was excluded despite experiencing the same failure symptoms. This issue creates a serious safety concern because coolant intrusion can lead to sudden loss of power, stalling, overheating, or complete engine failure while driving. The defect occurred despite regular maintenance and without warning beyond coolant loss and drivability symptoms. In addition, the vehicle experienced transmission failure around the same timeframe, significantly affecting the safety and reliability of the vehicle for family transportation. I believe Ford should investigate and expand coverage for this known engine defect to include similarly affected vehicles outside the current VIN range.

Coolant intrusion defect. Had to replace engine. Power train fail also.

There is a known issue with coolant intrusion into the engine with this vehicle. The vehicle has less than 40,000 miles. The engine stalled three times over a two mile trip and completely shut off during a left hand turn with oncoming traffic putting my family and other drivers in danger.

Coolant was found to be leaking in cylinder number 4. The Ford dealer told us the vehicle needed a new engine with a repair cost of $8,000. 00. It is not available for inspection, since it was auctioned off by the Ford dealer. My wife and children were stopped at a stop sign and the engine started to misfire. She was trying to turn onto a busy highway and it lacked power with no acceleration initially. Once on the highway. The engine continued to run rough. On the dash, the "engine fault, service now" light appeared. A diagnostic test was performed at a Ford dealer and was confirmed to be coolant leaking into a cylinder. It was not inspected by anyone else. The engine was making a wierd noise after it was turned off a couple of days before and the coolant in the overflow tank was significantly elevated. After it stalled on my wife, the overflow coolant tank was constantly low and needed to be filled back up after each use. After driving and for 4-5 minutes after the engine was turned off, it sounded like water slooshing around in the engine. When it was taken in for diagnostic testing the "engine" light was flashing and then turned solid and then turned off.