Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Escape - part 1

My 1. 5l engine in my 2018 Ford Escape has a coolant leak which is a known problem in these cars according to the internet. There was a csp from Ford (19b37) which I did January 3, 2020 which is supposed to stop this from happening my CA does not qualify for csp 21n12 according to Ford because it is for 84k miles or 7 years. My car has 95k miles but is still in the 7 years but they refuse to help. They have told me to pay for repairs and then submit receipts “if” there is a recall issued I have just been getting the run around from everyone at Ford from customer relations to service departments.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Escape 🔎.

He freeway I notified future Ford of concord and I was told I would receive a call back but as I recall I didn’t receive a call back. The car started acting as if nothing was wrong about a week or so later then two days ago December 13,2025 first my head lights went out and a message saying there’s a bulb outage or electrical issue appeared and also the hill assist unavailable warning light appeared , following the 911 calling assistance is unavailable as well, and I also noticed my radio is no longer producing sound so I believe the engine ( block , head gasket etc) component also electrical system, sync 3 system has also failed or malfunctioned. During the second occurrence I was driving as I was before which led to the safety of my children, my husband and myself put at risk being it was night time and I could no longer see the road the car acted as if it was turning off and slowing down. . Yes there was warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem during the failures, and they first appeared at the exact time of the failures . Also below are photos captured from the Ford vehicle app alerting me about issues for the car.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving or starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light would unexpectedly illuminate. The contact also stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, which required the coolant reservoir to be refilled several times after noticing that the coolant level was consistently low. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the second cylinder, causing the short block to fail. The contact was informed that the short block needed to be replaced, or the entire engine might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 157,236.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Escape 🔎.

My 1. 6l ecoboost was leaking coolant and smoking on the side of the reservoir and burning coolant smells went thought the heater and ac vents when on especially at a stop light and it even leaks oil a little bit but I have got the “coolant leak” fixed but I have an internal leak somewhere clearly and all the symptoms add up to sound like the Ford recalls 17s09 and also similar to 12s39 but that’s for 2013 Escapes but there’s clearly an unsafe issue hear that cause cause fire underneath my hood I called Ford and they said to try to make a claim because there should be no reason I’m not covered under warranty when it’s the same cars same engines and same issues.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the failure could cause engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Ford on 12/4/25, diagnosed there is a coolant leak into the engine from the spark plugs, coolant was low when towed in and had rough idle. I know there is a class action suit against Ford right now for this very problem with the 1. 5, 1. 6, and 2. 0 engines. The vehicle started overheating and check engine light came on. Started showing about a week ago.

Coolant loss with no visible leaks; idling roughly and misfiring mechanic stated that coolant loss and appears to have intruded into the cylinders.

Coolant intrusion issues leading to engine failure messages and head gaskets issues.

Temperature gauge warning light came on and temperature shot up to red line. Waited on side of road for 20 minutes to cool down then retsarted and drove 10 minutes back to my work and temp gauge remained in normal temp area. Explained to my mechanic at work. . He checked it out and said it was coolant intrusion problem and engine was probably shot.

This vehicle is going through coolant constantly. I couod not find a leak. I did find a recall Ford had for a cup plug and the cylinder head that leaks. My vehicle is outside the date range it looks like but looking under cylinder 2 coil pack I found that the cup head is visually leaking. Trying to see if this can be fixed under that recall.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Escape 🔎.

Check engine light came on, took it promptly for service and was told coolant leaked into the cylinders and I need a new motor. Ford told me this is s a common issue and to report it to Ford for assistance in repair as it is a known issue.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 to 70 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light and the charging system service light were illuminated. The message "vehicle turning off to save power” was displayed. In addition, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine while the vehicle was slowing down. The contact stated that the parking brake push button failed to function as intended. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to auto zone, where the battery was checked, and the battery passed the test. The tow truck driver had difficulty attempting to tow the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart, and the auto brake turned on independently. After a while, the vehicle was towed to the contact's mother's residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending the results of the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue; however, no assistance was offered. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v467000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact was the second owner of the vehicle and had not received the recall notification. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Escape 🔎.

To whom this concerns: my name is [xxx] and I’m writing this on the behalf of my wife [xxx] , but her last name was [xxx] years ago. My wife purchases a 2018 Ford Escape. Car was working completely fine and there were no problems. As time went on, we had to take our vehicle to jordan Ford where the car was purchased. The issue with the car was something called engine intrusion. We took it to jordan Ford, and they told is this needed to be fixed. The cost was around 5,000 which was a lot for this. Then we found out that this vehicle had a recall on it for the exact same issue that we were having. Looking at the recall, it said that we had to give them this by a certain date. We were too late on that date so the recall could not be honored. We called Ford and told them about the problem with the vehicle and they were willing to knock the price down. I told them that is not fair that we must pay for a problem that is a recall. We did not get the car fixed and they knew about it. Now, it looks like our Ford Escape has the exact same issue, but now they are saying that we must pay over 8,000 to replace the short block because it’s over-heating. Well, we found out that this car was purchased after the recall was in motion and we were not told about it. It is not fair that this vehicle has had this many problems and Ford knew about it. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine small block cracked causing 2nd cylinder to fill with coolant causing error code related to misfire. Have been told this is a known issue with no recall notice. Ford dealership has confirmed this issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that shortly after starting the vehicle, the message "engine overheating" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had experienced cylinder misfires and premature low coolant levels. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 133,000.

We had to replace the engine about 4 years ago and we’re still getting gas smell into the cabin. About 3 years ago, we broke down on the road because the transmission quit. All our repairs have been done through Ford service department. We are now broke down again because of the transmission. Something has to be done with the Ford Escape!.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact's wife owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 40-45 mph, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the head gasket was blown. Upon further research, the contact related the failure to an undisclosed recall; however, the model year was not included. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.

My car/engine is in need of a head gasket replacement at least if not a new engine based on significant coolant intrusion and malfunctioning. Over a short period of time, the coolant tank was almost nearly drained and the engine started misfiring which lead to shop visits and investigation. Coolant was found in the cylinders and currently it is needing multiple thousands of dollars in repairs due to what mechanics are telling me is a know issue though not a recall for my case (up to 84k miles its covered under an extended warranty but not at 100k like mine). My safety was not necessarily put at risk, though this seems to be a highly common issue I believe Ford needs to reimburse customers for based on the known issue and significant numbers of vehicles this has affected. There were no warnings prior to this event that I would be out an entire engine and I would like this to go on record to show Ford is not doing their due diligence or what is right.

My 2018 Ford Escape se is on its second engine and has started with coolant intrusion again. The same issue has doomed the same car twice.

Coolant intrusion in my 2017 Ford Escape titanium presents a serious safety hazard that warrants an immediate recall. When coolant leaks into the engine’s cylinders, it can lead to sudden engine misfires, stalling, loss of power, or complete engine failure while the vehicle is in motion. This creates extremely dangerous driving conditions—especially at highway speeds, during turns, or in intersections—because it removes the driver’s ability to accelerate, maintain speed, or safely maneuver the vehicle. In many cases, coolant intrusion causes the engine to overheat rapidly, which can result in thermal damage, smoke, or even fire risk. Drivers often receive little to no warning before these failures occur. The problem is both unpredictable and progressive, meaning a vehicle that appears to be operating normally can suddenly stall or seize without sufficient time for the driver to react. Ford has been aware of widespread coolant intrusion issues across multiple ecoboost engines, yet many affected owners—including myself—have not received adequate support, coverage, or recall actions. This defect is not merely a mechanical inconvenience; it is a direct threat to driver, passenger, and public safety. The only appropriate response is a mandatory recall to inspect, repair, or replace affected engines before more drivers experience dangerous failures on the road. Paying for this on a teachers salary before the holidays is a struggle.

The engine was replaced under the customer satisfaction program due to the known broken head gasket issue causing catastrophic engine failure. Now, the flex plate is cracked, also a known issue related to the engine replacement. Two major catastrophic repair issues within 9 months. There were no check engine lights. The safety issue is clear. Ford needs to acknowledge and address the issues to protect their customers.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the warning light for the engine overheating was illuminated. In addition, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed of an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased a year ago from a used car dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

Ford has an issue where the coolant leaks into the cylinder blocks ruining the engine. Also, cause for low coolant which could catch the engine on fire.

Engine caught fire at the coolant reservoir.

My 2014 Ford Escape started leaking coolant into the engine, producing a terrible odor throughout the cab and causing overheating. The mechanic pressure tested the coolant system and identified coolant leaking into the cylinders. This is a common occurrence in this make and model.

This car has a known issue with the engine. Coolant leaking into cylinder 3 caused by faulty design. This leak causes a cylinder misfire. And the coolant leak can cause the whole motor to seize. Reputable mechanics state the engine needs to be replaced after only 50,000 miles.

My 2018 Ford Escape titanium is leaking coolant into the cylinder's. This is a known issue affecting the ecoboost engine and is not a sign of wear and tear. Code: p0316, p0302. Nhtsa should investigate these issues. The warranty may be expired but in good faith this should be covered by the manufacturer. A Ford mechanic mentioned the cost of $7500 to $10000 for this repair which is a cost I cannot afford. My VIN [xxx] thank you! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Continues to roll when parked engine has been replaced twice grinding when putting in park.

I own a Ford Escape se with 1. 6 l eco boost engine. The vehicle started having loss of power and started smoking under the hood. The car is now not drivable and it’s the same issue people have been having with this engine. The engine made a popping sound with no warning beforehand and stopped in the middle of the highway. No fluids leaking but engine has failed. Engine temp gauge didn’t move but car was overheated. The engine is bad and needs to be replaced spoke to endurance warranty and they said the engine has 2 service alerts for same issue and my research corroborates as there is a lawsuit pending over that engine. However Ford continently says there isn’t an issue regarding my VIN but the engine is the original oem engine that has had issues in the past reported by numerous other owners of the same engine.

Coolant light indicates coolant should be added often. Coolant has been added to frequently. Last time coolant light came on another error code: p1299 and the engine stopped running properly. Vehicle was inspected by a repair shop who stated the coolant was leaking into the motor. If this keeps occurring engine may overheat, fail and possibly catch fire. Ford said there is no recall on this issue. Bring it in for diagnostics and stated it would take three months to just look at the issue. This is no exaggeration. We have read an astonishing amount of other people have and are having similar issues with the Ford Escape.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered with the messages “engine fault service now”, and “high engine temperature – stop safely” displayed. The vehicle was able to be restarted, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with head gasket failure, which caused coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

2018 Ford Escape eco boost 2. 0l. 72k miles notified of code p0303. Engine started missing. Findings coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Was told it was a casting issue of the block manufacturing and engine would need replacing. Notified Ford for assistance to repair known issue and was denied. Safety concerns due to a design flaw in the open engine block, which can lead to head gasket failure and other coolant-related issues. Yes confirmed by auto repair shop with scope and provided pictures of moisture in the combustion chamber.

A certified shop diagnosed my car as having coolant intrusion in the engine. The engine is the 1. 5l eco boost. I am getting the run around from the dealership and Ford corporation. This is a major safety defect that is known and has been reported. This happened quickly and I am now without a vehicle. This is a major safety defect in the engine that Ford manufactured and Ford is very well aware of.

An “engine fault check engine now” came up. We quickly brought our 2017 Ford Escape into our near by Ford dealership. Mechanic says a p2601 code came up, which is related to coolant to aux pump performance. They found reservoir leaking a reservoir spiderd hose down to oil cooler. Found coolant reservoir leaking. I have this diagnostic in writing. Ford wanted to charge $1088 to fix the issue and said once thats paid they would look further. We didn’t have close to that amount of money so we went to another near by mechanic, they looked into issue and found the coolant had been leaking into the engine and sent photos, and thats when we realized we needed an engine replacement. We have always taken care of our cars and we should not be having to pay for a brand new engine! the mechanic at the other smaller shop we took car to was actually a prior Ford mechanic but left them and says he had seen this issue with this year and model many times! and it was due to a bad engine build that they since corrected for newer cars. So the people who bought a car with that year and model just got screwed. We are now having to take my 5 year old grand daughter to school on a bike and carriage situation, hoping it doesn’t get to cold or rainy. Not to mention our transmission had to be re built “just out of warranty” so Ford was no help once again. We looked it up and the transmission going out just out of warranty was also a recurring issue for this year and model. So really we feel we spent 30,000 to 35,000 on a dud car. We feel not taken care of in the slightest by Ford. Also my son has a Ford f-150 and the transmission went out that would cost 5000 to 9000. This truck was gently driven and still had low miles. It should not need such a drastic replacement! we found that this transmission issue was also a recurring issue on that year and model truck and we had no help with it. So we have two Ford vehicles now that we poured so much money into that we can’t use.

Recall has been issued since 7/16/25 and a serious safety risk issue has not been resolve. It is mentally draining and scary that whenever we drive our car there is always a risk of safety like car catching on fire. We have been patiently waiting for a long time now. Consumer safety should always be a priority specially we have 2 kids inside the car.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Escape 🔎.