Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Escape - part 2

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph on a local roadway, the vehicle went into limp mode and failed to accelerate. The engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the mechanic retrieved dtc: p1299, p0300, p0303; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, and dtc: p0303 was confirmed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

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Known coolant intrusion, blowing white smoke, blown head gasket.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v122000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the recall notification stated that in the event of a failure, the vehicle could crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the concern, and a case was filed. The contact had not experienced a failure.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Escape 🔎.

We received notification about the pcm needing reprogrammed and we had that done in 2020 at 41k miles. In oct 2025 we had the water pump and timing belt changed at 106,236 miles then 5 months later it started shaking and the check engine light came on. The light had never come on before this. It has 109,630 miles. I put a scanner on it and it showed p0302 misfire so I replaced the plug and coil in the #2 cylinder and no change. I had already replaced all spark plugs around July/August in 2025. We had it towed to a local mechanic shop and they did a compression check and said the #2 cylinder had 15% left and that the mechanics didnt see any evidence of a coolant intrusion and we needed a new engine.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Escape 🔎.

Vehicle has 126,000 miles on it and has a coolant intrusion into the engine. This has also caused my heater to go out with a weird smell and making the engine shake when driving.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the engine was overheating while white exhaust smoke was coming out of the exhaust pipes. Additionally, the vehicle decelerated and was sluggish while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the vehicle did not qualify for the extended warranty coverage related to the engine failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 31,500.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Escape 🔎.

1. The failed component is the engine. The dealer confirmed that coolant intrusion caused internal engine damage and that the engine requires full replacement. This is especially serious because customer satisfaction program 19b37 had already been performed on the vehicle and was supposed to correct this exact coolant intrusion issue. The dealer even acknowledged that this repair should have prevented the failure, yet the same problem still occurred less than 30,000 miles later. The vehicle has low mileage, has been properly maintained, and should be available for inspection upon request, depending on whether the dealer or repair facility retains the parts. 2. This created a major safety risk. My teenager was driving the vehicle when the engine died, which put them in immediate danger. A sudden engine failure can cause loss of power, rough running, misfiring, or stalling in traffic, at intersections, or at highway speeds, leaving the driver unable to accelerate or move out of the way of other vehicles. This was not just an inconvenience; it created a very serious risk of a crash and potential injury to my child, passengers, and others on the road. 3. Yes. The problem was confirmed by the dealership service department. They diagnosed the failure as the 19b37 coolant intrusion issue and stated that the engine needs to be replaced. They also acknowledged that the prior csp repair should have fixed this problem. 4. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership/service center. Ford has also been contacted regarding the issue. To my knowledge, it has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. 5. Yes. Before the failure, there were symptoms consistent with coolant intrusion, including coolant loss and engine performance problems such as rough running or misfiring. Warning lights and engine-related symptoms appeared before the complete failure and worsened over time until the dealer confirmed internal engine damage. The vehicle had low mileage, all MA.

Coolant leak/known engine issue is now effecting my car. 3/31/26 my mechanic said to take it to an engine place as it will need a new engine due to this known fault. I am too late for their extended warranty which I was never notified of, including when I purchased the car in 2021 when the issue was already well-known.

On March 31st, 2026, while traveling at approximately 60 mph on a major highway, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure without prior warning. The "check engine" and "powertrain malfunction" (wrench) lights illuminated, and the vehicle experienced an immediate and total loss of motive power. This created a high-risk safety situation for myself (luckily my daughter was not with me at the time), I was forced navigate through high-speed traffic to the shoulder with no engine propulsion. Technical confirmation: the vehicle was towed to dick smith Ford (columbia, SC). A diagnostic scan revealed fault code p032f (combustion engine producing insufficient torque). The dealership confirmed the failure was internal and required a total long block engine assembly replacement in accordance with csp 23nc06 (reference ro #259050). Failure of previous safety recall: crucially, this vehicle had already received the "remedy" for recall 23s27 / NHTSA campaign 23v440000 (engine fire risk). Despite Ford's claim that the software update and grill shutter modifications mitigated the risk of catastrophic failure and fire, the engine still suffered a major breach and total failure at highway speeds. This demonstrates that the current recall remedy is insufficient to protect occupants from sudden loss of power or potential fire hazards.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Escape 🔎.

Engine coolant intrusion on cylinder 2. Hydrolocks on start up. Yes available for inspection. Unknown. Yes dealership inspected and confirmed the issue. Recommendation was engine replacement. No inspection by manufacturer,police, or insurance. Check engine turned on for random misfire. After further investigation, coolant levels kept dropping and noticed misfires on start up. 2018 Ford Escape awd with approximately 125k miles. Diagnoses was a very common coolant intrusion in cylinder 2. Over $12000 in repairs needed.

Loss of coolant and engine misfires are occurring. Receiving the the following engine codes p0300, p0302, & p0303.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Escape 🔎.

The vehicle suddenly began running roughly, and produced a loud clicking/knocking noise and engine shut off while driving. We were advised by the Ford mechanic we had it towed to that it was due to the ecoboost engine failure, and that this is a known issue. Ford has issued technical service bulletins related to this defect, but no recall has been initiated. Given the safety implications of an engine shutting off while driving, the widespread nature of this problem, and the refusal of Ford to own up to this dangerous defect I felt I had to report it.

On March 26, 2026 my engine light turned on and I’m getting in misfire on my car, and all of a sudden I can’t run more 40 mph or my car start shaking. I went to autozone to get it checked and the the result is, they are needing to replace the cylinder 3 coil pack or spark plugs. I went to Ford on March 31, 2026 trying to have my spark plug replaced and was told that my engine has coolant intrusion and that the long block needs to be replaced and the head gasket is blown they recommended me to have the engine replaced, and it will cost me more than 8 grand. That they was so unexpected for me because I’m not planning to get a new vehicle and my car is only more than six years old with 78,000 miles on it. I called Ford and asked them if I could get help with the situation and I was told that the certain VIN number of my car was not affected by the recalls that they have for the same model and the same year. If anyone is reading this don’t buy Ford at all cost.

My 2018 Ford Escape equipped with a 1. 5l ecoboost engine experienced complete engine failure due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders on 3/29/26. This is a known design and manufacturing defect in the engine block, documented by Ford in technical service bulletins 19-2375, 19-2346, 22-2322, and 22-2134, and addressed under customer satisfaction program 21n12 (gtdi engine – short block replacement after coolant intrusion). Ford performed a preventive software update under csp 19b37 on this vehicle, confirming that Ford identified this VIN as having the at-risk engine. Despite this measure, the engine failed from the exact defect 19b37 was designed to prevent. The engine block’s thin-walled cooling passages between cylinders cracked, allowing coolant to enter the combustion chambers, causing misfires, overheating, and catastrophic engine failure. This engine failure occurred without adequate warning while the vehicle was in motion. Sudden loss of engine power on public roads poses a serious safety risk to the motorists and pedestrians. Ford’s own tsbs describe this as a progressive failure, but coolant loss is internal and may not trigger warning lights until the engine is already critically damaged. Ford has addressed this defect through multiple tsbs and a customer satisfaction program for some vins, but has not issued a formal recall covering all affected vehicles. Thousands of 2013–2019 Escapes, fusions, edges, and Lincoln mkc/mkz vehicles with 1. 5l, 1. 6l, and 2. 0l ecoboost engines remain on the road with this defect. A class action lawsuit has been filed regarding this issue. I urge NHTSA to investigate and require a formal recall. This vehicle was purchased used from an authorized Ford dealership at 54,677 miles ( 7/2/2022). The dealer had full access to Ford’s oasis system and did not perform the csp 21n12 short block replacement or disclose the known coolant intrusion defect. As the owner, I was never notified by Ford or the dealer about 21n12.

2017 Ford Escape equipped with 2. 0l ecoboost engine with coolant leaking into engine cylinder head leading to possible safety concerns and engine damage due to coolant intrusion into engine cylinders (according to Ford dealership).

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle due to a potential fire risk. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention) and 26v011000 (equipment). An appointment was scheduled with the local dealer who confirmed that the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the vehicle was scheduled to be towed to the local dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion in two cylinders and determined that the engine long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

Coolant intrusion – engine defect concern “coolant intrusion” is a known engine design defect in which coolant leaks into the cylinders, leading to internal damage, misfires, and eventual engine failure. In our case, we own a 2017 Ford Escape 1. 5l ecoboost, which is now inoperable. The vehicle was properly maintained, with no prior issues. At approximately 103,000 miles, the engine began to fail unexpectedly. There was no overheating condition. Outdoor temperatures were normal (around 75°f), and the vehicle had been running properly up to that point. We have always used good quality fuel and kept up with regular maintenance. The first signs of failure included a check engine light with a cylinder misfire code, followed by noticeable white smoke from the exhaust. At the same time, coolant began rapidly disappearing despite being refilled. There are no external leaks, indicating the coolant is entering the engine internally. The vehicle now will not operate properly and cannot be driven. This failure occurred without warning and without any owner-related cause. Given the widespread reports of identical issues affecting Ford vehicles with this engine, this is clearly not an isolated incident but a systemic design problem. The pattern of coolant intrusion, white smoke, misfires, and sudden engine failure is well-documented among Ford customers. This issue requires immediate attention. It should be addressed as a recall, as it stems from a defective engine design rather than normal wear, misuse, or neglect.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to auto zone, and the contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs; however, the following day, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the contact took the vehicle to another auto zone, the vehicle was diagnosed with cylinder #2 misfire. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and there was white smoke coming from the coolant intrusion into the engine. The independent mechanic used a borescope and determined there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

I have a 2019 Escape with only 33k miles. The check engine light came on for p0304cyl 4 misfire and on/off again rough idle. Ford service had technician pulled plug on cylinder four and used a borescope and found coolant leaking into engine. Ford has a known TSB for coolant intrusion on this particular model and VIN and manufacturing date. Ford refuses to help me with cost to replace the long block of the engine at a cost of $14000. The blue book is 10k. This appears to be a very common issue and needs a recall immediately. This is completely wrong of Ford to do this to customer fully knowing there is a problem but won't pay to fix it.

Safety risk: the vehicle suffered a sudden loss of power while driving. Without any warning light or prior symptoms, the car began "pulling". I was advised by mechanics that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the severity of the misfire. After two expensive spark plug repairs in six months, the engine light finally triggered during a trip, revealing that the internal defect was significantly worse than a simple maintenance issue. The problem began with a sudden, violent engine hesitation. A scan revealed a cylinder 3 misfire (p0303), but there was no initial check engine light, leaving me unaware of the danger until the car began struggling to move. Over the next six months, the spark plugs were replaced twice. Despite these repairs, the car continued to struggle with acceleration and rough idling. A final diagnosis at palmetto Ford confirmed coolant intrusion into the cylinders (TSB 22-2322). The engine is consuming coolant internally, which fouled the spark plugs and led to a mechanical failure leading to get over $11000 on repairs for a new engine.

Check engine light on. Code = p0303. Safety issue for overheating with potential engine fire. Local dealership service has diagnosed as coolant intrusion into cylinder #3 and coolant loss. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representative or other. Vehicle was serviced on January 29th of 2020 for customer satisfaction program 19b37. Vehicle has failed at 88000 miles due same design issue addressed by Ford motor company under customer satisfaction program 21n12.

Vehicles coolant emptied out causing vehicle to overheat and smoke from under engine.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford Escape 🔎.

Blown head gasket due to known faulty engine. Coolant leaking into cylinders. Known design defect.

I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving sudden loss of power while driving in my 2023 Ford Escape. The vehicle has experienced multiple incidents where, while accelerating or pulling into traffic, it suddenly loses power, hesitates, or fails to respond to the accelerator. In some cases, the rpm drops unexpectedly, and the vehicle will not move or respond for several seconds. After this delay, the vehicle may jerk or surge forward suddenly. This creates a dangerous situation, especially when entering busy roads or intersections, as it puts me at risk of being struck by oncoming traffic. This issue has occurred multiple times and has been brought to the dealership on several occasions. The vehicle has undergone multiple repair attempts, including major engine-related repairs such as cylinder head and cooling system work, as well as a fuel system component replacement. Despite these efforts, the problem persists. On multiple visits, the dealership has stated they were unable to duplicate the issue, even though the condition continues to occur during normal driving. The vehicle has been out of service for an extended number of days due to these ongoing issues. This defect is intermittent but poses a serious safety hazard due to the unpredictable loss of power and delayed acceleration. I am concerned about the risk of an accident or injury if this issue is not properly identified and corrected. I am requesting that this issue be investigated, as it appears to be a recurring defect that may affect other vehicles of the same make and model.

Coolant leak via head gasket failure on cylinder number 3. Trouble light (check engine) reported on the dashboard.

With only 122,000 miles on the vehicle, the Escape is generating an error associated with a misfire in cylinder 1. New plugs were installed for the entire engine and the coil in cylinder 1 was replaced. A few days later, the error was generated again with an added warning to server now. The service station that did the previous repair, stated that this was a known issue with this Ford engine and the Escape would need a new engine. If I don't replace the engine, this vehicle has been known to discontinue working while driving. The estimate for repairs are $10,300.

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.

I went in to get a tune-up on car because a engine light came on which was a misfire. The mechanic had a hard time getting out one spark plug with a hard residue on it. I drove for a couple days after tune-up and engine light came on again. I then started the next day the garage filled with white smoke with a real weird smell. The car showed another engine light that said engine fault service now. Car would not start. It was towed to Ford dealership. It is a coolant intrusion into the block. I have 110,000 on vehicle and had the 100,000 extended warranty. I now I need to fight Ford to get fixed. This is a known issue and there was not a recall on this. I am retired and I am forced into buying another vehicle on a fixed income. If Ford does not fix this, I will join the class action suit that will be heard in June 2026. I have bought Fords all my life and I am super disappointed that Ford did not recall this motor and replace. I have heard that alot of people with this problem with coolant intrusion in block if over 84,000 or 7yrs Ford will not replace. Shameful when they know there is this issue.

Coolant intrusion on the third cylinder causing over heating and engine failure. Known design flaw by Ford and they only offered a customer service program and not a full recall.

The engine has a coolant intrusion problem with a rough idle and potential for complete failure. This problem is documented as a known problem with this engine and Ford has in the past provided extended warranties including engine replacements. Ford had earlier released TSB 20-2100 and has acknowledged the problem.

Spark plug cylinder 1 gets stuck trying to replace which causes vehicle to misfire.

On 3/15/2026 I was on my way home from massachusetts to pennsylvania, and about 35 minutes into my drive I got an alert stating "high engine temperature stop safely", so I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. After allowing the engine to cool down, I opened the hood and started the car to see if I could identify any issues, the "engine fault service now" alert came up. This was the first time this ever happened, this put me, my two dogs who were in the car with me, and possibly others on the road at risk, had the conditions escalated. (I. E. Under hood fire). The vehicle was towed to an authorized Ford dealership, mathieu Ford sales, inc. Who diagnosed the issue on 3/17/2026. The dealership removed the spark plugs to inspect cylinders and found coolant intrusion into cylinders significantly on cylinder 2. Dealership referenced TSB 22-2322, is recommending short block assembly and related parts to remedy concern. Dealership advised it was safe and okay to drive the vehicle slowly to a nearby residence (to store the vehicle/retain possession), noting to pull over if an alert pops up and to have it towed if I received another message like before. The dealership advised it was not safe to drive the vehicle back to pennsylvania. There weren't any issues driving the vehicle back on 3/17/2026 following the dealership's guidance; the car hasn't been driven since. The car needed to be jumped to start the vehicle on 4/17/2026 for a tow truck to load the vehicle onto its bed. The vehicle is currently back in possession of the dealership who diagnosed the issue. Upon doing research, this appears to be a widespread manufacturing design defect that Ford has failed to properly address/recall. My vehicle met the criteria under their customer satisfaction program in 2022 - the vehicle is an Escape, 2017-2019, assembled in louisville, that was built before April 8, 2019, and which exhibited a covered condition, having low coolant. Ford motor CO is failing to remedy-cure.

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While the owner was driving at various speeds, the engine overheated and the vehicle went into limp mode on several occasions. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed after each failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the coolant sensor was replaced; however, the failure recurred two days later. The vehicle was difficult to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact used a scanner to scan the vehicle and retrieved a diagnostic trouble code for a cylinder #2 misfire. The contact cleared the code; however, the check engine warning light became consistently illuminated. Additionally, the contact noticed that the coolant reservoir was black due to coolant and oil mixture. An independent mechanic was contacted and informed the contact that the coolant intrusion in the combustion chamber was a common failure, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 76,200.

Ford at jim ellis dealership in [xxx] [xxx] look at my car last Thursday and gave me only one code p0304 which means tune up but texted me that my car need $8000 of labor and $6k of a new engine, without an explanation. Prior too the VIN they pulled up showed cust satisfaction 21n12 said yes a recall when the rep saw it. However, even expired 2022 another paragraph states if exceed mileage 84000 and 7 yrs . . That this is no cost. Yet Ford still stating not related to cust sat. . . Engine fire, exhaust low coolant smoke rides rough which is what my car did last Saturday 3/14/26. To text me 15k pay or not with a conversation as to why but invoiced only one code about a tune up yet told the tow guy my coolant going into the engine but didn't advise me of that same information is highly unprofessional this is a risk and unsafe I have seen 3 other complaints 2025 2022 same issues and on kbb. The rep said that depends on manuf well it showed [xxx] same manuf as cust satisfaction. This should be listed as a new recall many more complaints on kbb. . . . . I will notify ftc as I am also a govt worker its unruly unsafe and for Ford to act unworthy with no integrity is an outrage. I called there corp and complained as well. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).