Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Escape - part 2

My 2018 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. This is an engine defect Ford has known about since 2010, yet they continued to put this engine into their cars. I had bought this car less then a year ago, it had been in the shop more then I have had it. It is constantly overheating. The most recent time I was driving my son to school my exhaust was smoking really bad and everything seemed to be ruining smoothly the day before when I drove it the auto shop I have been taking it to they had spent 2 weeks researching what was wrong with it they told me I needed my whole engine replaced. Im a single mom amd I need answers. . I look up my VIN in the recalls and its stating 0 results but that cant be possible if I have had been same issue as others my eco start and stop dont work and my passager in the front cant roll window down.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Escape 🔎.

Coolant intrusion. Engine has a known problem and it happened to my car.

When driving, the car has stopped 4 times in the last 3 years. Last week the car came to a red light and the inside lights started flashing. There was a warning that read "transmission not in park. " the car's power steering and brakes went out and the car went through the red light. Three other times the car was on the expressway and it died with the same warning. Fortunately, the car was in the slow lane and was able to pull onto the shoulder. Once the car is put in park and turned off, it is able to be restarted and everything is working.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Escape 🔎.

While driving to work on February 16, 2026 my car started making a knocking noise and had a hard time going. At one point I was in the middle of the road and the car wouldn’t move. I had it towed to a mechanic and they said it needs a new motor. My car is a 2018, just barely 7 years old.

Phev sometimes fails to "start". That is, vehicle will not enter "ready" mode when brake is depressed and start button is pressed. Instead, 'refuel error', 'stop safely now', 'service advanctrac', 'precollision assist not available', and several other warnings appear. This only occurs on the first 'start' of the day, when the ev battery has been recharged overnight, indoors. Outdoor use/charging does not have this effect. Concerned that something is overheating during indoor charging. Dealer has not been able to fix.

Misfire in cylinder 3 and coolant loss. My mechanic believes it is the coolant intrusion issue described in Ford TSB 22-2229.

Car has 56k miles. Went to dealer for the recall on the bushing and cap. Left dealer and next couple days the car slid twice in my driveway a few feet even with parking brake on. Went back to dealer and they said cant duplicate problem. Drove home and car continues to have shifting issues and going out of gear. . Have to shift to park or neutral and then reengage and to try to get it to work. In the mornings after sitting its now having issues going in gear and then after awhile will work. Called dealer and Ford corporate and they said there is nothing they can do or help with. The car is a safety hazard slipping out of gear while driving in traffic or on a hill and then you are stranded in fear of getting totaled out from behind until it decides to go into gear! this is terribly dangerous and it only has 56, 600 miles on it!! also the engine is not throwing a code. So dealer and another repair shop has charged 1600 for service and its still doing it!!!! me researching seems to prove Ford had transmission issues with this year of Escape titanium and the edge etc. . . . Why is there not a full recall on the transmission that they have to fix with such little mileage!.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Escape 🔎.

1. Vehicle information • 2018 Ford Escape ecosystem 1. 5 • 84,000 • VIN [xxx] . Problem description : my 2018 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. This is an engine defect Ford has known about since 2010, yet they continued to put this engine into their cars. It is also the subject of at least one class action lawsuit. Common issue: many 2017–2019 1. 5l engines suffer from coolant leaks into the cylinders, necessitating a replacement with a redesigned block. The dealership confirmed a technical service bulletin applies to my VIN. This defect can cause engine failure while driving, creating a serious safety risk. Safety risk: • loss of power while driving • risk of engine stall • overheating risk • highway safety concern information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that her son previously replaced the spark plugs and other unknown parts of the vehicle due to a coolant leak onto the spark plugs; however, the coolant leak recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the coolant outlet, the engine connector assembly with vacuum filling and bleeding, and the coolant hoses assembly were replaced. Additionally, other unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the message “engine coolant low - service" was displayed, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no coolant leak was found. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the message "high temp-stop safely" was displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot until the vehicle cooled down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that coolant was leaking from the thermostat housing. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 237,500.

Took car into local repair shop (harlan auto 650 w main street, canfield, ohio 44406. Phone 330-506-1737. ) for normal maintenance. 02/12/26 odometer 65033. Previous maintenance 10/28/25 odometer 61335. Performed vehicle inspection, oil change and tire rotation. Harlan discovered no antifreeze, coolant in reservoir. I authorized them to perform a pressure test lasting several hours. Test revealed evidence of damage to spark plugs, cylinder walls and cracks in cylinder walls. Revealing major damage to ngine resulting in imminent failure. Harlan says short block replacement is necessary for repair. I authorized them to repair car based on value of the rest of the vehicle which they claimed it to be in very good condition. Totals for repair are as follows: labor $4790. 07, parts $2501. 78, tax $546. 89, non-taxable nonjob supplies $29. 49. Grand total $ 7868. 23. Engine failure could result in fire or being stranded on the road. There were no vehicle warning signs. I would like to be reimbursed for this repair by Ford .

I have owned this car for a year have taken it to multiple mechanics to get the overheating issue fixed. Well the most recent time my car had overheated my whole car had smelt like it was on fire. I've had to fix this issue 5 times in the last year and mechanics are not cheap.

Error code p0303 misfire cylinder 3. Engine rough idle along with white smoke from exhaust and low coolant. This is a known issue with Ford that should be corrected with short block replacement through warranty.

I had three incidents in January of 2026 where the coolant was leaking and then the check engine light would come on. I took it to the Ford dealership to have it checked and they said I need a new engine for $12000! but there are no recalls, I have the 1. 5l engine. The recalls are on the 2l engine so they say I have no recourse! I have only owned this vehicle for 8 months and there was one previous owner before me.

My 2017 Ford Escape equipped with the 1. 5l ecoboost engine is experiencing coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, resulting in misfires, rough startup, and significant engine performance issues. The vehicle currently has approximately 150,000 miles. The issue presents itself with a rough idle and shaking at startup, followed by the engine smoothing out after several seconds. Diagnostic trouble codes indicate a cylinder misfire consistent with coolant intrusion. Upon further inspection and research, this appears to be a well-documented issue affecting this engine design. There were no external coolant leaks visible, and coolant levels dropped without explanation, indicating internal coolant intrusion. This type of failure poses a serious safety concern, as the engine can misfire unexpectedly, lose power, or potentially stall while driving. Loss of engine power while operating the vehicle creates a hazardous situation, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. We purchased this vehicle as safe and reliable transportation for our daughter, and there was no prior disclosure of engine issues. The failure appears to stem from a known defect related to the engine design rather than normal wear and tear. Given the widespread documentation of coolant intrusion problems with this engine platform, I believe this issue represents a significant safety and reliability concern that should be formally investigated.

Engine coolant intrusion- I don't feel safe driving this vehicle due to engine problems known to Ford even at/before time of sale. Possible fire hazard. Transmission- I don't feel safe driving this vehicle due to transmission problems known to Ford even at/before time of sale. Vehicle lurched around while backing from my garage. Electronic emergency brake- occasionally sticks in lock on position not allowing me to operate. Report date is today 02/08/2026 for issues as of manufacture date 12/17/17 I request Ford buy back this vehicle at full purchase price. I'm a single widow and don't feel safe driving this vehicle alone. Ford selling vehicles with long known problems to unsuspecting customers is shameful.

Coolant intrusion due to head gasket/ cracked cylinder head.

Service engine warning light came on. When checked, coolant was found to be leaking into cylinder 3 due to the engine block being porous. Service center said they see this a lot in this particular engine.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Escape 🔎.

The cel light came on and when it was checked by a Ford dealership, they said there was coolant intrusion and the engine block or entire engine needs to be replaced. Evidently this is a well known problem at Ford but they never let me know, never issued a recall, and now I have to replace an entire engine instead of just some part. The cost of replacement is as much as the car is worth.

Unknown. There's a white puff of smoke that comes out on a cold start every time. There is a small loss of coolant as well that I have to replace regularly. I was already told by the dealership to get rid of the car because it would need a complete engine fix that would cost 7000 to 10,000 dollars. It started doing this at 92k miles. The car was well maintained with regular oil checks and all maintenance recommended was done in a timely manner. All of the symptoms point to coolant intrusion.

This was a recall earlier, twice, and it was supposedly fixed but the fuel vacuum line to the gas tank is leaking and giving off gasoline odors in the passenger area. Also another recall that was supposedly taken care of is an oil leak that is occuring often. The oil was changed only a month ago and already the oil has just about all leaked out. Both of these issues are fire hazards and the fuel leakage can can the operator or passengers to succomb to carbon minoxide. These were told to us by a Ford dealer who put the car on a diagnostic but they are saying that the recall is over and it will cost $1,400. For the fix. I bought this car, in June 2025 ;from a used car dealer. I am still paying on it. I never receive a car history of any kind from this dealer. . I had no idea that there were 18 recalls on this vehicle. That is really a lot. If either of these problems were fixed on a recall, could they re-occur again. On this particular fuel re-call, I read that it had to be done again because the first recall fix was not done well. I do not have $1,400. To fix this. I am an [xxx] senior woman and am buying this car for my daughter. It seems to me that one a recall is made that it is a permanent thing until there is an assurance that it is fixed and won't happen again. It also seems to me that a vehicle that has that many recalls should not be allowed to be sold to the public. Can I hold the dealer who sold it to me accountable for not letting me know about the recalls or not letting me know the history of the vehicle? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45-55 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, with a message that the engine was overheating displayed. The vehicle experienced reduced power and decelerated to 8 mph. The vehicle was driven to the residence, and coolant was added to the coolant reservoir. The contact replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs; however, the check engine warning illuminated three days later. Upon scanning the vehicle, the contact retrieved dtc: p0302 for cylinder #2 misfire. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was not covered under the customer satisfaction program: 21n12. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

Coolant intrusion into cylinder.

Coolant intrusion. Apparently this is a very well documented and known issue.

I have a 2017 Ford Escape 2. 0 engine ecoboost. I have an issue that the car tells me that its running hot and I am scared to drive it. I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle. It was purchsed in statesboro at Ford dealership. The vehicle has regular maintenaince and is taken care of. I keep checking for a recall on it; and never see one. But reading the issue about the heating block. It should be on the list.

Turbo failed due to oil lines clogged. Failed again after repair two weeks later on highway almost causing a collision.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Escape 🔎.

Description of incident: while operating the vehicle, the check engine light (cel) illuminated. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealership, where a diagnostic scan revealed fault code p0247. The dealership confirmed that the wastegate solenoid has failed. Safety risk: the failure of the wastegate solenoid prevents the engine control unit (ecu) from properly managing turbocharger boost levels. This results in "limp mode" or a significant reduction in acceleration and engine performance. Furthermore, improper boost regulation poses a long-term risk of catastrophic engine damage, which could lead to a stall or fire while the vehicle is in motion. Additional information: dtc code: p0247 (turbocharger wastegate solenoid b) symptoms: check engine light, diminished throttle response. Repair status: confirmed by dealership diagnostic and completed.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Escape 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The low oil warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive to the residence. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that a faulty wire connected to the spark plug had caused the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

I have replaced the transmission due to the toque converter acting up and then failing. I have replaced now 3 coolant parts as well due to leaking and constant overheating and have replaced the block once as well.

Engine failure due to coolant intrusion. Ford has issued a technical bulletin to its technicians regarding this issue. While my wife was driving the vehicle, a warning light first appeared indicating that the engine temperature was high. Shortly afterward, the warning escalated to a red alert stating that the transmission was blocked. My wife immediately turned off the engine to prevent further damage. The vehicle was then towed to a Ford dealership for inspection. After evaluating the vehicle, the dealership informed us that the engine had suffered severe damage and would need to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the engine. We have maintained the vehicle responsibly and have documentation of regular oil changes and other maintenance and repairs. When we contacted Ford motor company, we were informed that the vehicle was outside the warranty period. We opened a case with Ford’s customer relationship department requesting assistance; however, the case was denied. Although the vehicle is outside the warranty period, Ford has acknowledged this issue in a technical service bulletin, indicating that coolant intrusion is a known problem affecting this engine design in the Ford Escape 2017.

I am experience coolant intrusion into cylinder 3 causing the check engine light to come on, when. Checked on obd2 system shows a misfire on cylinder 3, multiple checks by service centers all diagnose the coolant intrusion defect on the 2. 0 ecoboost engine requiring a long block replacement.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Escape 🔎.

Engine failure - available for inspection safety was at risk when the vehicle died multiple times on the highway and I was told that there was no issue by Ford. The dealership understand the problem now that the check engine light is staying on. No inspection other than by Ford's mechanics. Possible insurance inspection. Alerts for engine failure whenever the car died. In November 2025 my car died on the highway. I was driving normally and the engine cut out (service code included engine failure). I was able to turn the vehicle back on and drive to auto zone. They believed the issue was my battery. I had the battery replaced at belle tire, 20 minutes after the battery replacement the car died again so I took it to a Ford dealership and explained the issue. Ford drove the car approximately 40 miles and could not recreate the issue and told me it was fine to continue driving. Over the next month it was driven sparingly but still died a few times. The check engine light never stayed on after it died so mechanics were never able to confirm the engine failure (or other code). In mid January the problem became significantly worse one day. It now idles roughly and shakes - even in park. I brought the car back to the same Ford dealership and the code is now no relative compression in the engine. After this happened I learned about the known issue with Ford vehicles where coolant leaks into the engine. The mechanic at the Ford dealership agreed this is likely what happened.

My 2019 Ford Escape engine has recently taken a big decline due to coolant leaking into the cylinders of the car. I was told this is a common occurrence with 2019 Escapes, so why has it not been situated? it is unsafe and over all inconvenient for the ones who are with out a car now. My car decided in the middle of traveling that it was no longer going to move no matter how hard the gas was pushed, unsafe. The engine is now loud, shaky, and over heats, while idling and driving. I have had this car for a year and a half and every time the check engine light came on and I took it to be diagnosed I was met with another issue that I paid to fix, and still no place fixed the engine. It was not until the car is no longer drivable that I finally got an answer on what has happened to my engine. This car was regularly maintained. My vehicle was inspected by a Ford specialist who said this problem caused my car to now be valued at $500. If this is a known problem with this car why are they still being sold on the market?.

Coolant intrusion into the engine from a manufacturer defect.

Waterpump pulley/ waterpump, yes it's available for inspection. I lost power and a message came up on the screen to shut off the vehicle there was a engine failure , overheating. No, I have not had it confirmed by a dealer yet. No it has not been inspected by any person. I started hearing a noise about a month ago and I was going to make an appointment the same week it happened to break down on me. I have a disabled daughter and I'm thankful I just took her home because of the extreme cold weather. I was outside for over an hour waiting to get SUV towed.

I was parking vehicle & noticed from center console burning smoke coming from heater vents & middle console. I turned it off right away, waited a while & it stopped, driving at 60mph a back & forth forward & back hesitation or vibration. Shifting back & forth, no check engine light, but I feel that this vehicle has the recalls that are listed for this same year model & it has never being corrected. I need to bring this vehicle to a Ford dealership to get it checked. I'm in the madison wisconsin area, please have this matter taken care ove. 2013 Ford Escape 2. 0l.