Ford Escape owners have reported 1,848 problems related to other fuel system (under the other fuel system category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the Escape.
Vehicle went into low power or limp mode unexpectedly on interstate highway. Vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly slowed and was unable to maintain highway speed.
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I press on the gas pedal and the car won't move. I will be at a stop sign and I'll remove my foot from the break, step on the gas and the car stalls it won't really go. I almost have to floor it to get it to move. Has happened multiple times.
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Nthsa recall # 25v467 it has been a year since this recall was issued and still no remedy for fuel injection cracks that can leak fuel onto the engine. How much longer should I have to wait for a remedy?.
On Sunday may the 31st, I was driving home from the store, when I smell gas, but was unaware that it was coming from my vehicle, since I was driving behind another vehicle and passed a gas station. I heard a noise and then saw smoke and fire coming from my vehicle in the engine area. I pulled over and exit the vehicle and called 911. The fire destroyed the whole front of the vehicle, including the engine, wheels, windshield, etc. The emergency officials came. After the incident, I contacted my insurance company. Someone then notified me of a recall on my vehicle, that can cause fire (25v467000). I called the Ford motor company. They told me initially to go through my insurance provider, and the insurance provider will deal with them directly. After speaking with my insurance provider again, they told me that, since I only have liability insurance, my vehicle is not covered, and they will not contact Ford. So, I called Ford again, they told me that someone will contact me within 14 days. No one contacted me, so I contacted them today. They told me today that someone will contact me within 15 working days of my reporting the incident. This will be three weeks since the incident and I am greatly inconvenienced (lack of transportation) by this. Now I am forced to wait another week, not knowing if anyone will call, and if I call again, if I would have to wait again. Any assistance would be appreciated. What steps should I take? thank you.
2019 Ford Escape with a documented history of powertrain failures. White smoke on cold start and engine stalling began around 48,000 miles; the dealer noted this engine is known for coolant intrusion. At about 62,000 miles the engine short block was replaced under Ford field service action 21n12 / TSB 22-2322. Smoke, shaking, and stalling continued, and the engine intermittently cuts out when shifting into reverse and must be restarted. At about 87,000 miles the transmission failed and the full transmission assembly was replaced (work order Jan 2026, vehicle returned end of March 2026). The owner repeatedly told the Ford dealer the vehicle felt unsafe. On [xxx] the owner reported renewed exhaust smoke, an illuminated engine light, and a clicking sound at startup and asked to bring it in; instead of inspecting it, the dealer advised taking the vehicle straight to carmax. About 9 days later, on [xxx], while driving in los angeles about 60 miles from home with young children aboard, the transmission would not stay in gear and the engine warning lights began blinking. The owner called the Ford dealership for guidance but no one could advise and the service desk would not answer. After consulting a mechanic, the family agreed it was unsafe to keep driving given the noises and pulled over in anaheim, about 30 miles from home, at a mechanic shop to read the codes. A paid tow (~$600) was required. Loss of gear engagement and stalling in traffic with children aboard is a serious crash and stranding hazard. The scan returned codes p0012 and p0014 (camshaft timing, stored as permanent), p0300 (random/multiple misfire), and p0301, p0302, p0304 (cylinder misfires); the dash showed "auto start/stop not ready - stall alert - restart engine. " the defect has been reproduced and confirmed repeatedly by the Ford dealer, which performed the engine and transmission replacements. A repurchase request was denied. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
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There has been a safety recall on my vehicle for over a year for the fuel injectors. There still isn’t a remedy for the fuel injectors and I don’t know if it is affecting my vehicle or not. I’ve been told if I have anything checked I will have to pay for it even though I have issues with my vehicle hesitating. I purchased this vehicle in 2022 and at any given time there has been a recall. This one has taken so long to get parts that I worry about it the safety of the vehicle.
Component failed 1. 6l escoboost engine coolant intrusión into cylinders causing misfire and white exhaust smoke vehicle available for inspection upon request . Safety risk:engine misfire and coolant loss cause sudden of power or ingine fire while driving. Recall 17s09 was issude for this exact defect . Ford ssm 46433 states this requires new engine assemby . Problem confirmed multiple repair shops confirmed cooland in cylindres. I have spent s5000 on repairs including used transmisión trying to fix this defect. Manufacturer inspection called Ford customer service 05/22/2026. Agent refused supervisor and stated we cannot help no case number probided Ford is refusing to honor federal safety recall 17s09. Warning symptoms: check ingine light, ingine misfire , white exhaust smoke , coolant loss. First appeared approximately 6 months ago and has worsened. Requesting NHTSA compel Ford to provide engine replacement per ssm 46433.
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Windows and engines.
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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.
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all problems of the 2017 Ford Escape
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Vehicle has trouble turning back on after filling with gas. The engine clicks and sometimes will not start back up without a jump. The battery has been replaced. The check engine light is on.
There has been an active recall on this vehicle for around a year for fuel injectors leaking on the top of the engine and potentially causing a fire. Since this is a turbocharged engine, that risk of fire is significant if fuel does leak.
I have a vehicle whose refrigeration is going into the motor. It started with the check engine light came on notifying the third spark plug was damaged and showed the codes p0303, p04db, p0316, p0339. Later a warning sign came on the dashboard with the phrase "engine malfunction, service now". It had a recall almost immediately after it was acquired and was seen by the manufacturer about two years.
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My vehicle I’ve had for 3 months and now it won’t start and it’s from a coolant leak flooding my engine. As they called it a coolant intrusion into my engine and will cost 12k to get this fixed as I need a whole new engine.
I am reporting the failure of Ford motor company to perform a mandatory safety recall (recall 22s43 / NHTSA id 22v413) on my 2019 Ford Escape. This failure is compounded by evidence of falsified internal service records (oasis reports) that misrepresent the vehicle's recall status as 'completed. ' ?furthermore, the failure to perform this specific recall directly prevented a necessary diagnostic inspection of the transmission linkage and adjacent engine compartment. Had this recall been performed, the technician would have identified the progressive corrosion and mechanical stress that subsequently destroyed the high-pressure fuel pump and the transmission control module (tcm). ?the manufacturer meticulously recorded routine maintenance while ignoring a critical federal safety mandate. Their negligence directly caused a cascading mechanical failure, rendering my vehicle an unsafe, non-operational hazard. I am seeking a formal investigation into these falsified service records and the manufacturer's failure to remedy this safety hazard. I attempted to resolve this manner at the lowest levels, before taking this route. Unfortunately, to their detriment; Ford basically told me I was on my own. I have already alerted the attorney general for the state of tennessee, as well. The subsequent loss of the vehicle as a result of the abhorrent behavior of Ford motor company has resulted in time lost with my kids and my mental health appointments with the veterans administration. I can not make it to my therapist or get my medication. I have the carfax and oasis reports as further evidence to back these claims.
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 (.
I am filing this safety complaint on behalf of myself and my wife, [xxx] , the primary driver of our 2021 Ford Escape phev, with active under recall 25sc4 (no remedy available). The vehicle has experienced 8+ sudden complete shutdowns during normal driving since February 2026, always during ev-to-hybrid mode transition, always without prior warning. The only warning is a brief sound like air escaping immediately before shutdown. At shutdown: engine cuts completely, steering wheel locks rigid and cannot be turned, brake pedal locks hard and cannot be depressed, gear selector locks in drive and cannot be changed. The driver has zero ability to steer, brake, or move the vehicle. Must activate hazards and wait 1-5 minutes for restart while immobilized in an active traffic lane. Incidents occurred: (1) February 2026: multiple times, dealer retained vehicle 5 days, found nothing. (2) early April 2026: multiple times, including one witnessed by a police officer who directed traffic around immobilized vehicle. Dealer kept 3 days, blamed the original Ford-supplied charger. Replacement did not fix defect. (3) may 1, 2026: 4 times in one day with my wife only in the car, including on the dolphin [xxx] near miami int [xxx] 3:30pm Friday rush hour, with our [xxx] child in the vehicle on thr [xxx] r occasions. Ford's own recall documentation states steering and braking remain functional during shutdown. This is directly contradicted by our firsthand experience. Both are completely inoperable. Dealer on second attempt blamed original Ford-supplied charger — replacement did not resolve defect. This vehicle is subject to active class action [xxx] et al. V. Ford motor company (case xxx). Formal warranty demand letter sent to Ford motor company via certified mail under magnuson-moss warranty act simultaneously with this complaint. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Subject: request for buyback or trade assistance – 2020 Ford Escape se to whom it may concern, I am writing regarding my 2020 Ford Escape equipped with the 1. 5l engine, which is currently subject to multiple open safety recalls. Of particular concern is the active fuel injector recall involving a risk of engine compartment fire. I understand that the current remedy does not fully address the underlying defect and that additional actions may still be pending. In addition, my vehicle is affected by other safety-related recalls, compounding concerns about reliability and safe operation. Given the nature of these issues—specifically the fire risk and the lack of a complete and permanent repair— as well as a history of over 15 recalls on this vehicle, I am increasingly concerned about the safety, usability, and value of my vehicle. This situation has significantly impacted my confidence in operating the vehicle. Based on these circumstances, I am formally requesting that Ford motor company review my case for: • a manufacturer buyback, or • substantial trade assistance toward a new Ford vehicle, or • appropriate goodwill compensation reflecting the ongoing safety concerns and diminished value I would appreciate prompt review by a case manager and a written response outlining Ford’s proposed resolution. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss next steps. Thank you.
There is fluid accumulation under the engine air filter assembly.
Due to the two unrepaired recalls my family’s safety is at risk. The recalls could cause a fire or crash and with no remedy available my family is unsafe in this vehicle.
My vehicle has had a fuel injector recall since 07/2025. My car has gradually started to idle and drop rpms. It starts when the vehicle was only in park and now it is happening when I am in drive and foot is on the brake. I am not sure what to do because of the open recall with no repair options in sight almost a year later.
Shortly after purchasing my 2022 Ford Escape, I began experiencing hesitation during acceleration, loss of power, rpm fluctuations, loud howling and whining noises, grinding noises, exhaust-related rattling, coolant bubbling, and a strong sulfur/rotten egg odor. The problems were reported repeatedly to the selling dealer and Ford service departments. Despite multiple complaints, I was repeatedly told nothing was wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle continued to deteriorate and now struggles to accelerate and produces extremely loud noises during operation. The condition creates a safety concern because the vehicle does not respond normally when accelerating and may not be able to maintain speed safely in traffic. I also discovered an open safety recall involving a potentially cracked fuel injector that could allow fuel or fuel vapor to accumulate on the engine and create a fire risk. The recall remains incomplete because a remedy is not currently available. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership service departments and an independent transmission specialist. The problems have been ongoing since shortly after purchase and continue to worsen.
There is no incident, yet, just a recall that I have for this vehicle, coming up on a year here soon, for a fuel leak that could cause a fire under the hood while driving, and Ford doesn't seem to think that's urgent enough to get the parts to fix it. What's up with that? safety recall notice, 25s76 NHTSA recall, 25v467.
Hello, I would like to file a safety complaint regarding my Ford Escape. Vehicle information: VIN: [xxx] make/model: Ford Escape year: 2018 issue description: while driving, my vehicle suddenly overheated. The temperature gauge moved from normal to hot within seconds, and a warning appeared to stop the vehicle immediately. This created a serious safety concern, as the failure was sudden and without warning. After inspection by a certified technician, I was informed that the engine is consuming coolant internally, and the coolant is being burned through the exhaust system. There is no visible external leak. The engine is now running rough and requires full engine replacement. I have learned that this is a known issue with Ford Escape engines, often referred to as “coolant intrusion. ” despite this being a widely reported defect, Ford has declined to provide any financial assistance. I have contacted Ford and opened a case (case number: xxx), but they confirmed this is not a recall and will not cover repairs. This issue creates a significant safety risk due to sudden engine overheating and potential engine failure while driving. I am requesting that this issue be investigated, as it appears to be a widespread defect affecting many Ford Escape vehicles. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The failure appears to involve the vehicle’s auto start/stop system and related electrical control systems, including the battery management system and/or body control module. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while driving and fails to automatically restart, displaying “auto start/stop – manual restart required” and “shift to park. ” the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has shut off unexpectedly in active traffic, causing a sudden loss of power. This creates a dangerous situation where I am unable to accelerate or move with traffic flow, increasing the risk of being rear-ended or involved in a collision. This has occurred on public roads with other vehicles present, putting both myself and others at risk. The issue is intermittent and has not consistently been reproduced on demand. However, it has occurred multiple times during normal driving conditions. I am in the process of having the vehicle inspected and documented by a dealership. The issue has been reported to the manufacturer, and a case has been opened with Ford motor company. At this time, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives. There were no consistent warning lamps prior to the failure. At the time of the incident, the vehicle displayed messages including “auto start/stop – manual restart required” and “shift to park. ” these messages appeared simultaneously with the loss of power. The issue has occurred intermittently without advance warning.
Ford manufacturer and local gurley leep Ford dealership failed to provide a remedy to safety recall : manufacturer recall number25s76 NHTSA recall number25v467 in a reasonable timeframe. The local Ford dealership refused to provide a remedy, free of charge, in accordance with the NHTSA guidelines .
This has been an ongoing recall for three years. They fixed my car the first time according to them and now it’s still an issue they are saying they can’t fix. I’ve went through two evap solenoids and my car still is having issues with the fuel vapor intake. I’m to the point I don’t ride in it or drive it with my children bc I’m scared it’s going to catch fire especially being in south florida. I’m very upset with Ford!.
I am the 2nd owner of my 2016 Ford Escape 1. 6l ecoboost, my aunt and uncle were the original owners. Between us we have every maintenance record of every on time and professionally performed requirement the Escape has needed and it ran beautifully. Then, in February 2026 the idle started to get a bit rough and I was preparing to put in the oem sparkplugs when 3/28/26 the engine overheated, I was stranded on the side of a 45 mph street waiting for it to cool so I could move to safety. Between that incident and 4/29/26 I went thru 9 gallons of coolant, replaced the sparkplugs, put the front end up and "burp' the system as there was constantly air bubbles being introduced from a source I could not find. I had the hoses and clamps inspected, replaced the coolant reservoir and the reservoir cap, the vehicle started to shutter upon starting even after it was warmed up and every day needed to be burped and topped off before and after driving in town but often had no coolant loss during freeway driving, finally 4/28/26 I noticed smoke from the exhaust when I started the car in the morning and that smoke was accompanied by a foul, burnt, electric smell. While burping the air and topping the coolant that morning, the engine sputtered and died 2 separate times. I decided that it was time for a cooling system diagnostics as I still could still see no evidence of an external leak. The Ford technician recorded this tech story. "the vehicle ran rough and smoked for a couple seconds after starting. The vehicle ran its self test and had p0316, b0303, p1299, and p0217. These dtcs relate to cylinder misfire on startup and cylinder misfire and cylinder 3 and over temp/protection being active. . . . I suspected a possible coolant intrusion concern into cylinder 3, performed a pressure test on the cooling system and observed a drop in the pressure. I remove the spark plug and found coolant on the cylinder walls and the top of the piston in cylinder 3. " advise to replace long block assembly.
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I was driving and all of a sudden a message popped up and said high engine temperature stop safely in the car just shut off immediately. The car would not drive anymore it shut off in traffic with no warning, which could have caused a terrible accident, because something about a heat sensor the car never ran hot the car has never overheated. I've never had any issues the car has always been serviced with no problems. I took the car to a mechanic certified mechanic that said there's a problem with the coolant leaking into the engine the same thing that I see other complaints about on this site there has to be something done about this. I've only had this car for a year this month April 2026 make it one year. I bought the car from allan turner Hyundai pensacola florida if Ford keeps getting complaints about the same issue why isn't it recalled in the engines being taken care of, now I am sitting here with the vehicle still trying to pay for it and the vehicle is messed up.
Vehicles coolant emptied out causing vehicle to overheat and smoke from under engine.
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all problems of the 2023 Ford Escape
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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.
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.
The recall on the fuel issue was released in July 2025. This is now March 2026. Eight months should be enough time to get the parts needed for this repair. What can you do to see about getting this process accelerated? thank you.
My 2023 Ford Escape acts like it is about to stall out once I hit the gas from a stop. It has happened multiple times. After idling for 10 minutes when I go to take off it will shift so hard that it pushes you forward in your seat. It has not been taken to a dealership yet since no light comes on and it doesn’t happen all the time. It has put my safety at risk since I was turning on the highway and it took 10-15 seconds to get up to speed.
I recently bought this vehicle, I think about three months ago, used obviously. I will be going down the road, and for no apparent reason the vehicle will lose power steering. Not often but about once a month. Also, the majority of the time I can smell fuel from outside the vehicle. It most definitely has a fuel leak. Today, I got down and looked behind the tire at the fuel intake and it seems to be leaking at a yellow ring on the outside of the fuel tank. While researching this issue online seems to be a common issue, however, I have pulled up my VIN many times on the recall list and it has not shown up. It seems like not only an accident hazard with steering, but a fire hazard with the fuel. The fuel issue seems to make it very “jumpy” when idling at red lights, but maybe that’s a separate issue.
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There is already a recall on the Ford fusion for this very same issue, they have identical engines, fuel systems etc, but code is p1450 and at times, randomly the sound of a struggling fuel pump happens, and the solution is to have the fuel canister purge valve replaced, this is a known and recalled issue on the Ford fusion but apparently not on the 2016 Ford Escape se that the majority of those vehicles do have both issues and failures with. Ford knows about this since they already have recalled the Ford fusion for the very same thing happening. I have a "forever warranty" through Ford, which they explained 100% of all moving parts having to do with the drive train was covered, however they know about this issue, and yet no recall is happening I told them what the code is they still insist on charging $189 to tell me what my obdii computer already has a few times at this point. Prestige Ford in mt dora, FL is the dealership that I will never deal with again for anything other than to maintain the warranty I was railroaded into that they don't seem to even want to honor making me pay out $189 for a known issue with the engines that are the same engines as in the Ford fusion. The largest issue is the car can stall at any point in time causing a severely dangerous situation for anyone inside the vehicle when it stalls in middle of a intersection or turn. And of course I have learned it can cause the fuel tank to crack as well, and become deformed also causing a dangerous situation for whoever is operating the vehicle and other people on the road driving. My son is [xxx] and just learning to drive, it's the only car we have and we really have no other choice but to try to drive as safely as we can until a recall is also put out on the 2016 Ford Escape se. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).