2017 FORD ESCAPE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Ford Escape. This model year has 2,530 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2017 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
AI Interpretation — 2017 Ford Escape
Low ConfidenceBased on 2530 complaints for the 2017 Ford Escape, the data suggests a high concentration of issues related to the engine, which accounts for the majority of reports. Transmission and electrical faults are also notable. With only 38 crash-related complaints, the overall safety concern appears limited, but the low confidence level means these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Engine Problems dominate complaints with 1949 reports, far exceeding other components.
- Transmission/Drivetrain issues are the second most reported, with 370 complaints.
- Electrical faults, with 148 complaints, are a recurring theme.
- Engine Problems
- Transmission/Drivetrain
- Electrical Faults
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine thoroughly before purchase.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and electrical repairs.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
Considering a 2017 Ford Escape?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $12.95 (vs. Carfax $39.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2017 Ford Escape. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 1,949 | 8 | 10 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 370 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 148 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 144 | 2 | 5 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 76 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 69 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 62 | 3 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 48 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 48 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 36 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 29 | 6 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 21 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 20 | 17 | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 20 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 13 | 3 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Carry Handle | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Shell | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Base | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other/I Am Not Sure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 2,530 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
DAILY COOLANT LOSS WITH NO LEAK. LARGE VOLUME OF WHITE SWEET-SMELLING SMOKE IN MORNING AT START UP AS WELL AS ENGINE STUMBLING AT STARTUP. UNKNOWN COOLANT LOSS CAUSED OVERHEATING
Coolant intrusion into the Engine issue with my 2017 Ford Escape was confirmed by University of Ford with a $12,000 price tag. I was told my car wasn't part of the recalls and it had 106,000 miles on it so it wouldn't be a part of it anyway. They offered me $500 to buy my car.
My low beam headlights for the past year burn out every 4 to 6 weeks. In the past 3 months, they began to burn out every 2 to 3 weeks. Recently I went to have my headlight changed once again and they told me that the headlight assembly kits were actually burnt/melted and would …
There is a known issue with coolant intrusion into the engine with this vehicle. The vehicle has less than 40,000 miles. The engine stalled three times over a two mile trip and completely shut off during a left hand turn with oncoming traffic putting my family and other drivers i…
I had noticed the "sluggish" during my travels either to/from work, I had thought that it may be local gasoline. After fueling once again, my car started with an emblem on the dash, which I later looked up in the book provided and it stated that I needed to have the "coolant" loo…
I started having trouble with my car idleing hard and driving jerky. Around November of 2025, I took it to the local Ford dealership and they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. The check engine light was on at this point So I took it to an independent local shop. They looked a…
Low beam headlight bulbs fail consistently every 90-120 days. I've replaced them approximately 20 times in 9 years. This is a common failure across this vehicle line, as noted in many online forums. This is a safety hazard.
coolant intrusion
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing coolant, and the coolant pipes were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine cylinders. Due to the…
Engine fault light came on took to mechanic nothing popped up on the codes. Then check engine light came on took to another mechanic it showed it was misfiring along with other codes. Then check engine light went away. Then moved car out of driveway and engine overheating light c…
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…
coolant intrusion
Coolant intrusion in the engine. Causes failure if engine and oil leak on engine. Had it diagnosed with a mechanic.
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 lon…
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…
Mechanic looked at vehicle couldn’t find a coolant leak from anywhere, could be a cracked head.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and was turning on and off. The thermostat gauge increased to hot. The contact became aware that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. Additionally, the oil light …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly stopped on several occasions and lost automotive power. The Automatic START/STOP message was displayed. The contact manually turned off the feature, but the Automatic START/STOP featu…
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 St…
I am reporting a serious engine defect with my 2017 Ford Escape EcoBoost. Coolant has leaked into cylinder number 4, causing engine damage and failure. The dealership confirmed this diagnosis and stated that a full engine replacement is required, with an estimated cost of 9,000–1…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2017 Ford Escape.
Recalls for 2017 Ford Escape
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Ford Escape. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2017 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2017 Ford Escape has 2,530 NHTSA owner complaints, 38 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (1,949 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Escape?▾
#1: Engine Problems (1,949 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (370 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (148 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Ford Escape?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2017 Ford Escape?▾
The 2017 Ford Escape has 38 crash-related complaints and 15 fire reports out of 2,530 total NHTSA complaints. 56 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Ford Escape. The largest issue: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2017 Ford Escape?▾
The 2017 Ford Escape has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
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Check Your Specific 2017 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $12.95 (vs. Carfax $39.99).