2017 Ford Escape Problems
Shopping for a used 2017 Ford Escape? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Based on 2,530 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Engine Problems the most reported area.
Before you buy
This 2017 Ford Escape has 2,530 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.
Free preview · Full report from $12.95.
2017 Ford Escape Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 6 2017 Ford Escape trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 6 trims analysed.
2017 Ford Escape Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2017 Ford Escape SUV FWDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
19.1% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
19.1% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017 Ford Escape has 2,530 owner complaints, 38 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Ford
- Model
- Escape
- Model year
- 2017
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 2,530
- Crash-related complaints
- 38
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Top reported component
- Engine Problems
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 24
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 21 / 29
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Common problems
Most common 2017 Ford Escape problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Transmission / Drivetrain, Electrical Faults. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Buyer verdict
Should you buy a used 2017 Ford Escape?
The 2017 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
Pre-purchase
What to check before buying a used 2017 Ford Escape
Inspection Focus
- 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.
Before You Close the Deal
- 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.
Check the exact car
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2017 Ford Escape, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
AI verdict
What the complaint data suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based 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
Full breakdown
All 2017 Ford Escape complaints by category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Escape. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| 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.
In their words
Real owner complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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.
Safety recalls
2017 Ford Escape recalls
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Ford Escape. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Questions
2017 Ford Escape buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 2,530 owner complaints, 38 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2017 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
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?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2017 Ford Escape, NHTSA complaints include 38 crash-related reports and 15 fire reports out of 2,530 total complaints. 56 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Ford Escape. A major recall area is VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2017 Ford Escape?▾
The 2017 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
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.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2017 Ford Escape based on your ownership experience.
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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Before you buy
Check the exact vehicle history before you buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.