2017 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability
3,261 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Ford Escape, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 81/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 77,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2017 Ford Escape sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2006–2007, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 2017 sits among all Escape years
What owners report
“Engine blown due to coolant intrusion. Vehicle has 61,000 miles on it and Ford will not do anything to fix it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
“2017 ford escape. Consumer writes in regard to nhtsa safety recall 22v-413. The dealer stated the ford escape was no longer motorable and needed extensive transmission repairs. Ford is assisting with 40% of the recall repairs.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
“Multiple times the escape as been stopped at a light and the auto restart does not work. A message is displayed to shift the vehicle to park and start the vehicle manually. Very dangerous at an intersection when cars behind are moving.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
“The turbos went out at 7,000 miles. And now my engine loses power and oil disappears out of motor. Only 27,000 now and bought it dec 2017. Not even 1 year and a half old. Very disappointed. I bought a new car because my old one broke down all the time .”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
“The engine broke down and coolant was coming in somehow. It required a total engine replacement.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
“The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer determined that 20 lug nuts were swollen and needed to be replaced. The lug nuts were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Escape
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,407 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,198 and 98,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these…
Fix: Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is…
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object…
Fix: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2017 Ford Escape drew 3,261 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 81/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2017 Ford Escape problems?
The top reported problems for the 2017 Ford Escape are engine (2,052 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (392), and electrical (195).
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Escape problems show up?
Owners most often report 2017 Ford Escape problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,198 and 98,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.