P0300 on a 2015 Ford Escape
P0300 is a generic OBD2 powertrain code for random or multiple cylinder misfire. Unlike P0301 through P0308, it does not point to one specific cylinder, so the cause can be ignition, fuel, air, sensor, or mechanical.
Not your vehicle? See general P0300 info.
Most common causes on the 2015 Ford Escape
Ranked from 1,035 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Coolant Intrusion into Cylinders (Cracked Block/Head Gasket)
High severityCoolant leaks internally into the cylinders due to a porous/cracked engine block or failed head gasket, causing misfires, white smoke from the exhaust, and coolant loss without visible external leaks.
Reported in 14 NHTSA complaints - 2
Faulty Spark Plugs
Low severityWorn or fouled spark plugs fail to ignite the air/fuel mixture properly, leading to random misfires. Often exacerbated by coolant intrusion in this specific engine.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 3
Fuel Delivery Issues (Fuel Pump/Injectors)
Medium severityA failing fuel pump or clogged fuel injectors can cause a lean condition or inconsistent fuel delivery, leading to stalling and random misfires.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 4
Ignition Coil Failure
Medium severityA weak or failing ignition coil cannot provide sufficient voltage to the spark plug, resulting in incomplete combustion and misfires.
Common cause - 5
Vacuum Leak
Medium severityUnmetered air entering the intake manifold throws off the air/fuel ratio, causing a lean misfire condition across multiple cylinders.
Common cause - 6
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Failure
Medium severityA dirty or faulty MAF sensor provides incorrect airflow data to the PCM, resulting in improper fuel trim adjustments and random misfires.
Common cause
These causes are aggregated from NHTSA owner complaints and general repair knowledge — this is not a diagnosis. P0300 on your car still needs shop confirmation before any repair.
Common symptoms
- Flashing or steady check engine light
- Rough idle
- Shaking under acceleration
- Loss of power
- Fuel smell from exhaust
What to check before replacing parts
Scan for cylinder-specific misfire codes
Look for: A companion P0301–P0308 pins the misfire to one cylinder — start there. P0300 with no cylinder code points at something hitting several at once: fuel pressure, a large vacuum leak, or timing.
Inspect the spark plugs and coils
Look for: Pull the plugs: black/sooty = rich, oily = oil intrusion, white/blistered = lean or overheating, cracked porcelain or an out-of-spec gap = replace. Then swap a coil to another cylinder — if a cylinder-specific code follows the coil, the coil is bad.
Check fuel trims for a vacuum leak
Look for: High positive short- and long-term trims (worst at idle, improving as RPM rises) mean unmetered air is getting in. Smoke-test the intake and listen for hissing.
Verify fuel pressure
Look for: Compare running/cranking pressure to the vehicle spec. Low or dropping pressure starves multiple cylinders and reads as a random misfire — suspect the pump, filter, or regulator.
Compression / leak-down test if ignition and fuel check out
Look for: A cylinder 15%+ below the others, or leak-down hissing from the intake (intake valve), exhaust (exhaust valve), or oil filler (rings), means the misfire is mechanical — not a swap-in part.
Rather have a pro handle it? Find a vetted local mechanic.