P0300 on a 2016 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 2016 Ford Escape
Ranked from 1,050 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Coolant intrusion into the cylinder(s) from a cracked block/head or manufacturing defect (EcoBoost)
High severityA widely reported EcoBoost defect lets coolant leak into a cylinder (confirmed by dealer pressure tests and spark-plug inspection showing coolant on the piston/cylinder wall), fouling combustion and setting misfire codes; look for coolant loss with no external leak, white exhaust smoke, and a rough/sputtering start.
Reported in 7 NHTSA complaints - 2
Ignition coil / spark plug / wiring-harness failure causing a persistent single-cylinder misfire
Medium severityOne vehicle had spark plugs, coils, and the entire wiring harness replaced multiple times for a recurring port-4 misfire with an open-circuit fault that kept returning, consistent with a known EcoBoost ignition complaint.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 3
Worn spark plugs
Low severityPlugs worn beyond gap spec or fouled produce a weak/inconsistent spark; pull and inspect gap, wear, and deposits.
Common causeParts:spark plugs - 4
Clogged or leaking fuel injector(s)
Medium severityA restricted or dripping injector skews the air/fuel mix on that cylinder; check injector balance/flow test.
Common causeParts:fuel injector - 5
Vacuum/intake leaks
Medium severityUnmetered air entering after the MAF leans out one or more cylinders enough to misfire; smoke-test intake boots and gaskets.
Common cause - 6
Carbon-fouled intake valves
Low severityDirect-injection carbon buildup on valve backs disrupts airflow/atomization; check with a borescope.
Common cause - 7
EGR valve fault (stuck open)
Medium severityExcess exhaust gas recirculating at idle/low load dilutes the charge and stalls combustion; check EGR flow and codes.
Common causeParts:EGR valve
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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.
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