P0300 on a 2019 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 2019 Ford Escape
Ranked from 563 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Coolant Intrusion into Engine Cylinders (1.5L EcoBoost)
High severityA known manufacturing defect in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine block causes coolant to leak into the cylinder bores. Look for low coolant levels, white exhaust smoke, rough idling, overheating, and misfire codes (P0300-P0304).
Reported in 18 NHTSA complaints - 2
Faulty Spark Plugs or Ignition Coils
Medium severityCoolant entering the cylinders can foul or melt spark plugs and damage ignition coils, causing misfires. Confirmed by inspecting the spark plugs for damage, melting, or coolant residue.
Reported in 4 NHTSA complaints - 3
Cracked Cylinder Head / Head Gasket Failure
High severityOften a direct result of the coolant intrusion and overheating issues, leading to a cracked cylinder head or blown head gasket. Confirmed by coolant in the oil, loss of compression, and overheating.
Reported in 3 NHTSA complaints - 4
Vacuum Leaks
Medium severityUnmetered air entering the intake manifold can lean out the air/fuel mixture, causing random misfires. Confirmed by a smoke test or listening for hissing noises under the hood.
Common cause - 5
Low Fuel Pressure / Failing Fuel Pump
Medium severityInadequate fuel delivery can cause multiple cylinders to misfire. Confirmed by testing fuel pressure at the rail and checking for fuel pump operation.
Common cause - 6
Faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
Low severityA dirty or failing MAF sensor provides incorrect airflow data to the PCM, leading to improper fueling and random misfires. Confirmed by checking MAF sensor readings with a scan tool.
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.
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