2017 Ford Escape
Common Problems
Ranked from 1084 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Coolant Intrusion into Engine
1033complaintsSafety riskEngineCoolant leaks into engine cylinders, causing engine damage and potential engine failure.
Related recall: 26V011000
- 2
Engine Overheating Due to Coolant Loss
37complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine overheats and coolant levels drop rapidly without visible external leaks.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 3
Engine Misfire
32complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine misfires due to coolant intrusion, resulting in poor performance and engine failure.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 4
Engine Overheating
26complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine overheats due to coolant intrusion, leading to engine failure and requiring repair or replacement.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 5
Engine Misfire and Cylinder Failure
20complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine misfires and cylinders fail due to coolant intrusion, causing erratic engine performance.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 6
Engine Block Cracking and Failure
12complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine block cracks due to coolant intrusion, leading to engine failure and requiring replacement.
Related recall: 26V011000
- 7
Engine Failure Due to Head Gasket Issues
11complaintsHigh severityEngineHead gasket failure allows coolant to enter engine cylinders, leading to engine misfires and failure.
$1,400–$2,800est. head gasket replacement · 8–15 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 8
Engine Misfire Due to Coolant Leak
10complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine misfires and runs roughly due to coolant leakage into cylinders.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 9
Engine Overheating and Limp Mode
10complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine overheats and enters limp mode without warning, potentially leading to engine failure.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 10
Engine Misfire Due to Spark Plug Issues
9complaintsMedium severityEngineSpark plugs are cracked or faulty, leading to misfires and check engine light activation.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 11
Check Engine Light Due to Coolant Leak
7complaintsLow severityEngineCheck engine light illuminates due to coolant intrusion into engine cylinders.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 12
Engine Overheating and Cooling System Failure
5complaintsHigh severityEngineCooling system failures lead to engine overheating, potentially causing engine damage and requiring full engine replacement.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 13
Engine Misfire Due to Ignition Coil Issues
4complaintsMedium severityEngineIgnition coils and spark plugs repeatedly fail, causing misfires and engine performance issues.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 14
Engine Stall During Driving
2complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine stalls during driving, especially at low speeds or during turns, posing a safety risk.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 26V011000
- 15
Headlight Burnout and Assembly Failure
2complaintsLow severityOtherLow beam headlights frequently burn out and require frequent replacements, sometimes leading to headlight assembly failure.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.