⌘K
Home›Ford›Escape›2017
Ford · Compact SUV

2017 Ford Escape

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
65 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA2,672
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Ford Escape is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escape FWD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 2672 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Escape FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo233026$2,400
Escape FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222925$2,500
Escape AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo222824$2,600
Escape FWDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl212924$2,600
Escape FWD FFVGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl212924$2,600
Escape AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37358, 37359, 37363, 37357, 37360, 37362.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Ford Escape is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Visibility

26C29
18,124 vehicles
ProblemFord 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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."RiskA closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.FixDealers 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 number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V374000reported Jun 9, 2026Ford Motor Company
!critical

Equipment

26S01
116,672 vehicles
ProblemFord 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 plugged in.RiskAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.FixOwners 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 block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. For
NHTSA campaign 26V011000reported Jan 15, 2026Ford Motor Company
▲high

Power Train

22S43
2,925,968 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers 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 mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
NHTSA campaign 22V413000reported Jun 10, 2022Ford Motor Company
●moderate

Visibility

16C12
17,985 vehicles
ProblemFord 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 such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."RiskIf a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.FixFord 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.
NHTSA campaign 16V617000reported Aug 24, 2016Ford Motor Company

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
2672complaints filed

39 involved a crash · 15 a fire · 56 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 50 · 2018: 57 · 2019: 112 · 2020: 124 · 2021: 116 · 2022: 237 · 2023: 381 · 2024: 713 · 2025: 645 · 2026: 235

Most-cited components

Engine1561
Engine And Engine Cooling507
Power Train395
Electrical System154
Unspecified152
Wheels81

What owners describe

“I went to Lenoir City ford with issues of misfiring cylinder and mostly Limp Mode on the highway. They cleared my codes and sent me on my way. ^ This occured while my vehicle was still under warranty. Now, expired warranty, I have the same issue and they will not cover under warranty when the issue was first discovered…”Jul 8, 2021 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Upon parking the vehicle in my driveway, the vehicle would not turn off after turning off he ignition and removing the key. All the dash lights were on as the would be normally and the engine remained running. Tired everything including in and out of gear, driving, turned key on and off several times, tired both keys. …”Jul 6, 2021 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“On 3-7-2019 brought vehicle in for service at Larsen Ford in Lakewood NJ for engine light turned on with OBN code P3020. Service dept employee, Mitch Sperling their was anti freeze in number two cylinder. They kept vehicle till 3/15/2019 and stated repair was made. Except the repair for this should have been a new engi…”Jul 4, 2021 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2017 Escape with

2017 Chevrolet Equinox →2017 Nissan Rogue →

Other Escape model years

D

2026 Ford Escape

3 recalls · 4 complaints

F

2025 Ford Escape

10 recalls · 27 complaints

F

2024 Ford Escape

10 recalls · 86 complaints

F

2023 Ford Escape

13 recalls · 129 complaints

F

2022 Ford Escape

21 recalls · 373 complaints

F

2021 Ford Escape

21 recalls · 482 complaints

F

2020 Ford Escape

25 recalls · 1,881 complaints

D

2019 Ford Escape

3 recalls · 581 complaints

D

2018 Ford Escape

4 recalls · 1,785 complaints

D

2016 Ford Escape

4 recalls · 1,107 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

JSON for this page · API