2017 Ford Escape engine problems
2,082 of the 2,689 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 84 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database8 of the 2,082 reports a crash · 10 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 58 · 2020: 66 · 2021: 52 · 2022: 121 · 2023: 314 · 2024: 654 · 2025: 580 · 2026: 212
Half of the 888 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 57,000 and 102,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
2,689 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford Escape, 212 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Escape engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While driving 40 MPH in the city, I felt a jolt, engine was still running, but had zero gas pedal response. RPM slowly bled off as I was able to coast into a parking lot while dodging through traffic. When the jolt was felt, a "check manual" message appeared on the driver's information screen.
A month ago I had a check engine light that came on. It ran really rough and felt like I was going over rocks the way the SUV was running. On my phone I had an app that said there was a misfire. They fixed it saying they replaced some wires. A week ago the check engine came on again.
I turned from the parking lot intersection in eagle run shopping center, nw of wendy's, from west to south onto the parking lot road that accesses the w maple rd & birch st intersection. I completed my turn and drove south down the parking lot access road to the w maple & birch st intersection where the traffic light was red.
I turned from the parking lot intersection in eagle run shopping center, nw of wendy's, from west to south onto the parking lot road that accesses the w maple rd & birch st intersection. I completed my turn and drove south down the parking lot access road to the w maple & birch st intersection where the traffic light was red.
I AM writing due to my concern about my 2017 Ford Escape. I bought the vehicle new in may 2017. Sept 8th ,the engine stopped suddenly when I braked to pull into the parking lot at work..the message on the dash board was : manual start required so I put the car in park and restarted it without difficulty I went to work for the day.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications84 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 52335 Service bulletinMar 6, 2024
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to b
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0316 P0302 P0300 P0303 P0301 P1299 P0217 P0304
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Ford Escape names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ford Escape
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 396 complaints
- electrical problems 156 complaints
- body and structure problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2017 Ford Escape?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 2,082 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (77% of everything owners filed about it), and 84 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2017 Ford Escape?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2017 Ford Escape?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 77,000 miles; half of them between 57,000 and 102,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.