2017 Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems
396 of the 2,689 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 34 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 of the 396 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 21 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 81 · 2023: 59 · 2024: 90 · 2025: 69 · 2026: 31
Half of the 157 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 50,000 and 107,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
2,689 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford Escape, 31 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The auto stop/start feature completely shuts the engine off when waiting at signal lights or other situations when stopping while the vehicle is in drive. There are alert chimes and a message to shift into park and restart vehicle appears on instrument panel. The problem started approx.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. While driving 75 MPH in heavy traffic or while changing lanes, the accelerator pedal was applied and the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: cas 24051505. The contact was referred to the local dealer.
2017 Ford Escape. Consumer writes in regards to difficulty putting vehicle in reverse and not accelerating. The consumer stated that the engine had warped and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure
Very similar to NHTSA id 11083629. Pulling into traffic the transmission started to slip. Managed to get off the road without incident. The system message "transmission fault service now" came up and the car would not accelerate beyond 20 MPH. I was traveling so it was towed to nearest dealership.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. After the contact parked and exited the vehicle, it began moving forward without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 18v471000 (power train). The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V413000 HighJun 10, 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles
- Ford 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.
34 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
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 P0300 P0301 P1299 P0217 P1285 P0012 P0014
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- engine problems 2,082 complaints
- electrical problems 156 complaints
- body and structure problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Ford Escape?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 396 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (15% of everything owners filed about it), and 34 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Ford Escape?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V413000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Ford Escape?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 76,000 miles; half of them between 50,000 and 107,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.