YearToAvoid

2017 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Escape years

The 2017 Ford Escape ranks 2nd-worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and 2,684 complaints, mostly Engine (74% share). It carries 4 recalls and an Avoid verdict relative to other Escape years.

Complaints
2,684
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
39 / 15
Injuries / deaths
56 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2017 Ford Escape problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine1,991 (74%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain390 (15%)
  3. Electrical System187 (7%)
  4. Other162 (6%)
  5. Fuel System95 (4%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires89 (3%)
  7. Structure & Body73 (3%)
  8. Brakes58 (2%)
  9. Steering49 (2%)
  10. Airbags21 (1%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy properly in side and multi-vehicle crashes, sometimes deploying outward instead of inward.
  • A front tire blew out at highway speed and caused the vehicle to crash into a guardrail.
  • The vehicle unexpectedly jumped a curb and struck a tree during a low-speed parking maneuver, with no mechanical fault found by the dealer.
  • The automatic parallel parking assist failed mid-maneuver and caused the vehicle to crash into a parked car.
  • Steering suddenly tightened at highway speed while passing another vehicle, leading to a spin and rollover.
  • The front suspension detached completely, including the wheel, and a severed brake line left the vehicle without brakes.
2017 Ford Escape complaints: complaints filed per quarter2622016 Q42018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
3152 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (262).

2017 Ford Escape recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V374000Jun 9, 2026Visibility & Wipers18,124 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    Ford 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."

    Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers 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.

  2. NHTSA 26V011000Jan 15, 2026Other116,672 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    Ford 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.

    Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Owners 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. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

  3. NHTSA 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles

    Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod

    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.

    Risk: A 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.

    Remedy: Dealers 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2017 Ford Escape →

2017 Ford Escape fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Escape years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Caution531,100925
2016Good471,123425
2017Avoid932,684424
2018Caution671,797424
2019Good40587324

All Ford Escape years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2017 Escape ranks 2nd-worst among 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Escape years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Ford Escape?
Engine complaints dominate, making up 74% of all reported issues (1,991 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 76,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Escape, covering power window force settings, an engine block heater crack risk, a transmission shift cable bushing, and a window software fix, none marked do-not-drive.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Ford Escape?
NHTSA lists 2,684 complaints for the 2017 Escape, including 39 crashes, 15 fires, and 56 injuries reported.
How does the 2017 Escape compare to other years?
The 2017 Escape's Complaint Index of 93 is higher than most other years, with only the 2013 model year (index 100) ranking worse.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.