YearToAvoid

2017 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 1,991 of the 2,684 total complaints filed on the 2017 Ford Escape, or 74% of all issues reported that year. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this engine problem area, and median mileage at failure is 76,000 miles.

Engine complaints
1,991
74% of 2,684
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
76,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden engine stalling or shutdown while driving at highway speeds, sometimes preceded by a flashing check engine light.
  • Several complaints describe white or dark smoke coming from the engine compartment, in some cases followed by fire.
  • Some owners report coolant leaking into the engine cylinders, causing a cylinder misfire and related trouble codes.
  • Owners describe unintended acceleration or loss of braking response while parking or coming to a stop, leading to crashes.
  • A subset of complaints mention an electrical or plastic-type odor from the vents just before the engine stalled or caught fire.

When 2017 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 18, 2017, latest Sep 23, 2026.

2017 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter2072017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
1991 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (207).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010891 (43%)
  2. 2011428 (33%)
  3. 2012128 (21%)
  4. 20131,468 (53%)
  5. 2014902 (43%)
  6. 2015278 (25%)
  7. 2016263 (23%)
  8. 20171,991 (74%)
  9. 20181,438 (80%)
  10. 2019386 (66%)
  11. 2020144 (9%)
  12. 202149 (14%)
  13. 202246 (20%)
  14. 202338 (39%)
  15. 202417 (22%)
  16. 202511 (46%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2017 Ford Escape?
NHTSA lists 1,991 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Ford Escape, which is 74% of the 2,684 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Ford Escape engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this engine problem area on the 2017 Ford Escape.
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Escape engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure for reported engine problems is 76,000 miles.
Have there been fires or crashes linked to the engine issue?
NHTSA complaint data for this engine problem area on the 2017 Ford Escape includes 10 crashes, 10 fires, and 8 injuries reported.
How does 2017 compare to other Escape model years for engine complaints?
The 2017 Escape's engine complaints represent 74% share of that year's total complaints, higher than most other years listed, with only 2018 (80%) and 2019 (66%) showing a similarly high share.

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.