Engine. Review the 1,564 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 507 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 390 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports15 fire reports38 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

72 reports

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7,000 miles · Sep 27, 2017

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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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. AT THE END OF THE DAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED ONTO A VERY BUSY CITY STREET . I DROVE ABOUT 100 FEET WHEN I BRAKED AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN ,IN TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON SEPTEMBER 13TH I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM THAT MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY TO GO . I WAS RELUCTANT TO TRUST THIS VEHICLE I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS UNSAFE HOWEVER I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TRUST IN THEIR REPAIR. SEPTEMBER 22ND .I AM COMMUTING HOME AGAIN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHEN I BRAKE AT BUSY INTERSECTION DURING A RAIN STORM AT RUSH HOUR IT WOULD NOT RESTART THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I TURNED ON THE 4 WAY FLASHERS SO I EXITED THE VEHICLE , CALLED 911 AS I WAS AFRAID MY VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WAS GOING TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. CARS WERE BLOWING HORNS AND SWERVING TO AVOID MY DISABLED VEHICLE. I ALSO CONTACTED MY HUSBAND AS I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING BY SWAPPING OUT A FUSE AND I GOT IT HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS ONCE AGAIN TOWED FOR REPAIR I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE THIS WAS THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED.I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUY BACK YOUR 2017 FORD ESCAPE. REGRETTABLY, I MUST ADVISE YOU THAT FORD WILL NOT BE BUYING BACK THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A REPURCHASE OR REPLACEMENT UNDER THE STATE GUIDELINES . I HAVE EMAILS AND RECEIPTS BUT AM NOT SURE HOW TO SHARE THEM FOR YOUR PURPOSES.

NHTSA ODI #11030171

250 miles · Feb 26, 2017

Fuel/propulsion System

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AUTOSTOP FEATURE ENDANGERS LIVES. I EXPERIENCED AN ALMOST FATAL SAFETY INCIDENT WITH THE AUTOSTOP ENGAGED. I WAS STOPPED, EXITING A PAVED DRIVEWAY ONTO A 2 LANE ROAD. I DECIDED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE PATH OF A LARGE TRUCK THAT HAD JUST TURNED THE CORNER 300 FT AWAY. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE LUMBERING ALONG, SO I MADE THE DECISION TO PULL OUT ACROSS ITS PATH AND MAKE MY LEFT TURN. APPARENTLY THE TRUCK HIT ITS PEAK TORQUE AT THAT TIME AND SUDDENLY SPED UP, JUST AS I PULLED OUT! AT THIS SAME MOMENT,THE ENGINE DECIDED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF TO CONSERVE FUEL! I PRESSED THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED! THE ESCAPE ROLLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, I PRESSED ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE STARTED UP AND SAT THERE THINKING!!! I WAS STUCK LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS! I KEPT THE GAS BURIED IN THE FLOOR, AND BY SOME MIRACLE THE ENGINE FINALLY REVVED INTO TURBO RANGE. ALL 4 WHEELS STARTED SPINNING AND IT SUDDENLY SLINGSHOT ME ACROSS THE SKINNY 2 LANE ROAD. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH. FORTUNATELY, THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE AWD AND STEERING WERE RESPONSIVE, ALLOWING ME TO HOP INTO THE CORRECT ANGLE, IN THE PROPER LANE, WITHIN A HAIR'S BREATH OF BEING T-BONED AND POSSIBLY LOSING MY OWN LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY PASSENGER! I HAVE BEEN HAVING NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST WEEK AND HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. LESS THAN 250 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN THIS OCURRED. THIS AUTOSTOP FEATURE NEEDS TO BE PERMANENTLY DISENGAGED FOR SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #10957007

Official recalls

26V374000 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Jun 9, 2026

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 15, 2026

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 10, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Consequence: 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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

16V617000 · Electrical System:software; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Aug 24, 2016

Ford 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford 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.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Consequence: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →