2017 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

SEVERAL TIMES AFTER PULLING THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND GET IN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, SO THAT WHEN YOU GET INSIDE AND TRY TO SHUT THE DOOR, THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH SHUT AND THE DOOR IS NOT SECURELY CLOSED THOUGH YOU MAY THINK IT IS.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915140 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ON AN EXPRESS WAY TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND HAD MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS AND CONCUSSIONS FROM WHIPLASH.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916044 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,124.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940210 at NHTSA ↗

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN PARKING AT SLOW SPEED WITH ECO ON. OFTEN SEEN INTO GARAGE WHICH IS SLIGHT INCLINE. AUTOMOBILE STOPS MOVING AND ANY TOUCH OF THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES FAST SURGE REQUIRING VERY QUICK BRAKING. VERY REPEATABLE UNDER SLOW CONDITIONS. SELLING DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AND REPORTED THAT SYSTEM OPERATING AS DESIGNED WHEN AUTO STOP/START IS ACTIVATED. THIS DESIGN IS DANGEROUS AND THE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT DEFAULT TO ENGINE AUTO STOP ACTIVATED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,079 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946165 at NHTSA ↗

HAVE NEW 2017 FORD ESCAPE 1.5 ECOBOOST SE 4WD. ONLY 800 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN TURNING TIGHT TURNS, HEARING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE THAT IS NOT PRESENT WHEN TEST DRIVING OTHER NEW 2017 ESCAPES ON THE LOT WITH 4WD. ONLY DOES IT FROM A STOP AND BARELY MOVING, THEN SOUND GOES AWAY. CALLED FORD DETROIT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, SAID THE SAME THING. HAVE A FRIEND WHO GOT THE SAME CAR BUT DIFFERENT COLOR. HAS 1000 MILES ON HIS AND IT DOES NOT MAKE THIS NOISE. SOUNDS LIKE AXLE BINDING AND WHEEL HOP B…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946563 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 NORTH IN PA, THE INSIDE LAYER OF THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS. THERE ARE NO CHIPS OR OTHER MARKS. ON MONDAY 2/20/17 I STOPPED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER. BECAUSE THE CRACK WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND THE OUTSIDE LAYER WAS NOT CRACKED, THE MANAGER BELIEVED IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES, AND CALLED ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME TO ASK ME TO COME BACK SO THAT THEY COULD TAKE MORE PICTURES BECAUSE FORD WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,535 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956896 at NHTSA ↗

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 ITSEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957007 at NHTSA ↗

IN EVENT OF MAIN BRAKE FAILURE, PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE MANUALLY ENGAGED AS A SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE REQUIRING VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED TO ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. THIS COULD RESULT IN FATALITY IN THE EVENT OF MAIN BRAKE FAILURE. (FYI. I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE HOSE FAIL ON A '99 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. USING THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A COLLISION. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE THE WAY IT IS IMPLEMENTED ON 2017…

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959716 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-08-24 (August 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: 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.

Reported: 2022-06-10 (June 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: 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.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 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: 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.

Reported: 2026-06-09 (June 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: 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.