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2017 Ford Escape problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
85% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Ford Escape are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 2,239 of 2,687 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (85%), and the largest group is filed under engine (1,573). For comparison, the 2016 scores 52% and the 2018 scores 90%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2017 compares with other Ford Escape years
Of the 14 Ford Escape years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (85%). The worst is the 2018 (90%), the best the 2020 (26%). By volume, the 2017 drew 2,687 complaints (2,239 drivetrain), against 1,133 for the 2016 and 1,801 for the 2018.
Ford Escape years to avoid and best years →
2010 Escape problems · 2011 Escape problems · 2012 Escape problems · 2013 Escape problems · 2014 Escape problems · 2015 Escape problems · 2016 Escape problems · 2017 · 2018 Escape problems · 2019 Escape problems · 2020 Escape problems · 2021 Escape problems · 2022 Escape problems · 2023 Escape problems
The rest of the picture on the 2017 Ford Escape
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2017 Ford Escape said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 2,239 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2017 Ford Escape engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Ford Escape involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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,…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2017 Ford Escape? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2017 Ford Escape have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 2,239 of 2,687 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Escape concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (85%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Escape?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Ford Escape is engine: 1,573 of 2,687 complaints (59%) name it, followed by engine and engine cooling (508) and power train (391). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 85% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Escape years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Ford Escape?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Ford Escape involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 26V011000 (equipment: electrical: engine block heater), 22V413000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Escape years are better?
Among the Ford Escape years we track, the 2020 (26%), the 2021 (29%) and the 2022 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (85%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-escape
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.