2017 Ford Escape: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 2,635 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
2,635
Complaints
4
Recalls
39
Crash reports
15
Fire reports
56
Injuries
26.3
Severity index
Severity index 26.3 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 136 2017 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2017 Ford Escape ranks 119 of 136 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 12% of its model-year peers. See the full 2017 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1,534 | 58.2% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 503 | 19.1% |
| POWER TRAIN | 384 | 14.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 152 | 5.8% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 150 | 5.7% |
| WHEELS | 76 | 2.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 71 | 2.7% |
| STRUCTURE | 62 | 2.4% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 1,534 of 2,635 complaints (58.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 50 |
| 2018 | 57 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| 2021 | 116 |
| 2022 | 237 |
| 2023 | 381 |
| 2024 | 710 |
| 2025 | 645 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 201 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 3.6x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V617000 | 24/08/2016 | VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 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 |
| 22V413000 | 10/06/2022 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 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. |
| 26V011000 | 15/01/2026 | 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. |
| 26V374000 | 09/06/2026 | 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 com |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.