The Lemon Index

All cars · Ford Escape · 2017

2017 Ford Escape. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index106100 = average car
Complaints345NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold308,296U.S. model year
Per 100K sold112complaints
Year rank#11 of 22#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)FWD23 / 30 / 26Regular$2,400
1.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD22 / 28 / 24Regular$2,600
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)FWD22 / 29 / 25Regular$2,500
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD20 / 27 / 23Regular$2,700
2.5L 4-cylAuto (S6)FWD21 / 29 / 24Regular$2,600

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 45,000 and 97,000 miles. Median 70,000, from 1,158 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine70,00048,000–97,000417
Engine82,10063,500–105,000474
Transmission & drivetrain75,50048,500–107,000157
Electrical37,10018,800–69,30085
Wheels43,20024,500–68,50034

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine43%
Electrical19%
Transmission & drivetrain14%
Body structure8%
Brakes6%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
2,7003915380234

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 26V374000 Jun 2026 Visibility / Power Window Devices And Controls

    Defect. 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."

    Risk. 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 Jan 2026 Equipment / Electrical / Engine Block Heater

    Defect. 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.

    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

  • 22V413000 Jun 2022 Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

    Defect. 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 '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 1-866-436-73

  • 16V617000 Aug 2016 Visibility / Power Window Devices And Controls

    Defect. 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."

    Risk. 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.

Manufacturer communications 249

Ford filed 249 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Some 2017 escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5l gasoline turbocharged direct injection (gtdi)…
  • 2017 escape - emtc - ford original accessory/factory invoiced accessory (fia) remote start -…
  • Timing belt saw or chirp type noise

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Ford Escape SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Ford Escape SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

YouTube repair topics

100 videos about the 2013–2019 Ford Escape, 19.1M views.

TopicVideosViews
Infotainment, battery & electrical71.6M
Transmission & shifter61.5M
Heat, A/C & blend door61.2M
Gauges, lights & wiring4900K
Cooling system3624K
Brakes & ABS3537K
Steering & suspension4407K
Windows, doors & mirrors2259K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2014107358306,212Engine
201557173306,492Engine
201674226307,069Transmission & drivetrain
2017106345308,296Engine
201857165272,228Engine
201945114241,388Engine
2020495876178,496Body structure

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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