The Lemon IndexThe engine computer sees misfires that move around between cylinders instead of staying in one. Full P0300 page
36 owner complaints · the #10 code Ford Escape owners name · 5% of Ford Escape complaints that name a code (every car: 2.9%)
Middle of 41,000 miles · most between 19,000 and 72,000 (6 owners gave it)
Ford Escape owners named P0300 in 36 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 model years, at a middle of 41,000 miles. The part they name most is the head gasket (19 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Escape model years that report P0300
Owner complaints naming P0300, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
41,000 miles is the middle of what 6 owners entered. Half were between 19,000 and 72,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the head gasket, in 19 of the 36 complaints (53%). 7 of those mention it being replaced or repaired. Next: engine (replaced or rebuilt) (14), spark plugs (7) and ignition coils (4).
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder19 complaints7 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine replaced or rebuilt14 complaints14 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Spark plugs7 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Ignition coils4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)3 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
6 complaints mention a recall and 6 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0300
72% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires67%24 of 36 complaints
- Overheats19%7 of 36 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off11%4 of 36 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults8%3 of 36 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode8%3 of 36 complaints
- Flashing check engine light6%2 of 36 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0300 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0301 21 P0304 21 P0316 19 P1299 13 P1285 12 P0217 12
Other codes named in the same Ford Escape complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Ford Escape head gasket replacement cost · Ford Escape engine replacement cost · Ford Escape spark plug replacement cost · Ford Escape ignition coil replacement cost · Ford Escape ECM (engine computer) replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford Escape years
- Engine · 2024 · issued 2025
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak. NHTSA 25V372000 - Engine · 2014 · issued 2017
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. NHTSA 17V209000
2 recalls for the same systems (engine) on the Ford Escape model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0300. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0300: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Escape reliability by year
- 2017 Ford Escape problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Escape owners report
P2111 P2112 P0302 P0303 B2278 P0316 P0301 P0304 P1299 P1450
P0300 on other cars
Chevrolet Silverado (19) · Ford Fusion (19) · Honda Accord (14) · Honda CR-V (14) · Kia Soul (14) · Ford Edge (13) · Chevrolet Tahoe (11) · Ford F-Series (10) · GMC Sierra (10)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0300 means
The engine computer sees misfires that move around between cylinders instead of staying in one. The engine may shake, stumble or feel down on power. If the check engine light flashes, the misfire is bad enough to overheat the catalytic converter: slow down and get it checked right away.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Worn spark plugs or ignition coils
- Vacuum leak
- Low fuel pressure or dirty injectors
- Engine mechanical problem (compression, valve timing)
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11770490, 11758082, 11743807, 11742688, 11741386, 11740983, 11740063, 11734956, 11731183, 11729229, 11710449, 11706981 and 24 more.
Quick answers
What does P0300 mean on a Ford Escape?
Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected. The engine computer sees misfires that move around between cylinders instead of staying in one. The engine may shake, stumble or feel down on power. If the check engine light flashes, the misfire is bad enough to overheat the catalytic converter: slow down and get it checked right away.
Which Ford Escape years have the most P0300 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2017 (17), 2018 (9), 2019 (7) Ford Escape named P0300 most (36 complaints in all, 2014–2024). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0300 on a Ford Escape?
Owners most often name the head gasket (19 of 36 complaints), then engine (replaced or rebuilt) and spark plugs. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0300 show up on a Ford Escape?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 41,000 miles; half were between 19,000 and 72,000 (6 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Escape with P0300?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0300 on the Ford Escape, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.