The Lemon IndexOn Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating.
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
Low coolant or a leak. Then: failed thermostat or water pump; cooling fan problem.
Owners named P1285 in 39 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Escape.
Models that report it most
Complaints that name P1285, by model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints. Tap a model for its years, mileage and what owners say fixed it.
P1285 by model: P1285 Ford Escape (16) · P1285 Ford Edge (10)
Years owners report it on most: 2017 Ford Escape · 2017 Ford Edge · 2018 Ford Edge · 2018 Ford Escape · 2019 Ford Escape · 2018 Ford Fusion
The details
What P1285 means
On Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating. Stop and let it cool before driving on.
This meaning applies to Ford, Lincoln, Mercury. On other makes P1285 can mean something different.
Can I drive with P1285?
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
59% of the owner complaints that name P1285 also say the car shakes, runs rough or misfires. A complaint can describe more than one problem, so this doesn't prove the code caused it.
Common causes of P1285
- Low coolant or a leak
- Failed thermostat or water pump
- Cooling fan problem
- Faulty head temperature sensor
A shop should confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
What owners describe
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires: 59% of complaints
- Overheats: 36% of complaints
- Stalls or shuts off: 13% of complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode: 5% of complaints
Share of complaints naming the code whose text also mentions each problem.
Model years that report P1285 most
2017 Ford Escape (8), 2017 Ford Edge (6), 2018 Ford Edge (4), 2018 Ford Escape (4), 2019 Ford Escape (3), 2018 Ford Fusion (2).
Related codes
Quick answers
What does P1285 mean?
Cylinder Head Overtemperature Sensed. On Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating. Stop and let it cool before driving on.
Can I drive with P1285?
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
What causes P1285?
Low coolant or a leak; Failed thermostat or water pump; Cooling fan problem; Faulty head temperature sensor.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text names P1285. A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis. Meanings: the standard SAE J2012 definitions in our own words; manufacturer codes only where verified for that make. General information, not repair advice for your car.