The Lemon IndexOn Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating. Full P1285 page
16 owner complaints · one of 245 codes Ford Escape owners name · 2% of Ford Escape complaints that name a code (every car: 0.3%)
2017–2024 Ford Escape · most: 2017 (8), 2018 (4), 2019 (3)
Ford Escape owners named P1285 in 16 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 model years. The part they name most is the head gasket (12 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Escape model years that report P1285
Owner complaints naming P1285, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the head gasket, in 12 of the 16 complaints (75%). 3 of those mention it being replaced or repaired. Next: engine (replaced or rebuilt) (8) and engine computer (ECM / PCM) (2).
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder12 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine replaced or rebuilt8 complaints8 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)2 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
3 complaints mention a recall.
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 P1285
69% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires44%7 of 16 complaints
- Overheats12%2 of 16 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off12%2 of 16 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P1285 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0316 14 P1299 14 P0217 13 P0304 12 P0301 12 P0300 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 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
1 recall for the same systems (engine) on the Ford Escape model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P1285. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P1285: 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 P0300
P1285 on other cars
Ford Edge (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 P1285 means
On Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating. Stop and let it cool before driving on.
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
- Failed thermostat or water pump
- Cooling fan problem
- Faulty head temperature sensor
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11758082, 11735003, 11706940, 11661007, 11629319, 11624840, 11622624, 11611342, 11593619, 11569516, 11565576, 11561937 and 4 more.
Quick answers
What does P1285 mean on a Ford Escape?
Cylinder Head Overtemperature Sensed. On Fords, the cylinder head temperature sensor saw the engine overheating. Stop and let it cool before driving on.
Which Ford Escape years have the most P1285 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2017 (8), 2018 (4), 2019 (3) Ford Escape named P1285 most (16 complaints in all, 2017–2024). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P1285 on a Ford Escape?
Owners most often name the head gasket (12 of 16 complaints), then engine (replaced or rebuilt) and engine computer (ECM / PCM). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
Can I drive my Ford Escape with P1285?
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P1285 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.