The Lemon IndexAn overheating engine can be ruined in minutes. Pull over and turn it off.
Stop and get help. Stop driving. Let it cool before opening anything, and have it checked.
Low coolant from a leak. Then: a failed water pump; a stuck thermostat.
Owners describe this in 18,047 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Escape.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Ford Escape | 376 | 14% |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 296 | 11% |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 272 | 15% |
| 2014 Ford Escape | 250 | 12% |
| 2013 Ford Fusion | 145 | 7% |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 139 | 10% |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | 115 | 7% |
| 2018 Ford Edge | 92 | 11% |
| 2006 Honda Civic | 86 | 6% |
| 2017 Ford Fusion | 85 | 7% |
| 2018 Ford Fusion | 82 | 16% |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 71 | 6% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2018 Ford Fusion · 16% 2018 Ford Escape · 15% 2013 Ford Escape · 14% 2008 BMW X5 · 13% 2003 Toyota Highlander · 12% 2014 Ford Escape · 12% 2015 Chevrolet Cruze · 11% 2017 Ford Escape · 11%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of engine overheating
- Low coolant from a leak
- A failed water pump
- A stuck thermostat
- A cooling fan that doesn’t switch on
- A blown head gasket
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with an overheating engine?
Stop and get help. Stop driving. Let it cool before opening anything, and have it checked.
Get help right away if you notice it at all.
Of the 18,047 complaints describing it, 0.7% mention a crash, 4% say the car was towed, 6% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (37%), engine and engine cooling (33%), electrical system (17%), power train (16%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 79,383 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (5,079), Chevrolet (1,665), Jeep (1,040), Dodge (1,031), Honda (922).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine repairs): the middle half ran $1,200 to $7,000, typical $3,900, from 668 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P0302 P0303 P1299 P0301 P0304 P0420 P0316 P0217
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Coolant leak White smoke from exhaust Engine misfire Smoke from under the hood Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes engine overheating?
An overheating engine can be ruined in minutes. Pull over and turn it off. Common causes: low coolant from a leak; a failed water pump; a stuck thermostat; a cooling fan that doesn’t switch on; a blown head gasket.
Is it safe to drive with an overheating engine?
Stop and get help. Stop driving. Let it cool before opening anything, and have it checked.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion and Ford Focus. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 668 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,200 to $7,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup