BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2017-FORESC-7581

2017 Ford EscapeProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 3,314 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
3,314
Crashes
52
Fires
23
Recalls
4
TSBs
249
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 3,314 complaints, 52 crashes, 23 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 6.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

transmission failure

25 complaints • Severity 9.5/10

$X,XXX
2

coolant leaking into the cylinders

22 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
3

paint loss chips

16 complaints • Severity 6.8/10

$X,XXX
4

check engine light on

12 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
5

coolant leaking into engine

10 complaints • Severity 9.6/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

2071 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 70K miles.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

260
0–30K
293
30–60K
441
60–90K
270
90–120K
124
120–150K
41
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (441 reports) • Median: 70K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (2071 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine2071 (62%)
Drivetrain374 (11%)
Other155 (5%)
Electrical148 (4%)
Fuel System87 (3%)
Wheels & Tires59 (2%)
Structure:body53 (2%)
Brakes50 (2%)

2017 Ford Escape: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 62% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Escape, with 2071 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 70K-mile mark.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Escape, with 374 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Escape, with 148 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Escape, with 87 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
16
65
17
85
18
161
19
153
20
128
21
293
22
490
23
869
24
760
25
308
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Ford Escape. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (4 recalls)

16V617000Sep 2016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

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."

22V413000Oct 2022

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

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.

26V011000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

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.

26V374000Jul 2026

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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."

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2017 Ford Escape NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Ford Escape is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2017 Ford Escape vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

3,314

Class avg

548

6.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 3,314 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford Escape Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000
View all Ford Escape years →

2017 Ford Escape: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Ford Escape is related to the engine, with 2071 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2017 Ford Escape has 3,314 complaints, 52 crash reports, and 23 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 6.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2017 Ford Escape?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Ford Escape problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Ford Escape has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Escape problems start?
Based on 1429 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Ford Escape data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2017 Ford Escape Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 3,314 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees