NHTSA Complaint #11674172 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

Component/System Involved: Engine – Coolant Intrusion into Cylinder #4 Vehicle: 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost; mileage 47k. My 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine experienced engine misfires and sudden coolant loss. Upon inspection, it was confirmed by a Ford-authorized dealership (Koons Falls Church Ford, VA) that this is due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #4—a known defect with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine in many Ford models from similar years. This issue appeared on July 9, 2025. The issue began with a misfire warning and engine vibration around 47,000 miles. The Ford dealer diagnosed coolant entering the combustion chamber as the root cause, requiring engine replacement. The engine is available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a clear safety hazard, as coolant entering the cylinder can lead to engine stalling or complete failure while driving. The loss of power and unexpected misfire episodes posed a risk to me, my spouse, and our two children while driving. Ford Motor Company denied goodwill financial assistance, citing the vehicle’s age (>7 years), despite its low mileage (47k), excellent service history, and the well-documented design flaw. The defect is known to occur between 60K–100K miles across various Ford vehicles with the same engine type, yet no recall or consumer repair program has been issued. I am reporting this for safety and accountability reasons and urge NHTSA to investigate this issue further. No check engine light appeared until the misfire occurred, and there were no prior warnings of coolant loss.