Complaint 2215258

Complaint Summary

ENGINE

Owner Narrative

My 2018 Ford Escape developed a severe engine problem at fewer than 30,000 miles. The Check Engine Light illuminated and diagnostic trouble code P0302 (cylinder #2 misfire) was present. The vehicle was also losing coolant without any visible external leak, and white smoke was observed from the exhaust. The engine now misfires so severely that I do not consider the vehicle safe to operate. The vehicle has not been driven for more than 60 days because of concerns about further engine damage and safety. Due to the severity of the misfire, the vehicle cannot safely accelerate or reach normal traffic speeds. The symptoms are consistent with coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, where coolant enters the combustion chamber through an internal engine defect. The combination of coolant loss, cylinder #2 misfire, and white exhaust smoke indicates an internal engine failure rather than a routine maintenance issue. This condition occurred at under 30,000 miles and has effectively rendered the vehicle unusable. The potential for loss of power, inability to accelerate with traffic, and possible engine failure while driving creates a significant safety concern. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this may be related to a broader defect pattern involving coolant intrusion in certain Ford EcoBoost engines and because the condition creates a risk of loss of power during vehicle operation.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.