Fix My EcoBoost

Some Ford EcoBoost engines can fail from coolant intrusion. Ford's repair program has limits.

Owners of Escape, Fusion and Edge vehicles report engine failures from coolant intrusion. Ford's repair program ends at 7 years or 84,000 miles, and owners report failures after that.

Check if you're affected Share your story

What is coolant intrusion?

In engines named in the litigation and Ford's repair program, coolant leaks internally into the cylinders. Early signs include misfires, a check engine light, rough running, white exhaust smoke, or a coolant level that keeps dropping with no visible leak. Left alone, it can lead to engine failure.

The usual repair is a short block or engine replacement. When it is not covered, owners report paying $7,000 to $10,000 or more. One 2017 Escape owner in Massachusetts was quoted $9,400 for an engine replacement and later paid more than $7,000 for a used engine at an independent shop.

Source: WCVB NewsCenter 5, January 27, 2025

Am I affected?

2017 to 2019 Escape 1.5L and Fusion 1.5L

Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. Ford provides one free short block replacement for coolant intrusion within 7 years or 84,000 miles of the warranty start date, whichever comes first. The program requires the 19B37 software update.

Covered build windows: Escape built at Louisville from September 17, 2015 through April 8, 2019; Fusion built at Flat Rock from October 1 through October 16, 2015, or at Hermosillo from October 6, 2015 through June 10, 2019. Coverage is by VIN; check yours to confirm.

Myth: "21N12 expired in November 2022." Not for most owners. The November 30, 2022 date in Ford's bulletin applied only to vehicles that were already past 7 years or 84,000 miles when the program launched in June 2022 (and to the refund offer for repairs paid before the owner letter). For everyone else, coverage runs 7 years or 84,000 miles from your own warranty start date. Note that 21N12 is only available once the 19B37 software update has been completed. Ford's bulletin listed November 30, 2022 as the end date for 19B37 itself (regardless of mileage), so if 19B37 was never done, ask the dealer how that affects you. Always confirm eligibility by VIN with a Ford dealer.

Source: Ford program bulletin 21N12 (NHTSA)

1.6L EcoBoost: 2014 Escape, 2013 to 2014 Fusion

Safety recall 17V-209 (Ford 17S09) covers 1.6L engines that may overheat locally at the cylinder head, which can cause underhood fires. It also covers the 2014 to 2015 Fiesta ST and 2013 to 2015 Transit Connect. Other 1.6L Escapes (through 2016) are part of the class claims in the litigation below but are not covered by this recall.

Source: NHTSA Part 573 Recall Report 17V-209

Check your VIN

Your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is on the lower driver's side of the windshield, on the driver's door jamb sticker, and on your registration and insurance card.

  1. Enter it at Ford's recall lookup to see open recalls and customer satisfaction programs.
  2. Also check NHTSA's recall lookup. Note: NHTSA shows safety recalls; customer satisfaction programs like 21N12 may only appear on Ford's site.

The numbers

The figures below come from public filings in Miller v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2:20-cv-01796 (E.D. Cal.). They are expert projections based on Ford warranty data, offered in litigation. They are not findings by the court, and Ford disputes the plaintiffs' claims.

~11%projected failure rate for 2017 to 2019 Escape 1.5L by 5 years in service (plaintiffs' warranty expert)
23 to 27%projected failure rate for the same engines by 10 years (plaintiffs' warranty expert)
~0.12%10-year figure for 2017 to 2019 Escapes with other engines, 0.12% to 0.13% (plaintiffs' warranty expert)
25 to 34%projected failure rate for Edge 2.0L by 10 years (plaintiffs' warranty expert)

Ford's engineering expert, Dr. Lillo, writes that Ford's warranty expert, Dr. Lennox, estimates the 1.6L engine's warranty replacement rate at about 1%, which is 5 to 10 times lower than the 1.5L engine's (Dkt. 200-3, para. 71).

Sources: Expert report of Dr. Wachs for plaintiffs (ECF 169-19, see paras. 76 and 77); Expert rebuttal report of Dr. Lillo for Ford (ECF 200-3, para. 71), via CourtListener.

A hearing on class certification and related motions (partial summary judgment and motions to exclude experts) is set for November 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM (minute order, Dkt. 204, September 15, 2026). This site is not part of that case and does not represent any party.

What to do

  1. Check your VIN

    Use Ford's lookup and NHTSA's lookup.

  2. If the program is still open, get it done now

    Ask a Ford dealer to perform any open updates (such as 19B37) and to inspect for coolant intrusion. Coverage ends on a fixed time and mileage limit.

  3. If you were denied or your coverage expired, open a case

    Call the Ford Customer Relationship Center at 800-392-3673. Get a case number. Ask for a Regional Field Service Manager review and goodwill assistance. Follow up in writing.

  4. Get your service history

    Ask your selling dealer and any servicing dealers for complete service records, including coolant top-offs and misfire diagnoses.

  5. File an NHTSA complaint

    File at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. NHTSA reviews owner complaints to identify safety defect trends and decide whether to open or expand investigations. Each detailed complaint adds to the public record.

  6. Keep records

    Save repair orders, estimates, receipts, case numbers, names, dates, and photos of warning lights.

Download goodwill letter template Download call script

Our ask

To Ford:

  • Extend Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, and equivalent coverage for other engines named in the litigation, for coolant intrusion to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
  • Reimburse owners who paid out of pocket for coolant intrusion repairs.

To NHTSA:

  • Open an investigation into coolant intrusion in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine.

Join the petition to NHTSA

We are preparing a group defect petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under 49 CFR Part 552. Any person can ask NHTSA to open a defect investigation. Our petition will ask NHTSA to investigate coolant intrusion in Ford 1.5L EcoBoost engines in 2017 to 2019 Ford Escape and 2014 to 2019 Ford Fusion vehicles.

Owners who join become co-petitioners. Please know before you join:

  • Your name and mailing address will be included in the filing. Petitions filed with NHTSA become public government records.
  • Your email is never included. Your story and VIN are included only if you check the separate optional box to include them.
  • Joining does not affect any rights you may have in a lawsuit, including the pending class action. It is not a lawsuit and costs nothing.
  • NHTSA decides whether to grant or deny a petition. There is no guarantee of an investigation or recall.
  • This is not legal advice.

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