Do you drive a 2017 Ford vehicle that has a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine in it? If so, there’s a decent chance that you might start to notice some of the common 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems. This type of engine has been known to leak coolant due to an alleged design defect, which can cause overheating, damage to different parts of the engine (pistons, cylinder head, etc.), vehicle misfires, and even engine fires!
Although the Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine was considered to be an upgrade from its predecessor, it’s clear that it’s not without its issues. It’s why you need to keep your eyes peeled for any of the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems that we just mentioned. You might need to have your engine repaired or potentially even replaced if any of the problems have an impact on you.
Today, we’re going to talk more about the Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine and the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems that come along with it. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about this engine and its various problems.
An Overview of the Ford 1.5-Liter EcoBoost Engine
The Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine was first introduced to the world way back in 2013. It made its big debut in the 2014 Ford Fusion before later popping up in other vehicles in the Ford lineup. And pretty much from the beginning, the engine earned rave reviews from those who test drove or owned vehicles with the engine in it.
A big part of the reason why the Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine was such a big hit initially was because it was seen as an upgrade over the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine that it replaced. That engine suffered from a series of cooling problems that held it back and forced people to take on expensive repairs. Those same problems weren’t found in the 1.5-liter version.
The Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine also had a lot of other things going for it. The inline four-cylinder gasoline turbocharged engine relied on direct fuel injection, and it also had many other features like:
- An aluminum cylinder block that paired up nicely with cast iron sleeves
- An open deck design that made it possible for the engine to stay cool
- A redesigned aluminum cylinder head that included a fully integrated exhaust manifold
- An exhaust and intake camshaft that were controlled by Ford's Twin independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT)
- And so much more!
Thanks to all of these great features, there weren’t very many 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems to report at first. The engine was seen both internally at Ford and externally out in the world as a giant upgrade over the previous engine that Ford was using.
The Vehicles With a 2017 Ford 1.5-Liter EcoBoost Engine
Does your 2017 Ford vehicle have a Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine in it? There is a pretty good chance that it does. Because of the popularity of the engine, Ford started to put the car into more than just Fusions in the years after its initial release. So you might have this engine in your car if you drive a:
- 2017 Ford Fusion
- 2017 Ford Escape
- 2017 Ford Edge
You’re going to want to be well aware of the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems if you happen to have any one of these vehicles. You could find yourself dealing with one or more of these problems before long if you’re not careful. And you’ll want to know what to do next if you ever encounter any issues with your engine.
The Most Common 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost Engine Problems
The 2017 Ford vehicles that we just mentioned haven’t been out on the road for very long. As a result, you’ll be happy to know that there aren’t too many 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems for us to report at this time.
But there is one major problem that seems to be affecting the owners of some Ford vehicles with 1.5-liter EcoBoost engines. It’s a problem that also affects some people who own Fords with 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines in them. People have alleged that these engines can start to leak coolant unexpectedly, which can lead to some very serious 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems. Here are some of those problems.
1. Overheating
One of the first things that you’re going to notice if and when your Ford vehicle starts leaking coolant is that your car will begin to overheat. You’ll look down at your dashboard and see that your car is way hotter than it should. It’s at that point that you should shut your car off immediately to prevent the problem from getting worse.
More often than not, you’re then going to pop your hood to find that your Ford doesn’t have enough coolant in it. This has become one of the most prevalent 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems. This engine has started to leak coolant in some cases, and it has caused people to have to put their overheating cars into park to risk doing further damage to them.
It has also caused people to have to continuously fill their cars up with coolant time and time again, even though this isn’t something that a vehicle owner should have to do often at all. If you’ve gotten into the habit of putting coolant into your car, it’s typically a clear-cut sign that you have a leak on your hands that will need to be fixed.
2. Damage to Pistons, Cylinder Heads, Etc.
As long as you turn your car off as soon as you possibly can when it starts to overheat, you shouldn’t have to worry about too much damage being done to it. But another one of the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems is that the overheating that takes place can result in damage being done to some of the key components in the engine.
When a Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine begins to overheat, it can eventually cause damage to everything from the pistons in the engine to the cylinder head. And if these parts are damaged, you could be looking at having to do some expensive repairs! Those parts are going to cost a pretty penny to replace. It’s why you should look out for 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems like overheating and address them ASAP.
3. Vehicle Misfires
If some of the parts in your Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine start to give out on you due to overheating under your hood, it’ll only be a matter of time before you begin to experience vehicle misfires. While misfires usually stem from bad spark plugs or a bad air-fuel mixture in your engine, they can also be caused by overheating in and around your engine.
Driving your Ford vehicle around with a misfiring engine is not a good idea. Your car isn’t going to sound very good when it’s misfiring, and you’re also going to put your entire engine at risk if you attempt to keep on using it. It’s yet another reason why you shouldn’t ignore 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems.
4. Smoke
If you suspect that you might be having 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems, go around to the back of your fire while it’s running and look at the smoke coming out of its tailpipe. Is your exhaust system sending smoke—or more specifically, blue smoke—out into the atmosphere? If so, you have a problem on your hands!
Blue smoke is never a good sign when it’s billowing out of your car’s exhaust system. It tends to mean that:
- Oil might be dripping onto your headers
- Oil might be mixing with fuel in your engine
- Oil might be dripping onto engine parts that are very hot
It might also mean that you have 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems that must be dealt with right away. There is clearly something amiss, and you shouldn’t wait a single second to get your car checked out.
5. Engine Fires
In an absolute worst-case scenario, the most serious 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems could result in a fire starting in your engine. Although a fire will often only break out if you turn a blind eye to the signs of a problem, there is also a chance a fire could start quickly in certain cases.
You should exit your vehicle right away if a fire ever breaks out in your engine and get as far away from your car as you can. You could put yourself and others into harm’s way if you don’t stand back from an engine fire.
An Investigation Into the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost Engine Problems
In 2020, a team of attorneys got together to launch a formal investigation into the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems that we just mentioned. They did after a slew of people came forward to say that they were experiencing coolant leaks in vehicles featuring 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines. These people reported having to deal with each of the problems that we just touched on.
That investigation alleged that there is a design defect in Ford’s EcoBoost engines, including the 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, that can result in coolant leaking from the engines. This design defect reportedly exists in the cylinder heads of the engines, which have grooves in them. The thought is that coolant can leak into the grooves in these cylinder heads and cause the seals in them to degrade to a point where they’re not able to stop coolant from leaking from cars. This results in all of the 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems we’ve talked about today.
As of right now, the formal investigation into Ford’s EcoBoost engines is over, but the lawsuits that have come out of it are just getting underway. It remains to be seen whether or not Ford will be responsible for paying for the repairs made to Fords with EcoBoost engines in them.
Other 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost Engine Problems
The coolant leaks that some Ford owners have experienced take the cake when it comes to 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems. But we should point out that there are a couple other less serious problems that should be on your radar.
One thing that some people have noticed about 2017 Fords with 1.5-liter EcoBoost engines in them is that they have fuel injectors in them that appear to clog up easier than they should. You might need to be ready to replace your fuel injectors ahead of schedule if you don’t use high-quality fuel in your car at all times.
You’re also going to need to make sure that you put high-quality oil into your Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine. All turbocharged engines call for the use of high-quality oil to keep them well-lubricated and cool. You might find yourself dealing with some big 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems if you use low-quality oil at any point.
Selling a Vehicle With 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost Engine Problems
If you have a 2017 Ford that has shown any signs of 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems, you should make sure you stay up-to-date on the lawsuits that have been filed regarding the leaking coolant issue. You might end up being entitled to collect cash for your car troubles.
You should also consider getting rid of your car if you don’t feel comfortable driving around in a Ford that exhibits signs of 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems. Cash Cars Buyer would be happy to take a car like this off your hands if you would like.
To sell a 2017 Ford to us, just let us know how many miles you’ve put onto your car and what kind of condition it’s in. We’ll respond by sending you an offer fast so that you can decide if selling your car is the right option for you right now.
Contact us to see just how easy it can be to sell a car with 2017 Ford 1.5 EcoBoost engine problems to us!