Ford goes back to the 2017 Escape: the old window can still pinch a finger

© A. Krivonosov

Ford is once again recalling the 2017 Escape over its power windows. The issue sounds mundane but unpleasant: the glass can close with more force than regulations allow, which raises the risk of injury if fingers get caught in the opening.

The recall covers 18,124 vehicles. What's most frustrating for owners isn't a new failure but an old defect that Ford already tried to fix back in the fall of 2016. The automaker released a software update at the time, but it now turns out that the earlier repair wasn't sufficient.

According to NHTSA data reviewed by SPEEDME, the glass still automatically retracts when it meets an obstacle, but the problem lies in the force with which it first presses on an object or hand. As a result, the vehicle fails to meet federal standard FMVSS 118, which governs power-operated window systems. Ford says it is aware of no crashes or injuries linked to the defect, but there are no warning signs that the system is faulty.

The fix is straightforward: dealers will update the power window control software free of charge. Owner letters will go out between July 6 and July 10, 2026, under Ford campaign number 26C29. Until the repair is done, it's sensible to engage the window lockout, especially with kids in the back.

For the used Escape market this is a minor but telling episode. A ten-year-old SUV may be mechanically fine, but open recalls still affect both trust and resale value. Anyone shopping for one of these crossovers should check the VIN not only for crashes and mileage, but also for completed campaigns: a free dealer reflash beats a surprise after the purchase.

Ford's loss here isn't the cost of the repair but its reputation for how thoroughly it fixes things. When the same defect comes back years later, owners start questioning not the window switch itself, but how decisively the brand actually closes out its problems.