[Sean Brantley]

Hello.

So, I am new here. Hi.

I have a befuddling problem. I just bought a used 2017 Ford Escape. Great vehicle. Except one thing. It randomly starts by itself.

I do not have a remote start. But several times now, I have walked outside and my Escape has been running on it's own. No warnings on the dash. Nothing. Everything is totally normal.

I have come out of the gas station and the vehicle has been started when I have come out. I have had the keys in my hand. And like I said. No remote start on the vehicle.

My neighbors have told me they've come out early in the morning and my vehicle has been running.

I just walked out there right now... It's 70 degrees. Sunny. Keys are in my hand. The vehicle is running... I have taken it to the dealer. They have told me that they need to replicate the problem. They can't. They have had it for days. I have a warranty on it that basically covers everything.

There is no way for me to start this vehicle without the keys. And since they are currently in my hand, I have no idea how this vehicle is running. I mean, it's in my driveway...

Am I in the Twilight Zone? Should I be worried about this thing just taking off on me on it's own? Am I about to experience Terminator: Rise of the Machines?

If anyone has any advice for me, please. Let me know. Maybe you can know something that the mechanics apparently don't.

P.S. I have seen a couple of people online with this issue. No one seems to have answers for them either, but it seems like this is something with Ford Escapes. So if I am not the only one, shouldn't there be a recall? (I checked, by the way. No recalls.)

Thanks in advance for the help, everyone

 

[bangster]

What model is it, and what version of SYNC do you have (4.2 inch small screen or 8 inch large screen)? If it has FordPass, you should do a FordPass/Connect reset, to me it sounds like either the previous owner is messing with you, or they had timed starts and they are still happening.

If you are in the car, with it running and in park, in the SYNC 3 main screen go to Settings>General>Reset>Ford Pass/Connect Reset>Reset All.

If you have setup Ford Pass already you might have to go through that again (and it might be you or an authorized FordPass instance doing it?).

 

[Sean Brantley]

What model is it, and what version of SYNC do you have (4.2 inch small screen or 8 inch large screen)? If it has FordPass, you should do a FordPass/Connect reset, to me it sounds like either the previous owner is messing with you, or they had timed starts and they are still happening.

If you are in the car, with it running and in park, in the SYNC 3 main screen go to Settings>General>Reset>Ford Pass/Connect Reset>Reset All.

If you have setup Ford Pass already you might have to go through that again (and it might be you or an authorized FordPass instance doing it?).

 

[Sean Brantley]

I have the small 4.2 screen. It's a SE.

I don't have Ford Pass set up on it, but I am starting to wonder if it could be a timed start? I have no idea how to set that up. I didn't even know it was possible without a remote start. But ever since I bought it, it seems like the gas mileage isn't what it should be. I put gas in yesterday and filled it. Today it's at a half tank. I mean, I have a driving job, but I don't remember it being that low when I parked it last night.

 

[bangster]

I am sure someone that has looked at it up to this point would have seen an aftermarket remote start, many of those use 3 presses of the Lock button on the factory IKT (key with the remote buttons on the head) to start remotely. The dealer installed remote start has a separate fob.

I also thought that you could add on SyncConnect, I got fliers for it for my 2015 Fusion (which also has the 4.2 inch screen, SYNC 1.1). But that would be plugged into the OBD port and pretty obvious if I remember correctly.

 

[Sean Brantley]

I am sure someone that has looked at it up to this point would have seen an aftermarket remote start, many of those use 3 presses of the Lock button on the factory IKT (key with the remote buttons on the head) to start remotely. The dealer installed remote start has a separate fob.

I also thought that you could add on SyncConnect, I got fliers for it for my 2015 Fusion (which also has the 4.2 inch screen, SYNC 1.1). But that would be plugged into the OBD port and pretty obvious if I remember correctly.

 

[Sean Brantley]

I don't think mine has that. I mean, it does it while I am sleeping. My keys are in the kitchen. I'm in the bedroom. And my upstairs neighbor has seen it started early in the morning. She's actually texted me to tell me on two separate occasions. I think the Ford Pass and the scheduled starts is probably the more likely solution. I didn't know that was a thing, but it's a a place to begin at least. I'll take it to the dealer tomorrow and see if it has Ford Pass on it from the previous owner or something, because I don't have that.

And then maybe he'll do a full reset or something on it. Hopefully that works. If not, maybe I'll chalk it up to the Rise of the Machines. 😂

 

[Charles]

And then maybe he'll do a full reset or something on it. Hopefully that works. If not, maybe I'll chalk it up to the Rise of the Machines. 😂

 

[SCOOTER]

I would look into the Stop/Start button. That's my First target. Grounded wirings? Or the button itself?
Second target is the car remote start feature. I think this car is equipped with that feature without you knowing it. Did you bought it new?
Third target is the AutoStart/Auto Shut off feature. Again check for grounded wirings.

 

[dwightbresemann]

Hello.

So, I am new here. Hi.

I have a befuddling problem. I just bought a used 2017 Ford Escape. Great vehicle. Except one thing. It randomly starts by itself.

I do not have a remote start. But several times now, I have walked outside and my Escape has been running on it's own. No warnings on the dash. Nothing. Everything is totally normal.

I have come out of the gas station and the vehicle has been started when I have come out. I have had the keys in my hand. And like I said. No remote start on the vehicle.

My neighbors have told me they've come out early in the morning and my vehicle has been running.

I just walked out there right now... It's 70 degrees. Sunny. Keys are in my hand. The vehicle is running... I have taken it to the dealer. They have told me that they need to replicate the problem. They can't. They have had it for days. I have a warranty on it that basically covers everything.

There is no way for me to start this vehicle without the keys. And since they are currently in my hand, I have no idea how this vehicle is running. I mean, it's in my driveway...

Am I in the Twilight Zone? Should I be worried about this thing just taking off on me on it's own? Am I about to experience Terminator: Rise of the Machines?

If anyone has any advice for me, please. Let me know. Maybe you can know something that the mechanics apparently don't.

P.S. I have seen a couple of people online with this issue. No one seems to have answers for them either, but it seems like this is something with Ford Escapes. So if I am not the only one, shouldn't there be a recall? (I checked, by the way. No recalls.)

Thanks in advance for the help, everyone

I find it hard to believe this vehicle starts on its own without a remote start module somewhere in the wiring harness. If the start/stop button had failed, it won't defeat the immobilizer. If the FOB in not in the vehicle, it can not start.

The next time the vehicle starts on its own, try driving it without the FOB. If the vehicle shuts off, you have a remote start, and it may be starting to fail.

 

[bangster]

SE doesn't have "Push to Start" or Intelligent Access.

When I remote start mine, the message center in the middle of the dash says it is remote started.

 

[dwightbresemann]

All true, but the vehicle still has an immobilizer. Even with a failing ignition switch, could not override the anti-theft feature.

 

[dwightbresemann]

A customer came today with an aftermarket remote start system installed on their late model Ford. Similar to this, 2017 - 19 FORD ESCAPE 100% PLUG & PLAY REMOTE START WITH CELL APP + 1YR SERVICE | eBay

Try pressing the lock button on the factory remote 3 times and see if starts.

 

[davez26]

Some of those aftermarket remote starts work with lock-unlock-lock as well.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[dmc68]

Hello.

So, I am new here. Hi.

I have a befuddling problem. I just bought a used 2017 Ford Escape. Great vehicle. Except one thing. It randomly starts by itself.

I do not have a remote start. But several times now, I have walked outside and my Escape has been running on it's own. No warnings on the dash. Nothing. Everything is totally normal.

I have come out of the gas station and the vehicle has been started when I have come out. I have had the keys in my hand. And like I said. No remote start on the vehicle.

My neighbors have told me they've come out early in the morning and my vehicle has been running.

I just walked out there right now... It's 70 degrees. Sunny. Keys are in my hand. The vehicle is running... I have taken it to the dealer. They have told me that they need to replicate the problem. They can't. They have had it for days. I have a warranty on it that basically covers everything.

There is no way for me to start this vehicle without the keys. And since they are currently in my hand, I have no idea how this vehicle is running. I mean, it's in my driveway...

Am I in the Twilight Zone? Should I be worried about this thing just taking off on me on it's own? Am I about to experience Terminator: Rise of the Machines?

If anyone has any advice for me, please. Let me know. Maybe you can know something that the mechanics apparently don't.

P.S. I have seen a couple of people online with this issue. No one seems to have answers for them either, but it seems like this is something with Ford Escapes. So if I am not the only one, shouldn't there be a recall? (I checked, by the way. No recalls.)

Thanks in advance for the help, everyone

Wow! Thanks for posting this! I thought I was losing my mind! I got on the computer and found your question tonight when I googled, determined to find something about this! I bought my 2018 Ford Escape 3 weeks ago. The first week I stopped at the store, locked my car, and when I came out I found my car running! I asked the service department about it the next day and they had never heard of that before with no auto start. Well, today I got home, locked my car and heard 1 beep. For some reason I hit the lock again 2 or 3 times hearing the beeps and then heard the car start! When I got in the car, I stepped on the break, the car turned off. I made a video to take to the dealer just so they can see what was happening. I got out and locked again, then pressed lock couple times and it started again! Unlocked, got back in, stepped on break and it stopped! It seems to start when I press the lock multiple times. Somehow beeping started the second time inside the car and then the alarm went off. Took me a minute to figure out how to turn the darn alarm off! I'm sure my neighbors were not thrilled. 😂 By the way, I do remember pressing the lock couple times at the store that first time it happened also. I will take to dealer tomorrow, hoping it will do it again there, now that I know it happens with the multiple lock presses, and also showing the video to the service department so they know I am not crazy!

 

[dmc68]

Wow! Thanks for posting this! I thought I was losing my mind! I got on the computer and found your question tonight when I googled, determined to find something about this! I bought my 2018 Ford Escape 3 weeks ago. The first week I stopped at the store, locked my car, and when I came out I found my car running! I asked the service department about it the next day and they had never heard of that before with no auto start. Well, today I got home, locked my car and heard 1 beep. For some reason I hit the lock again 2 or 3 times hearing the beeps and then heard the car start! When I got in the car, I stepped on the break, the car turned off. I made a video to take to the dealer just so they can see what was happening. I got out and locked again, then pressed lock couple times and it started again! Unlocked, got back in, stepped on break and it stopped! It seems to start when I press the lock multiple times. Somehow beeping started the second time inside the car and then the alarm went off. Took me a minute to figure out how to turn the darn alarm off! I'm sure my neighbors were not thrilled. 😂 By the way, I do remember pressing the lock couple times at the store that first time it happened also. I will take to dealer tomorrow, hoping it will do it again there, now that I know it happens with the multiple lock presses, and also showing the video to the service department so they know I am not crazy!

Found this video after I posted --shows the 3 presses on the lock! plug and play remote start - Google Search

 

[dmc68]

Found this video after I posted --shows the 3 presses on the lock! plug and play remote start - Google Search

opps! this is the link to the video

 

[dwightbresemann]

Change the battery in the remote, and while the remote (FOB) is apart, clean the button contacts.

 

[bangster]

Change the battery in the remote, and while the remote (FOB) is apart, clean the button contacts.

If it is the OEM IKT, you can't get to the switch side, it is sonically welded, you can only get to the battery side of it.