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P1285 Powertrain · manufacturer code

P1285 fault code: what 37 Ford owners reported

P1285 is a manufacturer-specific powertrain code (engine, transmission, fuel and emissions), so its exact definition belongs to the carmaker and is not in the generic OBD-II list. What it meant in practice is below, from 37 complaints owners filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.

  • 37owner reports
  • 6car models
  • 0mention a crash
  • 0mention a fire
  • 2012–2024model years

Which cars get code P1285?

Every model whose owners mentioned P1285 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.

Where does P1285 show up?

By brand

  • Ford37

Component the owner filed it under

  1. Engine35 (94.6%)
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling2 (5.4%)
  3. Power Train2 (5.4%)
  4. Electrical System2 (5.4%)
  5. Vehicle Speed Control1 (2.7%)

Is there a recall for P1285?

The others concern the component owners file this code under (Engine) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Engine Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak. NHTSA campaign 25V372000 · June 3, 2025 · Affected cars

2024 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Oil/Lubrication Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak. NHTSA campaign 22V191000 · March 25, 2022 · Affected cars

2022 Ford Bronco Sport. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Engine Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block… NHTSA campaign 19V278000 · April 8, 2019 · Affected cars

2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Engine Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing… NHTSA campaign 18V894000 · December 18, 2018 · Affected cars

2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

What happened when owners saw P1285?

10 of the 37 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.

2018 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the long block engine assembly. THis is a known issue with a Techinal service bulletin issued on 6/9/2022. My car has only 87,000 miles on it and will need a new motor because coolant is leaking into the piston and causing a…
2018 Ford EscapeEngineNHTSA complaint 11758082 · Aug 19, 2026
My 2018 Ford Edge Titanium (2.0L EcoBoost) is experiencing internal engine coolant intrusion - the defect described in Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229 (June 10, 2022), which covers 2015-2018 Ford Edge 2.0L EcoBoost vehicles for coolant leaking into the engine cylinders. The engine loses motive power without warning: it revs but the vehicle barely accelerates, including at road speed - a sudden loss-of-power hazard in traffic. Symptoms began approximately 09/08/2026. The check-engine light is illuminated with diagnostic codes P0300, P0302, P0303 (engine misfires, cylinders 2 and 3), P0316 (misfire on startup), P0217, P1285, P1299 (overheating - the computer has entered cylinder-head…
2018 Ford EdgeEngineNHTSA complaint 11767714 · Sep 29, 2026
Coolant intrusion into cylinder 1, low coolant and Engine DTC P0301. Multiple TSB's by Ford recommend engine replacement as a remedy for the Cylinder head - open deck cooling problem. Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 addresses this problem in similar cars/engines. Has this been expanded to cover this vehicle with the same 2.0L engine? From Ford TSB 19-2346 "Issue: Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217…
2016 Ford FusionEngineNHTSA complaint 11672866 · Jul 11, 2025
Recurring Safety Defect: Powertrain Cooling System Failure causing Engine Overheating, Coolant Intrusion, and Loss of Motive Power. The vehicle has experienced three catastrophic cooling system failures within a 9-month period, posing a crash and fire risk. Incident 1 (February 2025): Water pump failure caused significant coolant loss. Diagnosed and repaired by authorized dealer under warranty. Incident 2 (June 2025): Vehicle leaked coolant and emitted visible smoke and burning odors from the exhaust. Dealer diagnosed internal turbocharger failure resulting in coolant intrusion into the engine and exhaust system. The catalytic converter was damaged by coolant burn-off and required…
2022 Ford Bronco SportEngineNHTSA complaint 11703132 · Dec 4, 2025
On 10/13/2026, driving about 25 mph on a city street, my truck entered failsafe with no prior warning lamps or symptoms. The PCM cut most engine power, leaving no acceleration, and set P1285 (CHT Overtemp Sensed) and P1299 (CHT Overtemp Protection Active). The engine was not overheating; a $40 CHT sensor fixed it. Evidence: I watched live data on an Autel MaxiCheck MX808S-TS while driving during the events. CHT dropped to implausibly low values for brief moments, then immediately returned to normal values matching coolant temp. Coolant temp stayed normal throughout. Failsafe triggered on these momentary dropouts, never on an actual high reading. The PCM logic is unsafe: 1. A low-reading…
2017 Ford F-150Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control, EngineNHTSA complaint 11771529 · Oct 15, 2026
Left for work. Started running funny, stalled-started-stalled-started on my street. Got on highway about 1/2 mile, check engine light & engine temp light came on. Got off highway and called a tow to SARASOTA FORD. Tech ran diag. for codes, codes found.: P1285( cylinder head over temp ), P0316(engine misfire ), P0304( cylinder 4 misfire ), P0303(cylinder 3 misfire ), P0302( cylinder 2 misfire ), P217( engine coolant over temp ),.. Tech removed spark plugs and saw coolant in cylinder's ( 2,3,4 ) with a bore scope. Ongoing problem I found out about after the fact with the ( 2015-2019, 2.3L EcoBoost .. "ECO-BOOM" motor ). Specifically between cylinder's 2 & 3... Was quoted a repair cost of over…
2019 Ford MustangEngineNHTSA complaint 11739704 · May 23, 2026
I am reporting a potential safety-related engine defect on my 2017 Ford Escape 1.5L EcoBoost. The vehicle has a history of repeated coolant loss and white smoke, followed by engine failure/no-start. The trouble codes later provided by the dealer included P1285 and P1299, which are related to engine over-temperature protection/thermal event concerns. The local Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle as “out of time” and recommended a major timing/engine repair path. However, after repeated written questions, the dealer confirmed that my prior history of repeated coolant loss and white smoke was not taken into account as part of the current diagnosis. I am concerned that the vehicle should have been…
2017 Ford EscapeEngineNHTSA complaint 11735003 · Apr 30, 2026
The component that has failed is the engine. It is available upon request to be inspected. I believe the safety issue lies in that the motor overheats and is possibly a fire risk. I have had my car engine inspected by an ASE mechanic and confirmed engine block needs replaced. The car was determined to have an issue by engine check light. Needed to constantly replace Coolant, was found to be leaking into cylinders. According to report from ASE mechanic, date of issue on report June 09, 2022 2015-2018 FORD EDGE, FORD FUSION and MKC listed on TSB. ISSUE SUMMARY, Some 2015-2018 EDGE and 2017-2019 FUSION/MKZ/ESCAPE/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0 l EcoBoost engine may exhibit low coolant level…
2017 Ford EdgeEngineNHTSA complaint 11578312 · Mar 19, 2024
Our 1.5 EcoBoost engine overheated on 3/20/25, my daughter was driving and the vehicle started shaking and it slowed way down, for a moment she feared for her life, she said it had a message and the check engine symbol was illuminated and the vehicle would not accelerate, when she got it was leaking coolant and white smoke, I took my OBDII scanner, one code was P1299 Cylinder Over temp Protection Active, it now emits white smoke and overheats and looses fluid. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 1.5L EcoBoost - Low Coolant, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL - Built On Or Before 10-Jun-2019 20- 2100 01 April 2020 This bulletin supersedes 19-2375. Reason for update: Replace Awareness/Interim…
2016 Ford FusionElectrical System, Unknown Or Other, EngineNHTSA complaint 11649929 · Mar 22, 2025
Got a dash warning that car was over temperature or something to that effect and had to pull over on a two-lane highway(uphill). This was unsafe because I had to get over to the shoulder as soon as possible and avoid traffic. Vehicle is scheduled to be serviced at my ford dealer but have no outcome yet. I did later on check car with my OBD2 reader and saw a P1285 code which meant the cylinder head was over temperature. Upon further research it appears issue is known by ford and needs to be addressed by SSM 52219 which says head may have metal shavings in it and may need to be replaced.
2024 Ford EscapeEngineNHTSA complaint 11706940 · Dec 24, 2025

P1285: questions drivers ask

What does code P1285 mean?

P1285 is a manufacturer-specific powertrain code (engine, transmission, fuel and emissions), so its exact definition depends on the carmaker and is not in the generic OBD-II list. 37 owners reported it to NHTSA, most often for the Ford Escape (16), Ford Edge (10), Ford Fusion (8); their reports describe what happened.

Which cars get code P1285 most often?

In NHTSA owner complaints, P1285 is mentioned most for the Ford Escape (16), Ford Edge (10), Ford Fusion (8), across 6 models and model years 2012 to 2024. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.

Is there a recall for code P1285?

No NHTSA recall text names P1285 directly. 4 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Engine); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What should I do if my car shows P1285?

Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.

How this page was made

CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of P1285. Manufacturer codes have no public standard definition, so CarHooq shows only what owners reported. Nothing here is a diagnosis. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 3, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.

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