2017 Ford Escape SYNC 3 & Infotainment
SYNC problems are easier to sort out when you separate the phone, USB connection, SYNC software and vehicle electrical system. Alice, our 2017 Escape SE, is the reason I prefer that symptom-first approach instead of treating every connection problem as a failed radio.
Start with the symptom
CarPlay or Android Auto will not connect
A cable that charges a phone is not always a reliable data cable. If phone projection stops working, compare more than one known-good cable before assuming the USB hub or SYNC module has failed. Also check whether Bluetooth, ordinary USB audio and charging still work, because those clues help narrow the fault.
Bluetooth connection problems
If one phone is the only device having trouble, remove the pairing from both the vehicle and phone, restart the phone, and pair again. If every phone has the same problem, the vehicle side becomes more likely and a SYNC system reset may be worth trying.
Frozen or black SYNC screen
Ford documents a SYNC 3 system reset for cases where a feature is lost. It is different from a master reset and is meant to preserve paired devices and settings. See 2017 Ford Escape SYNC 3 Reset & Radio Reset for the exact 2017 manual procedure and the difference between the two reset types.
Backup camera problem versus SYNC problem
The backup-camera image uses the center display, so a camera fault and a screen fault can look similar. If SYNC works normally for audio, menus and phone features but the image fails only in reverse, use the backup-camera troubleshooting guide. Ford's manual also provides a dedicated rear-camera fuse reference.
When the battery may be part of the problem
Repeated reboots, several unrelated electrical warnings or odd behavior after a weak-battery event deserve a wider look than the infotainment system alone. See the battery and charging guide and electrical issues guide if SYNC symptoms appear with other electrical problems.
Updates
Ford has continued to publish SYNC support information and software/update tools. Because available software can depend on the vehicle, hardware and VIN, I would check Ford's current support system for the exact Escape rather than installing files from an unofficial download site.
Before selling the vehicle
A master reset makes sense when you are giving up the Escape because Ford says it erases stored personal settings and data. That is different from using a master reset as the first troubleshooting step for a temporary glitch.