2018 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,795 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 25 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 30 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Jun 10, 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 12, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.
A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.
Campaign 18V104000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowDec 18, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.
If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S44.
Campaign 17V803000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
1,426 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Sep 18, 2024
I got a oil change in June 2024 and in September 2024 it said change engine oil soon so I go to Walmart get it done they informed me my engine was very low on oil which they said was odd being I just had a oil change 2 months ago and then they informed me I have coolant leaks and the dealer who I lease from had to known about this and sold me this car without full knowledge of what was wrong and my warranty has expired through them and when I called them to complain about having issues they kept giving me the run around and now they know my warranty expired they are telling me where to take it and said I would financially responsible for the repairs I can’t afford car payment insurance and replace and fix the coolant leaks
Engine, Sep 17, 2024
My engine was replaced last year due to an issue with coolant leaking into the engine and stalling it, therefore my engine was replaced due to a customer satisfaction recall. One year later, the same thing is happening again and I have to get the same repair done.
Engine, Sep 16, 2024
I had to have a new engine put in my 2018 Escape due to antifreeze getting into the cylinder. I was told by a Ford service department that it is a well documented and known engineering defect, but Ford is refusing to do anything about it. I was driving home when the warning light came on and started dinging. It said the engine was hot and to stop immediately. It did not catch fire, but that was what I was afraid it was going to do. When I started looking into this, I have found that there has been cars catching fire from this problem.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 14, 2024
The engine light came on in my 2018 ford Explorer. I took it to the mechanic and was told my engine is failing and the coolant is leaking into the engine. He told me this is a common issue with this car and has happened to other people. He suggested I call the place I bought it to see if they can help pay. I called them and was told there is nothing they can do because my warranty expired three months ago. They said I could by another warranty but would have to wait 30 days for it to go into effect and the car may not last that long.
Engine, Sep 13, 2024
After the check engine light came on, I took my vehicle to a mechanic. They informed me there was coolant in the cylinders, which required a full engine replacement. This is tied to known issue TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL 22-2229 A known issue by the manufacturer, is resulting in an $11,000 engine replacement with no manufacturer assistance. This needs to be addressed and no other consumer should have to bear the burden of manufacturer error.
Engine, Sep 13, 2024
Coolant in the cylinders, resulting in full engine failure/replacement.
Engine, Sep 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a coolant leak into the engine. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife driving approximately 65 MPH, she observed that the "High Engine Temperature - Stop Safely" message was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, and his wife was able to coast to the side of the highway. The contact stated that his wife was able to restart the vehicle and drive back to the residence; however, the vehicle stalled, and the driver was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,252.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine overheating message was displayed. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed a cylinder #2 misfire within the engine. The spark plugs and engine coils were replaced, and the failure was temporarily remedied, but the failure reoccurred. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
Engine, Sep 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to “Stop and Pull Over” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,175.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 11, 2024
Coolant leaking into engine causing engine failure. Entire screen and navigation system stopped working as well as the charge ports.
Engine, Sep 10, 2024
We took our car into Ford dealership because we noticed the heater was blowing only cold air. No other problems were evident, car was running fine. The dealer called and told us that the engine was destroyed because the coolant leaked into the engine block. Car did not indicate there was coolant leak, of which we were totally unaware. We had no idea we were driving a vehicle that could have had a sudden power failure or engine could have caught fire. Our dealership and Ford are working out the details of our financial obligation to have the engine replaced.
Engine, Sep 10, 2024
Coolant intrusion in the Cylinder 2. Advised to replace longblock to rebuild engine. Cost is at $10,000 plus a coolant flush.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Sep 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact opened the hood to perform an inspection and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact stated that there were no indications of a coolant leak. The contact allowed the engine to cool off and added coolant to the reservoir. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact performed an inspection and discovered that coolant had leaked into the crankcase. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the crankcase. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 9, 2024
The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced inconsistent acceleration and rough driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The mechanic later discovered coolant inside the engine and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 144,483.
Power train, Engine, Sep 9, 2024
Coolant intrusion into engine cylinders and other components in the powertrain. Warranties and Ford companies DO NOT cover this. It is a factory flaw.
Engine, Sep 9, 2024
1.5L EcoBoost engine block failure, crack letting cooling into cylinders
Power train, Engine, Sep 9, 2024
I have coolant leaking into my engine. There are several misfires occurring ans it doesn’t always start. Have replaced spark plugs and a few hoses. Issue still isn’t resolved
Power train, Engine, Sep 6, 2024
I replaced the engine cause the head gasket was blown previously. 2 months later my check engine goes on and Powertrain - ON Powertrain Trouble Code[s]: P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected Code P0301 indicates that Cylinder 1 had too many misfires within a predetermined period of time. P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected P0300 Random Misfire Detected P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected Secondary Trouble Code[s]: P0300, P0304, P0301, P0300, P0304
Engine, Sep 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with the message “Engine Critically Overheating” displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine, Sep 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into a cylinder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Engine, Sep 5, 2024
Coolant temperature unable to drive again
Engine, Sep 5, 2024
Coolant temperature high Can not drive again .
Engine, Sep 5, 2024
Car keeps saying coolant temperature high Now I can not drive it
Engine, Sep 5, 2024
My car overheated and broke down on the highway. Towed in to a repair shop and was told I needed a new engine because of leaky coolant in the gasket? I just paid my car off last month, purchased directly from the dealer in 2019. It has an Eco Boost which are having these issues across the board. I was told the cost to repair or replace a new engine could range from $3500-6000k. Are they going to recall this vehicle as well? I can’t afford that and should not have to pay that for 5 year old car I would like it to added to recalls with this issue.