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, Jun 30, 2026
Coolant leak from engine block. Crack in engine block. Per Ford its a known issue on the 2018 escape model vehi les. Required full engine replacement by Ford. Paid for out of pocket, no warranty no recall when work completed in 2022.
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
1. The engine developed a coolant intrusion failure. A Ford repair shop diagnosed coolant leaking into the engine, consistent with the known 1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion issue. The vehicle and failed engine are available for inspection upon request. 2.The engine misfired and requires replacement due to internal coolant intrusion. An engine failure while driving could result in sudden loss of power or stalling, increasing the risk of a crash, particularly in traffic or at highway speeds. 3. Yes. The problem was confirmed by a Ford dealer repair shop, which diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine. 4. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. 5. The check engine light illuminated with the cylinder 1 misfire code before the diagnosis. I initially took it to an independent repair shop and got the spark plugs replaced. Then a week and a half later the CEL turned on again with the same code. In response, the vehicle was taken to a Ford dealership, where the engine was diagnosed with coolant intrusion.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 30, 2026
The vehicle is experiencing severe engine malfunction due to a documented manufacturing defect: coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders (per Ford Technical Service Bulletin TSB 22-2134). An authorized Ford dealership service department at Shehy Ford, Midlothian, VA, has officially inspected the vehicle and confirmed this specific failure.This defect presents a severe and immediate safety hazard. While driving, the vehicle runs exceptionally rough, hesitates, and suffers from engine misfires. This causes a sudden loss of acceleration and vehicle power in active traffic, creating an imminent risk of a rear-end collision on high-speed roadways. Furthermore, the constant loss of engine coolant creates a severe risk of sudden engine overheating, cylinder head cracking, and catastrophic engine fire while the vehicle is in motion.The manufacturer is aware of this design defect via the certified class-action lawsuit Miller v. Ford Motor Co., but the dealership refused to offer goodwill assistance, quoting an exorbitant $17,000 for repair, forcing the vehicle to remain on the road in an unsafe, hazardous condition.
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
Contaminated coolant system
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
My 2018 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. This has caused me a great deal of financial stress as I still pay on the vehicle auto loan and was quoted $12,000 for an engine replacement after already paying $2,000 to repair the original misfire. This needs to be recalled NOW!
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
2018 Ford Escape SE with a 1.5l Ecoboost engine is experiencing coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This is a well documented flaw in the engine block for which the repairs are more expensive than the value of the vehicle. Service centers have validated the problem and the flaw has been redesigned in newer vehicles. The only problem reported by OBD2 data is cylinder misfire, indicative of a coolant breach of the head gasket and coolant usage under normal conditions.
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
Head cracked and allowed coolant to intrude into the cylinders causing misfiring and white smoke to come out of the exhaust. Barely made it off the highway to a safe location as I was quickly loosing acceleration. Issue confirmed by Sames Ford dealership in Harlingen, TX (codes p0302 and p0303). They informed me that this is a known issue with this 1.5L Ecoboost motor in this vehicle. Vehicle is a total loss and I still owe a significant amount on the lease.
Engine, Jun 30, 2026
Check-engine light related to code P0301 (misfire, cylinder 1). This is a known issue on many Ford engines, including the 2.0L ecoBoost in our Escape (with Titanium trim). Reference: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169807-0001.pdf
Engine, Jun 29, 2026
The engine failed due to coolant system leak. Ford is well aware of this issue but refuses to do a recall.
Engine, Jun 27, 2026
The cylinder block in the engine has a Crack in it caused by a coolant leak and overheating. Never signaled low coolant. Showed signs of overheating after diagnosis from auto shop. Drove perfectly normal until one day it didn't. All preventative maintenance including oil changes were completed when due and up to date. According to Ford, this is a known problem with the 2018 Ford Escape Eco boost engines. My Escape is not under recall, bur should be.
Service brakes, Engine, Jun 26, 2026
My daughter was driving down the highway and the brakes all of sudden wouldn’t work. She narrowly avoided a collision and got the vehicle to a stop. We had it towed to My shop for inspection and turns out the vacuum pump went out without warning and causes power brakes to fail. I have fixed it and only 5 days later the the head gasket blew. I have received quotes from multiple dealerships. All say they that due to the year and the problems with the 1.5 liter block they have to replace the engine.
Engine, Jun 26, 2026
I take pride in keeping my vehicles maintained when needed. Out of nowhere, my vehicle with less than 70,000 miles on it began having a cylinder misfire. Now I’m faced with possibly having to get a new engine because of an apparently known defect for this engine. Ford won’t help and my dealership warranty has run out. But it is well documented that Ford knew about this defect but still sold these vehicles. Now I’m stuck with up to a $6,000 bill because Ford didn’t hold themselves accountable.
Engine, Jun 26, 2026
The vehicle experienced engine failure due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, requiring complete engine replacement. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Prior to diagnosis, the vehicle exhibited engine misfires, rough operation, and noticeable “jumping” or jerking when starting the engine and when shifting into reverse. Warning indicator lights were also present. These symptoms indicated unstable engine operation and raised concern for potential sudden loss of power or engine failure while operating the vehicle, which could create a safety risk in traffic. The condition was first diagnosed by an independent repair facility and later confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. The dealership confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine and determined that complete engine replacement was required. The manufacturer, through its authorized dealership, inspected the vehicle and confirmed the diagnosis. The vehicle is currently not safely operable due to the confirmed engine failure. Based on my understanding, Ford has previously acknowledged coolant intrusion concerns affecting certain 1.5L EcoBoost engines through Customer Satisfaction Programs. Although this specific vehicle was not included in that program, the dealership confirmed the same coolant intrusion failure.
Engine, Jun 25, 2026
My car engine overheated, the check engine light came on, and the "engine fault, service now" message popped up when I was driving to work. My local Ford dealership confirmed that there was coolant intrusion into the second cylinder bore of the engine of my vehicle. Thankfully, due to the gradual progression of the intrusion, the overheating didn't get to the point where it affected my safety or the safety of others. The problem is well-known in Escapes manufactured from 2015-19 in the Louisville, KY Ford plant, to the point that a customer satisfaction program 21N12 and technical service bulletin 22-2134 were issued. The vehicle was inspected by my local Ford dealership. For a few days before the incident, the (i) information symbol popped up and disappeared inconsistently both on my way to work and on the way home.
Engine, Jun 25, 2026
Coolant intrusion of the engine. Coolant appearing in the cylinders due to engine block flaw design. The vehicle was inspected at 4 different locations, including Auto Zone, Meineke and 2 Ford dealerships and all came to the same conclusion. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk since the engine could've stopped since there was already observations of engine misfiring upon startup. The safety of others were at risk as well since the vehicle could've stalled on the expressway causing a major accident. First, I took the vehicle to Auto Zone to run diagnostics that showed cylinder 2 and 3 were misfiring. Then took the vehicle to Meineke where they ran diagnostics that stated cylinder 2 and 3 were misfiring and then they switched the cylinders to see where the issue was occurring they also added coolant since the level was low. I then was advised to drive the vehicle and come back if the engine light turned on. The engine light appeared and observed shaking of the vehicle so I returned to Meineke. They then ran further testing and came to the conclusion that there was a coolant intrusion issue (loss of coolant) and startup misfiring and I was advised to take it to a dealership where certified people could do more testing. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership and they came to the same conclusion that the issue was coolant intrusion of the engine and that the whole engine would need replacing with symptoms of startup misfires and coolant loss. I then took it to another Ford dealership for another opinion and they also came to the same conclusion where they observed startup misifires, coolant loss, and white smoke. The warning signs were the check engine light and shaking of the vehicle. After observing that, I didn't drive it until the following morning to get it checked out.
Power train, Engine, Jun 25, 2026
My pregnant wife and 2 year old daughter we driving to daycare the morning of June 22nd 2026 and the car flashed an engine overheating message while they were on the highway. They were luckily able to pull off safely and get the car home. Then on June 23rd I went to take the car into the shop to get it looked at and the car completely broke down in traffic on my way to get the car serviced. The engine is completely seized up due to the coolant leak known issue with these engines.
Engine, Jun 25, 2026
Known issue with Ford 1.5L Ecoboost engines, coolant intrusion into cylinders due to faulty short block design. Should be recalled or under a lifetime warranty.
Engine, Jun 24, 2026
I bought the vehicle used with 98,000 miles. After a few months of driving and reaching 103,000 miles is when the problem occurred. As active duty military I was in the field for 2 days. When I had gotten out of the field I started the car and was sitting there for about 2 minutes and seen the temperature gauge starting to rise. So I turned the heat on full blast and started to drive, then the temperature gauge went all the way to the hot position and went into limp mode. I turned the car off popped the hood and seen it drank all of the coolant. So I refilled the coolant and let it sit for about 24 hours. The next day i turned the key over to supply battery and seen it was still completely hot. I’ve done some research and believe I’m experiencing the beloved coolant intrusion.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 24, 2026
The coolant is going into the cylinder or intake and exhaust causing the car to lose power and completely stal while on freeway. No warning, completely stal out.
Engine, Jun 23, 2026
My car experienced a sudden internal engine failure due to a known manufacturer design defect causing coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. A Ford dealer service center diagnosed the issue with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0303, confirming a Cylinder 3 misfire caused by coolant leaking into the block. The vehicle requires a total engine replacement at just ~66000 miles at a cost of over $9000. This internal coolant leak poses a severe safety hazard, including sudden engine stalling, loss of motive power while driving, and potential thermal runaway/engine fire risks. The vehicle is currently rendered unsafe to drive.
Engine, Jun 22, 2026
Coolant intrusion into cylinder, car shakes when idling, lots of white smoke coming out of tailpipes
Engine, Jun 22, 2026
I bought a 2018 Ford Escape SEL 4WD in March of 2019 ( I think ) it already had about 1240 miles on it but was sold to me as new. At the time of purchase I also bought a 7 yr warranty because of my age. Only my wife and I drove the car. In March of 2026 the engine block failed due to a manufacturing error concerning coolant getting into the piston chambers. The SUV only had about 15,800 miles on it. The 1.5 liter eco boost engine block had to be redesigned to allow coolant to flow around the cylinders. All this info is on the internet. I never received a letter from Ford about this potential engine failure. The engine light came on and the book said take it to the dealership which I did. They diagnosed the problem as stated above. If I had not have purchased the xtra warranty I would have been on the hook for 6 or 7 thousand dollar engine replacement as it was out of the 3 yr warranty at the time of purchase. In my opinion only, my guess is that Ford gambled that the engine would last thru the initial warranty period and maybe fail some time after but this is just conjecture on my part. On top of this they lost the first block they ordered by mistake ? and had to order another which took extra weeks of waiting, then it came in and then they found problems with the phasers and camshaft and then there was a dispute I presume between the Dealership, Ford Motor Co. and the warranty people as to who would pay for what. So in the end of my statement we got our car back 12 days before 3 mo's in the shop and many calls to the service dept. and to say that I was upset would be an understatement as I was having to pay insurance for nearly 3 mo's on a car I could not drive.
Engine, Jun 19, 2026
Coolant intrusion in cylinder 3. Vehicle suddenly loses power causing concern for collision at operating speeds. This was diagnosed by a dealership. This is a known issue.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 17, 2026
I have a vehicle whose refrigeration is going into the motor. It started with the check engine light came on notifying the third spark plug was damaged and showed the codes P0303, P04DB, P0316, P0339. Later a warning sign came on the dashboard with the phrase "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, SERVICE NOW". It had a recall almost immediately after it was acquired and was seen by the manufacturer about two years.
Engine, Jun 17, 2026
Due to faulty manufacturing by Ford Motor Company the coolant leaked into cylinders 2 and 3 of the engine. Ford is aware of this issue and has issued a technical service bulletin stating that the only fix is to replace the engine however they have not issued a recall. The leak has been confirmed by two mechanics. Blacks Tire and Auto and is currently at the Ford dealership. The check engine light came on and I researched the code and found many stories of people having the same issue.