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 and engine cooling
342 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the message that the engine was overheating was displayed and the vehicle shutoff. The contract stated that the failure was related to TSB: 19-2375. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the temperature gauge rose to H(Hot). The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the vehicle started chugging. The message "High Engine Temperature Safely" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was Illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that three out of the four cylinders had failed due to the coolant intrusion in the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 143,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to vibrate with the "Engine Fault" message displayed. The contact stated that the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing the engine block to crack. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25–30 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was jerking and losing motive power. While starting the vehicle, the vehicle shook and stopped. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the short-block engine needed to be replaced. The dealer determined that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine. The dealer confirmed that the failure was related to TSB: 22-2322. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no coverage due to the vehicle not meeting the mileage limitation. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,660.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was shaking and vibrating violently. The contact released the accelerator pedal, and the shaking and vibration nearly ceased; however, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact was able to drive the vehicle under 30 MPH to the dealer. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine block. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer of TSB: 19-2139 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the vehicle was not covered due to the mileage being exceeded. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,313.
Power train, Engine and engine cooling, Nov 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. Additionally, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 115,572.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3. The vehicle remained in the possession of the independent mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 19,500.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Oct 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. No further information was available. The vehicle was taken to the residence, where the contact's husband used a hand-held vehicle diagnostic scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble code P0301, indicating a misfire of the first cylinder. The contact's husband replaced the spark plugs, but the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact's husband then replaced the ignition coils. The contact's husband also noticed that the coolant level was abnormally low. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that while in the process of removing the spark plugs to take pictures of the failure for a diagnostic report, the spark plugs fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under Ford Campaign Number: 21N12, due to the mileage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced. Despite the repair, the failure persisted, and the contact was referred to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the cylinders. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12; however, the vehicle was not covered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,850.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and the spark plugs, and ignition coils were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was recently diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated and stalled, rendering the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine block had cracked due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 106,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle difficult to start; but was able to start after several attempts. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be covered under the campaign due to the mileage. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was jumpstarted and returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the spark plugs, and ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a second diagnostic test and the dealer made the contact aware of coolant intrusion into the cylinder and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact of an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated and the vehicle lost motive power. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the short block; however, the contact was not informed of what needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, there was an abnormal white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine turbo was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Oct 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the cylinder head temperature sensor was replaced. The contact stated that several weeks later, the contact discovered that the coolant level was low. The contact checked the vehicle for leaks and added more coolant to the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where the contact was informed that coolant had leaked into cylinder #1, resulting in engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that there was a misfire of the engine cylinders. The mechanic replaced all the spark plugs and one ignition coil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to TSB Number: 19-2139 Coolant Intrusion Into Cylinders (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating abnormally but returned to normal functionality afterward. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the coolant intrusion into cylinder #2 had caused a misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud ticking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant leaking into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power and decelerated. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had experienced coolant intrusion into the cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 104,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine light had appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that despite the warning light, the vehicle was still safe to drive. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that there was a misfire in engine cylinder#1. While the contact was driving 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and after months of negotiations, the dealer, the manufacturer, and the contact all partially paid for an engine replacement. Recently, the contact was informed that vehicle was losing coolant. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested a vehicle buy back. The contact continued driving the vehicle; however, the vehicle shut off while driving 60 MPH with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, and it was discovered that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #4. The contact immediately notified the manufacturer and was later informed that the buyback request had been denied. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced rough idling and was sputtering while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there was a message that the engine was overheating, and to urgently stop the vehicle safely was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that cylinder #2 was misfiring due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not covered due to the mileage. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,900.