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: steering
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 16, 2019
2018 ESCAPE PURCHASED MARCH 2018. APRIL 2018 AFTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHILE DECELERATING DOWN OFF RAMP THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES BEGAN FLASHING: HILL START ASSIST UNAVAILABLE, STEERING ASSIST NOT OPERATIONAL, AND 911 ASSIST NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE INTO SERVICE SCHEDULE. DURING MALFUNCTION VEHICLE WOULD BECOME HARD TO TURN. REPAIR ORDER OPENED 4-26-18 DURING DIAGNOSTIC 28 CODES WERE FOUND IN MEMORY. BCM REPLACED VEHICLE RETURNED ON 05-03-18. AUGUST 2018 SAME PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN, IN ADDITION TO SEATBELT MINDER LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHILE ALL PASSENGERS WERE BUCKLED, AND AIRBAG LIGHT. VOICE COMMAND SYSTEM SPOKE PROCEED TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. REPAIR ORDER OPENED 2ND TIME 08-29-18. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE IN TIMELY MANNER THROUGH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. COMPLAINT TO FORD HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPENED ON 10-18-18 AS VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT FULLY REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME LATE OCTOBER, DEALER HAD VEHICLE IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEARLY 3 MONTHS. MULTIPLE POWER MODULES REPLACED, WIRE HARNESS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE AND MULTIPLE WIRE CAPS REPAIRED/REPLACED. JUNE 2019 SAME EXACT PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN, SAME WARNING CODES AND LIGHTS AS THE FIRST FEW TIMES ONLY NOW THEY HAPPEN AT RANDOM. VEHICLE MILEAGE JUST OVER 13,000. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 14 MONTHS THAT THE SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED. CURRENTLY AWAITING SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT THIS TIME.
Steering, Dec 19, 2018
I WAS BEING TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN THE STEERING FROZE THEN VIOLENTLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE STEERING TURNED TO THE RIGHT I INADVERTENTLY PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SPEEDING UP SLIGHTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. DURING THE SPLIT SECOND THAT THIS HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE BACK TOWARDS THE ROAD BARELY MISSING A TELEPHONE POLE, BUT I DID STRIKE THE GUY WIRES THAT SUPPORT THE POLE. THIS CAUSED ABOUT $800 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND NO DEFECT COULD BE FOUND BY THE SERVICE STATION. WHEN THE STEERING DID GO OUT IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO STEER THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN INCLUDING OLD LARGE TRUCK WITH NO POWER STEERING.
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, Dec 10, 2018, crash
I WAS DRIVING HOME 11-28-18 5:40PM PST WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED HARD TO THE RIGHT; I HAD NO CONTROL, & IT CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED UNOCCUPIED CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAD NOT HIT ANY OBJECT NOR POTHOLE. VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. SUSPENSION GAVE WAY. PARTS OF SUSPENSION WERE LAYING ON THE STREET. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILING. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH. I HAVE PHOTOS; 2 ARE ATTACHED TO THIS FORM. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH THAT DOCUMENT. NO POLICE REPORT.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 19, 2018
THE WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON IN APRIL 2018. MOSTLY CHECK ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TOOK TO AUTO ZONE GOT A READ OUT FOR SENSOR. BUT AAA REPAIR SHOP WOULDN'T USE THEIR REPORT AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THEM, LIGHT WASN'T ON. SO THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT IT. WAS GONE OUT OF TOWN 6 MONTHS. LIGHT OFF AND ON. RANDOMLY. OCT 2018, HEADING CROSS COUNTRY BACK HOME TO AZ. LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON MORE OFTEN. MORE LIGHTS, ABS, SKID, SEAT BELT, WITHIN THE WEEK, VERY RANDOM OFF AND ON. THEN MORE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. AUTO ZONE AGAIN GAVE ME A SENSOR REPORT, O2 AND FUEL. WHILE WAITING IN BANK LINE,, WHOLE PANEL OF LIGHTS CAME ON. ACTED STALED, BUT WAS RUNNING, COULD PUSH GAS AND RUN, BUT COULDN'T STEER, BABIED TO A PARKING SPOT, EVEN THE MILEAGE ODOMETER WENT TO SLASH MARKS AND NO NUMBERS. I TOOK A PHOTO. TURNED CAR OFF AND WAITED TO TRY TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT AFTER FEW MINUTES, WORKED FINE. THAT NEXT WEEK, I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING, WHOLE PANEL CAME ON, DASHES FOR NUMBERS AND NO STEERING> SCARED TO DEATH. STILL COULD PUSH GAS AND BRAKED, FEW SECONDS FELT LIKE MINUTES. LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR DROVE FINE. LEFT AT A MECHANIC AND HE CHANGED OXYGEN SENSOR, DIAGNOSED THE STALLING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AND OTHER CODES. R/R OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR/FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE FLUSH, AND COMPUTER / PROGRAMMING UPDATE. RAN ME $568.70. LIGHTS STILL RANDOMLY COME ON, BRAKE ABS, SKID, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. I PARKED THE CAR AND BOUGHT A NEW ONE. WHERE CAN I TAKE IT. I NEED TO SELL IT TO HELP PAY FOR OTHER CAR, BUT DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO GET HURT WHILE DRIVING THIS ONE. I LOOKED UP KBB AND SAW 3 RECALLS ON ONE WAS PCSM SENSOR AND WHEN I CALLED FORD DEALER, HE SAID NO RECALLS FOR IT. PLEASE HELP. I'M DESPERATE.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 9, 2018, crash
WENT TO STOP ON WET ROAD TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN WHEELS LOCKED UP CAUSING ME NOT BE ABLE TO GUIDE MYSELF OFF THE ROAD FROM HITTING CAR IT FRONT SLIDE THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN DOORS LOCKED CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT HAD TO KICK THE DOOR OPEN AND MY PHONE WAS HOOKED UP TO THE BLUETOOTH AND NO COPS WERE CONTACTED LIKE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE! IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS A ROBOT AND SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN AND I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AFTER HITTING MY BRAKES IT WAS LIKE HAVING NO TIRES FROM THAT POINT ON AND MY CAR ONLY HAD 9,000 MILES ON IT!