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
1,795 reports, newest first.
Engine, Mar 21, 2025
There is an internal coolant leak from the coolant reserve that cycles through my engine, breaking the head gasket and seeping out through the spark plugs. This was confirmed by a team of mechanics at Christian Brothers. According to the TSP released by Ford this can result in engine failure when operating the vehicle. This is a severe risk to drivers and there are cases where it has resulted in death. I brought my car to a Ford dealership for an oil change and inspection. They failed to see my coolant was empty and the next day my check engine light came on. My husband did a quick inspection and my coolant was empty. When I confronted the dealership with this information they did not respond to me or taken blame for missing any of the signs.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the overheating and engine fault warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and became aware that the engine had a cracked cylinder head. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. 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 unknown.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while servicing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the coolant level was low. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 30 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that an abnormal coolant odor was coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and confirmed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to the failure of Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure recurred, and the contact parked the vehicle, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The approximate failure mileage was 76,900.
Engine, Mar 18, 2025
Engine diagnosed with coolant intrusion related to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. A serious misfire happened without warning after coming to a stop on the road and car perceived to be undrivable. Mechanic advised coolant in cylinders and engine needs to be replaced. Ford will not replace the engine after 84k miles but mine is at 85k.
Power train, Engine, Mar 18, 2025
UNKNOWN: Engine shakes and rumbles when going 35-45 miles per hour. Originally smooth when starting, now rumbles and shakes when started. Check engine light goes on and off. Engine kicks or jumps when accelerator is pushed... Not smooth, jerks very hard. Engine/starter/transmission issues. Available for inspection at dealership doing repair. Shakes and jerks going down the road. Feels like it's going to shake apart. Currently at the dealership for repair and they diagnosed there is "Coolant entering into the cylinder" Check engine light came on then went off. Did this about 3 times and is currently still on.
Engine, Mar 17, 2025
I was driving and the vehicle suddenly started to not accelerate. Then the check engine light started to flash and the motor shut off. I had to coast to the side of the road. After being toward my mechanic told me there was no oil and I had complete engine failure. This happened with no warning and I was stuck waiting for a tow in a very scary situation.
Engine, Mar 16, 2025
Coolant leak into the cylinders due to a manufacturing defect in this type of engine (1.5L ecoboost). Cylinder 2 and 4 misfired detected. Harmful emissions.
Engine, Mar 15, 2025
The engine light came on in my car. The heat was not working either. Took it to my mechanic, the coolant was empty and leaked into the engine. Mechanic advised this is a known issue with this car.
Engine, Mar 15, 2025
While driving at 60 mph on the highway, my vehicle suddenly overheated and lost power, forcing it into limp mode and reducing acceleration. The coolant was completely gone, even though it had been refilled and bled by a mechanic just a week earlier. Prior to this, I experienced engine misfires, which is a known early symptom of coolant intrusion in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The check engine light and an overheating warning message appeared at the time of failure. This matches Ford’s known coolant intrusion defect, which was previously covered under CSP 19B37 and CSP 21N12, yet my vehicle is now experiencing the same failure outside the program’s coverage. This issue is extremely dangerous because it can cause the engine to suddenly fail at high speeds, creating a serious risk for drivers and passengers. This issue has not yet been confirmed by a dealer, as I am arranging transport to a service center. However, the coolant loss and overheating symptoms are consistent with reports from other Ford owners. Ford has acknowledged this problem in past service programs, but vehicles like mine continue to fail. This is a serious safety hazard, and Ford should be required to extend coverage or issue a recall before more drivers experience sudden engine failure.
Engine, Mar 15, 2025
I took my car in for a tune up and was advised the engine needed to be replaced and that Ford is having this issue with multiple vehicles with the same engine. Coolant leaking into the engine. I called NHTSA as Ford told me that they would have to add my car to their customer recall list. I was advised to go back to Ford that they have to do this. Upon having an electronic chat for an hour with ford I was again told to file a concern and request with NHTSA to get my vin added. According to Fords Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 ( which my car was serviced for on 1-27-2021) This was the first step to complete the issue of coolant leaking into the engine. Fast forward to 3-13-25 I was informed by a Ford dealership that the coolant was indeed leaking into the engine and needs a replacement. Under Fords customer satisfaction program 21N12 issued 6-9-22 my engine should be covered. However according to ford my vin was left off the list however my car was built under the 3 guidelines of 21N12 which were model year 2017-2019, Built in Louisville, build date was 1-10-18 according to Ladicia at ford Customer care and should have been included. On 1-27-2021 Nations Ford of Margate Florida performed the 19Be7 requirement to satisfy the 21n12 recall should the problem persist. No one seems to care nor chooses to use common sense that if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck its a duck. I am asking your agency to officially look into this concern. Ford is and was aware of this issue an put a band aid on what appears to be a fatal wound. I am sure that I am not the only person being affected by this issue as i have discovered at least 2 class action suits being worked on as i type. I only want Ford to stand behind their product and more importantly their word. From what Ive discovered not only is Ford negligent but they new that eventually coolant would leak in these engines and I am asking that you step in and make Ford honor this agreement with its cutomers. Thank you
Power train, Mar 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a tune-up, the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a scan of the engine determined that the failure was related to a misfire. An independent mechanic replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils; however, the check engine warning light returned soon after the repair. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test discovered coolant intrusion into cylinders #1 and #3, which caused engine failure. The contact was provided an estimate for a new engine. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine, Mar 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to provide a diagnostic cause for the failure because the MIL was no longer illuminated when the vehicle was taken in for inspection. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who then diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. Then contact was informed 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 49,000.
Power train, Mar 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting the accelerate, the RPM increased quickly but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact then heard an abnormal grinding noise coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle started to lose motive power, with the transmission slipping. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Engine, Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an engine misfire. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the cylinder head over temperature message was displayed. The contact stated that the engine started to vibrate while depressing the accelerator pedal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant was leaking into cylinder #3 and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the spark plugs were replaced but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a Customer Satisfaction Program. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The failure mileage was 66,000.
Steering, Mar 6, 2025
While traveling from Massachusetts to South Carolina we stopped at a rest area for a break. when we re-started the S.U.V., a message was displayed that the power steering assist was no longer working. No warning and it was running fine before stop. Because the same thing happened on my other Ford Edge, I knew what I needed to do. We had to have the car towed off highway to a local Ford dealership, were they confirmed that the rack and pinion steering system FAILED. It took the dealer 2 weeks to repair it at a cost of $3,171.45. Because this as happened on two different FORD products I believe that Ford has a problem with the steering system and that the N.H.T.S.A. dept should look into this?? I filed a complaint with N.H.T.S.A. dept on my first S.U.V.
Engine, Mar 6, 2025
Check Engine light came on and car was taken to the shop where it was diagnosed to have diagnostic codes PO302 and PO316 - at which time the mechanic informed me that the spark plug had "ceased" and could not be removed - upon further research, found out that this is an issue with the 1.5L Ecoboost motor and that there was a program to replace but based on mileage/age, could not be replaced. The car is a 2018 Ford Escape SEL with 133k miles.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering with the engine overheating warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway. The "Engine Coolant Overtemperature" message was displayed on the instrument panel and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact continued driving the vehicle at 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a cracked #2 cylinder. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 20-2100. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained at the independent mechanic and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Engine, Mar 3, 2025
coolant leak in to cylinders
Seat belts, Mar 1, 2025
My seatbelt wont latch properly and also when it does latch will come unlatched without pushing any button
Engine, Feb 28, 2025
ENGINE malfunctioned at 70,000 mile. Was told there was a misfire in cylinder 2 and engine coolant intrusion. The problem has been thoroughly noted online as a defect that FORD will not assume recall for. Engine light just turned on 2 weeks prior to dealership service diagnostic.
Engine, Feb 28, 2025
I first started showing a check engine light for cylinder 2 misfire, and believed it was my spark plugs. Then, one singular day after the initial code, the car refused to start, took it to a local mechanic (as close as I could possibly tow it) and they replaced my fuel pump thinking that was the issue. They did not offer the service to repair a blown head gasket, but told me the white smoke coming from my exhaust indicated I might have a blown head gasket. Took it to another local mechanic who is a Marine motor transport mechanic (it was a friend so this was a free visit), changed my spark plugs hoping to repair the reoccurring cylinder 2 misfire, checked my exhaust and it is in fact a blown head gasket minimum due to the coolant coming completely out of my exhaust along with oil. This was all in the course of less than 150 miles and 7 days total including the three that my car was in the shop for the fuel pump. I have now taken it to the Ford service shop to get diagnosed, and through research, there has been a class-action lawsuit already launched for issues with this engine and the head gasket being blown time and time again under 100 thousand miles. My car has never overheated, but this issue can cause total engine failure, fires, and more. It's dangerous. It is a design flaw with the engine. The lawsuit is Miller et al. vs. Ford Motor Company. This is in regard to the 1.5 L Ecoboost (which is what I have). Alongside this, I'm a teacher, and I know multiple coworkers who have experienced the same exact issue. This is an extremely expensive and dangerous design flaw. If I had waited on it, the best case is the car dies, worse it catches fire and explodes on me.
Power train, Feb 28, 2025
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while in a parking lot, the vehicle failed to shift into gear without warning. A tow truck driver was able to temporarily repair the vehicle and instructed the contact to drive the vehicle straight to the residence. The contact's grandson was able to reconnect an unknown part on the transmission which temporarily fixed the transmission. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shut off with the "Transmission Fault Service Now" message displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.