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, Jan 30, 2025
Car started running hot feb 2023, took it to local auto shop where it showed leaking collant in cylinder 2&3. Local shop quoted 8000 for full engine repair. Contacted ford dealership to see about a CSP the auto body shop told me about and was told my car isn't covered due to millage (over the 84000). This CSP was never preformed on the ford before I bought it when the CSP came out in 2020. I bought in 2021. Nor was I informed about the 2022 extended CSP. I was not made aware of a collant leak possibility until it happened. No repairs have been completed on this car and I am still making my monthly payment for it. I will never buy another ford.
Engine, Jan 30, 2025
Engine light came on and car shakes a bit when car is first turned on for the day and has been off for a few hours. This started in early January 2025. We took it to a mechanic on January 10th 2025. Mechanic reported white exhaust smoke and stated this could be due to a coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Was told the short block, head gasket or the entire engine would need to be replaced. As of today, January 29th 2025, vehicle has not been inspected by a dealership, but as stated above, it has been checked by a mechanic. Concerned for family safety because vehicle can turn off at any time without any warning. Vehicle is available upon request, for inspection.
Power train, Jan 29, 2025
My transmission started slipping while driving on a main street. It barely moved, less than 1 mph, while accelerating to get to a safe place and not rear ended. This was very dangerous for me and the car behind me. There was no warning prior to this happening and the engine light never came on even after the transmission “slipped”. I had a mechanic check it out and he couldn’t find any codes. It ran decently around the neighborhood but then the next day it started slipping again. Took it ford because this time it said power train failure. Turns out my 2018 ford escape, around 105,00 miles, needed a new transmission with no prior signs of distress. I was quoted 10,000. Ford knows about this problem with their 2018 escapes for a while and has not recalled them. Unacceptable.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jan 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine, and there was a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Power train, Jan 27, 2025
Transmission failed at 42,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-45 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder head, and the short block engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the engine failure, auto park, and restart engine messages were displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost motive power. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, after shifting into drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local auto parts store where the techni8cian used a handheld diagnostic scanner and determined that there was no compression in cylinder #1 and cylinder #2 and there was a misfire in the engine. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 25, 2025
On 01/25/2025 I discovered on my vehicle that my windshield weatherstripping and cowl was coming loose from the windshield. I contacted Ford Motor company of the issue after speaking with a glass repair company. I called Ford because my vehicle may have a manufacturing defect on the cowl (bottom seal of the windshield, as well as the side and top weather stripping used to seal the windshield in place). They informed me there were no recalls at the time however to fix the issue the entire windshield will have to be removed from the car in order to replace the cowl seal, weather stripping and seal coming off. If I am not to get this repaired this could cause leaking in my vehicle from rain or worse the eventual separation of the windshield unexpectedly which could be a safety issue. Please see the attached photos below as well as others online who have posted this issue, had it fixed, and it kept occurring. I believe it is a manufacturer defect either with the weatherstripping, sealing procedure or the overall windshield itself. The pictures of the other escape in the same area is showing that what I am describing is happening to others, this can be deemed a hazard or potential recall.
Engine, Jan 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly function. The contact stated that a message to “Pull Over Immediately” was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was pending a diagnostic test. The dealer had not yet diagnosed the vehicle but believed that the vehicle had experienced engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Engine, Jan 23, 2025
Multiple times when weather is cold (currently 42 degrees, so not even that cold) the engine will not start. It is a brand new engine that was replaced after the heavily reported coolant leak issue - which should be recalled!) The car turns on, with lights, radio, air systems, etc all running, but the engine does not start or even attempt to start. After several hours the car turns on without issue and operates as normal. This car/engine are absolute lemons. I spent $10,000 to replace the engine due to Ford's own manufacturing issue with the coolant leak, and now this. NHSTA needs to do something about these faulty cars on the road.
Engine, Jan 22, 2025
have a bad engine that seems to be a common problem with this year car.Has 68,300 miles and I am told that this one does not have all the right criteria to be under warranty.not sure of the reason other than I was told it is out of the 7 year period.its a 2018 and broke down in 2024.
Exterior lighting, Jan 22, 2025
Headlights continue to go out causing reduced visibility. Google search shows a lot of people having the same issue. Available for inspection. Driving during dark hours puts myself and others at risk when the light randomly goes out. I have consulted local shop and they confirm it's a common problem and unsure of a fix besides guessing and replacing parts. No warnings or notifications that the light is out.
Steering, Jan 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized, with the steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
Engine, Jan 21, 2025
A common and known problem to Ford: the coolant leak caused a crack in the engine block. This caused fluid in the cylinders to misfire and now oil is also leaking into the engine block as well. There was no warning or preventative measures we could take, and after research, this is an extremely common issue. The dealership will not work with us as there is "no official recall" even though they know it happens a lot, and it would take more than $7,000 to repair when we still owe $6,500.
Engine, Jan 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started sputtering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 20-2100. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that there was a leak in the coolant system. The contact stated that coolant was leaking into the engine and the oil. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant was leaking into the engine and the oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and agreed to cover 40% of the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
Engine, Jan 18, 2025
Engine misfiring, stuttering, power loss happened at high speed on interstate. Independent mechanic diagnosed coolant intrusion into engine. Spark plug in cylinder 3 seized. New engine needed. Ford does not have a recall for it. This is a well known engine problem according to research and review of other complaints on this site.
Engine, Jan 17, 2025
Timing Chain broke with only around 106,000 miles on the vehicle. While I was driving to run some errands, I came to a four way stop. Taking a right turn and beginning to accelerate to turn onto the intersecting road, my car began to accelerate and then acceleration stopped and could only coast on momentum I had left. Luckily I was able to maneuver out of traffic and onto the side of the road using the steering wheel and get it into park. Car was towed to local car repair shop and they determined that the timing chain was broken, resulting in a complete engine failure. It has not been investigated by manufacturer or police. No warning lamps appeared on the system when the incident occurred.
Steering, Jan 17, 2025
The steering of the vehicle completely went out with NO warning lights/no warning whatsoever. If this had happened at speed or a sharp turn, this would have likely resulted in a collision. There are only 50,000 miles on the vehicle, so there is no way that the steering should completely go out. I see there are other vehicles that this has occurred with as well in this model/year; I feel that this should be a safety recall.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 16, 2025
A Design Flaw (as confirmed by a Ford Service Advisor) in the engine block allows coolant to seep into the engine, rendering the engine useless. Ford has a TSB on this, they know it's a problem, other previous years similar engines have been recalled, these engines currently have class action and private lawsuits happening, and Ford extended the warranty on these vehicles to 84k miles because of this KNOWN mistake on their part. So.... after 84k miles Ford no longer stands behind their product. Leaving me and my family with a monthly car payment and a car that's sitting at the dealer that needs and $8k repair. I've had the car towed twice and am relying on friends to get around. Ford should own up to this and either fix or replace the vehicle. It's not right, and certainly doesn't make us want to buy American cars.
Power train, Jan 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH, the transmission fluid warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH to the dealer the following day, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond upon shifting to drive(D) or reverse(R). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer ordered the part for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 93,385.
Engine, Jan 12, 2025
Coolant Intrusion on the 1.5l ecoboost engine at 63,000 miles. Just out of warranty.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the "Engine Overheating" message was displayed on the instrument panel. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an internal coolant leak intrusion into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. 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 failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 9, 2025
My engine light came on and within a three day time span my engine overheated. I kept up with all maintenance on my vehicle and even had a previous diagnostic ran on the vehicle a month prior. I was told there was a customer satisfactory warranty that expired in November 2022 on my vehicle but information was given to first owner that stated what would happen to my vehicle. I bought my car in March of 2021Due to me getting my car from Hondas car lot they said they were unaware that the vehicle had a warranty at time of sale which would have been of great help. I have been quoted $10,000 to replace the motor in my car due to coolant intrusion, short block, and a spark plug being stuck within the engine. My car ran hot with myself, a dog and my son being in the car in the middle of a busy street but we were able to move vehicle to a safe spot while car was malfunctioning. I was told to look under the hood by my boyfriend to check fluids and he went into detail on what to check for and we found that the oil was clean but their was no antifreeze in the vehicle. I received my oil change in September of 2024 and everything required for my tags that is done yearly all on the same visit.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 9, 2025
I purchased a 2018 Ford Escape in February 2024 with 80,000 miles from a dealership. The vehicle had a single owner and appeared to be in great condition at the time of purchase. However, in December 2024 it presented a critical safety issue involving the engine. While driving, the vehicle began shaking violently and lost power, almost stopping in the middle of an intersection. This placed me and others at significant risk of a collision, as I was unable to control the car properly or move it safely out of traffic. The problem was confirmed by the Ford dealership, where diagnostics initially revealed a misfire code (P0302). After further inspection, the dealership determined that the engine required a full replacement. This repair was estimated to cost $9,000—nearly the current value of the vehicle. The car is at the dealership and has not been repaired due to the prohibitive cost. Through my research, I found Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 19-2346, which documents similar engine issues reported by other Ford Escape owners, requiring significant repairs and part replacements. Despite reaching out to Ford Customer Service, I was denied assistance and left to bear the full cost of these extensive repairs. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. The issue occurred without warning while I was driving, making the defect hazardous. Given the serious safety implications of this defect, I strongly urge this issue to be considered for recall. A vehicle with relatively low mileage should not experience catastrophic engine failure, and Ford must take responsibility for addressing this widespread and dangerous issue. My life and the safety of others on the road are far more valuable than the cost of repairs.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the "Engine Overheated" message was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle shut down. The vehicle failed to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was an internal coolant leak intrusion into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.