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.
Structure, Apr 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of the spare tire well, he observed that the well was full of excess water. Later, he observed that water was entering from the rear passenger’s side quarter panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Power train, Engine, Apr 18, 2024
December 2023 my 2018 ford escape 1.5L ecoboost had low coolant levels. We put more in every other day. The check engine light came on and a warning saying engine failure repair now. Took it to an independent garage where I was told it needed a new short block due to coolant intrusion. I called ford and was told to take to ford dealership to be diagnosed. I was told the same thing there. I’m 180 miles over the 84,000 that they extended it too so I have to pay. I applied for financial assistance and fords paying some of my bill. It’s been 5 months and I’m getting the run around from them and won’t have my car until at least mid may. I’m also being denied a loaner. I was on my way home from work and my car alerted me it was over heating and to turn it off. Then my car threw itself in “limp mode” causing me to go from 55 to 15 within a matter of seconds almost causing an accident if people behind me didn’t swerve around me. With so many complaints how is this not a recall? It poses a great risk for the driver of the vehicle along with other potential drivers on the road.
Engine, Apr 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power while driving uphill. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The mechanic informed the contact that the cam shaft and engine needed to be replaced. The contact called an unknown local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a misfire coming from the engine. Upon starting the vehicle there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was due to the cylinder block. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Engine, Apr 15, 2024
Flex plate concern The ford edges are known for a cracked or broken flex plate which is dangerous to drive and unsafe to other vehicles on the road. How is this not a recall issue. I immediately brought the car to the shop as the noise was concerning and it didn’t seem like it should be driven. The shop determined it was the flex plate and said it was good I didn’t drive it as it is very unsafe to drive and puts other drivers at risk
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 15, 2024
Ford Escape 2018 Recall #[XXX] and #[XXX] ENGINE COOLANT LEAK Needs “New Engine” confirmed by service and available for inspection at dealer. Car was taken to Ford Dealer right when engine light came on. Dealer / Service has been only one to inspect car. On [XXX] BEFORE “Engine Coolant” Recalls were expired, car was taken to dealer for Recall #[XXX] I asked about ANY other CSP Letters or Recalls at the time of service. Ford Dealer decided on their own to ONLY preform ONE of the two Recalls that were crucial to being preformed for the safety of my vehicle. Both Recalls #[XXX] and #[XXX] should have been performed together according to letter sent to Dealers from Ford and NHTSA [XXX] Above link clearly states: “ Vehicle owners will receive one letter for both [XXX] and [XXX]. “ “Dealers should repair any affected vehicles that arrive at their dealerships, whether or not the customer has received a letter.” Ford Dealer took it upon themselves NOT to perform repair work or even discuss Recall #[XXX] at the time car was serviced [XXX] before recall expired [XXX]. Ford and Dealers knew about the “Coolant Engine Leak” problem long before and did not warn me or make me aware I was driving a dangerous car. I did not receive CSP Letters that is why I make sure to double check with Service Dept. at time of service. Ford performed Recall #[XXX] and NEVER mentioned CSP Letters sent out or that there was a second recall that needed to done #[XXX] before [XXX] Ford basically sent me on my way in a very unsafe car for myself and my passengers. I should have been made completely aware of this situation at that exact time and service (XXX). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 12, 2024
My coolant leaked and caused Cylinder 3 to misfire and the head gasket to blow requiring replacement, and it is currently available for inspection. My sensor never indicated the car was overheating or at risk, and if the coolant had run out and caused my engine to shut down, it could have caught on fire or locked up, a safety risk to both myself and others on the road. My car tremored slightly on 4/7 with no warning lights or messages, and that was the only issue I noticed. I didn't pay it much attention. On 4/9, it had trouble starting, but it took 4 days after first noticing a tremor for my check engine light to come on. The issue was only diagnosed and discovered by a private automotive shop, and I am seeing a lot of the same problem discussed online in reference to Ford's "Customer Service Program" for these vehicles. My vehicle does not qualify for that program due to mileage and expiration date, and I was not notified it was a potential issue.
Engine, Apr 12, 2024
Coolant intrusion into the cylinder, causing coolant to leak in engine cause misfiring and loss of coolant causing quick and unpredictable over heating. Only option is to get a whole new engine
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 12, 2024
Engine failure. Coolant leaking into piston 2.
Seat belts, Apr 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while adjusting the front driver’s side seat to the driver's height, the seat belt rubbed against the seat belt retractor located on the driver side door. As a result of the failure, the front driver’s seat belt started to shred after multiple seat adjustments. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
Engine, Apr 10, 2024
Bought my escape on used 6/2022. On 3/6/24.. My car started shaking and the engine light started blinking. Had it towed to the dealer. The dealer said it was antifreeze intrusion. And it is a well know problem with my motor and that Ford is aware of this.
Engine, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 9, 2024
My car, 2018 Ford Escape is in need of an entirely new engine due to coolant leaking into the engine. This is a KNOWN ISSUE. My car suddenly started overheating and my car became undrivable. This is a widely reported issue and I believe there is clear evidence that it is a known defect and that Ford has the absolute responsibility to repair it .
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 9, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the message "Engine Fault - Service Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where it was diagnosed that the coolant pump was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred two months later while the vehicle was idling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak. The mechanic determined that the head gasket or the engine needed to be replaced; however, the mechanic informed the contact that there was no guarantee that the parts replacement would repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,096.
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
Was driving and car started to spit and sputter and high temperature warning message came on. Car went into limp mode. Had car towed to dealership to be inspected. Was told the car had codes P0302, P1299 stored. They found coolant leaking into the #2 cylinder following TSB 22-2322. Engine needs replaced due to a design defect that Ford Motor Company has been away of. With 108,000 miles, the vehicle was out of the range of mileage allowed for the Ford Motor Company repair campaign 21N12. The repair quote is $10,528.75 to replace the engine. I contacted Ford Customer Service and received a Case#. I passed this on to the dealership who called Ford. He stated they are not willing to even share the cost with me for a design flaw they know existed on my vehicle.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 9, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
This is 3rd one Ford escape all three ran boiling hot stalled quit running would not crank up coolant leak my car is like brand new I love it but this has to be a recall for it to do three just alike .afraid it will catch on fire and it stalls in traffic I'm [XXX] and it scares me to death of getting hit run over are burning up in car INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
The engine has had the same issue as countless others where coolant got into the engine and the engine must be replaced. This is a constant issue and Ford is doing nothing to remedy this engine issue.
Engine, Apr 8, 2024
Ford has a KNOWN issue with fluid intrusion in the engines of some of their vehicles built over many years and the repair is a new engine block. The issue causes the car to sputter and stall as well as emit smoke and have a burning smell. They have issued a Technical Service Bulletin about the issue but not a recall and are not fixing the issue in some vehicles.
Power train, Engine, Apr 8, 2024
The 2018 Ford Escape had a check engine light come on. It showed a code (P0303) that said cylinder 3 was misfiring. It was also having white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe and my coolant was draining really quickly. The coolant tank was completely empty before hitting 2,000 miles since it had last been filled. I took the vehicle into a Ford dealership for a diagnostic check to see what was going on. In the end I was told that I have a crack in the long block that is letting coolant into my cylinders which is causing the misfiring. I was told that the possibility of an engine fire and a few other things that make the engine not work could have happened while driving it. Unfortunately the vehicle isn’t even paid off yet and I can’t drive it for fear of something bad happening while doing so. They are quoting me around $8600 to fix it. We are currently trying to figure out if there is anyway of fixing it without having to pay out of pocket. It appears that this is a common problem with 2018 ford escape 2.0L engines. My engine was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky. The Ford company sent a notice or something out on [XXX] that said the manufacturer error engines for the 2017-2019 Ford Escape 1.5L Ecoboost were manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky. Seeing as my engine was made there and has the same problem as the 1.5L engines I feel like there should be a recall put out for the 2.0L and the 1.5L 2017-2019 Ford Escape engines. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 6, 2024
Coolant leak into the cylinder causing head gasket and cylinder to crack. This caused engine heating and could've potentially caused an engine fire. This was diagnosed by a Ford dealer and was covered under a Ford customer service program in 2022 (21N12). Engine warning light came on alerting to the problem.
Service brakes, Apr 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the "Parking Brake - Fault Service Now" message illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stopped driving the vehicle out of fear of causing brake damage or engine damage. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Engine, Apr 5, 2024
Like thousands of other customers, my engine needs to be fully replaced at only 30K miles due to coolant leaking into the engine. I am fortunate to have purchased a bumper to bumper warranry for over $4K, but this is FORD'S issue and THEY should be replacing the engines at no cost to their customers. It's terrible they are able to get away with screwing over people who still are paying off their loans without a car that runs. There should be a class action lawsuit filed, period. After my engine is replaced, I will be selling this crappy, unreliable car because I don't trust it won't happen again and after my 6 year, 60K warranty expires. I purchased it used from a BMW dealership that was a trade in and only put on 6K miles in 2 years. I've driven foreign cars that have been reliable with no costly repairs well over 100K miles. This is criminal!!!
Engine, Apr 4, 2024
2.0 ECOBOOST ENGINE IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS CAUSING HARD STARTING AND ROUGH IDLE. THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ENGINE ADDRESSED IN FORD SERVICE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-2346.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge began to indicate that the engine was overheating, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine, requiring an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Power train, Apr 1, 2024
The car was stalling while driving and coming to a complete stop while accelerating. No warning lights were on. I called an independent mechanic shop and they came out to diagnose the issue. They informed that the powertrain light was now on and that car would not go into first gear. I called the Ford Service Center to schedule a service appointment and I was informed that the car had a recall notice. I took the car in for the recall service and was informed that they completed the service for the recall but that the car was having the same issue.