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 29, 2024
Coolant intrusion into the engine causing a misfire in cylinder #1. Slow and heavy idle at startup, thick white exhaust and an immediate warning of engine overheating. Car is inoperable and engine must be replaced. There was also a short at the main 150 amp battery fuse on 4 separate occasions since the misfire in cylinder #1.
Engine, Mar 27, 2024
Engine failed due to timing chain, a common issue for these motors & part of the reason they discontinued this models engine. The car was running when the engine failed. The vehicle is currently at a mechanic, with diagnosis of engine failure due to timing chain. The car has not been looked at by police, manufacturer, insurance or other. There were NO indications of the problem prior to the engine failing.
Power train, Mar 27, 2024
On 02/28/2024, I was driving on the freeway taking my child to school. going about 65mph and the RPM gauge started to swing left to right. My car started to slow down. I was able to pull over to the side of the freeway safely. As I pulled over the car came to an abrupt stop and the screen flashed "Transmission Failure". I called my insurance, and they informed me that it was not an insurance issue and to check to see if any recalls were on my car. I checked and it stated that there was a recall regarding my transmission parts. I had the car towed to the closest dealership. At the dealership they stated that I had a Certified Preowned and my warranty covered the cost for the service. I was informed that a rental car would be covered for 5 days at $38 a day. I was also informed that it would take them until 03/07/24 to breakdown the car and transmission to locate the exact issue that needed to be fixed. I received a call on 03/08/24 stating that the issue was the transmission and approval would need to be obtained from Ford to either replace the transmission or fix the parts. Ford authorized the replacement transmission on 03/12/24. I was then informed that the new transmission would be delivered by 03/21/24. On 03/25/24, I called the dealership since no call was made to me and was informed that the transmission being shipped was unable to be located. I called Ford corporation and filed a complaint due to lack of communication and prolonging my rental car usage. On 03/26/24, I spoke with the manager of the dealership and was informed that the transmission was not lost but was on backorder. He stated that he would need to find parts to rebuild the transmission at this point. He also stated that he would need to get approval from Ford to outsource the parts needed to rebuild the transmission. He stated that it would be another 2 weeks before my car may be fixed and given back to me. I now have to continue with my rental usage and the current total is $2000 and rising.
Engine, Mar 26, 2024
Went out to start the car one morning. It started up no problems. About 2 mins after starting it the car completely stopped running. No check engine light came on or anything. I thought it was the battery so I replaced the battery. Upon further digging I found out there was a recall in the engine from 2022 that I was NOT notified of. I took the vehicle to two different dealerships one that is just up the block from my house and the second one is where I bought the car. Both places confirmed that it was Infact the recall problem, where the coolant leaks into the engine and destroys the engine block. The second dealership reached out to ford. Ford has refused to help fix the engine even though I was never sent or made aware of the recall on the engine.. I have also talked to a third ford dealerships who confirmed that there has been several vehicles with this same problem that does will NOT fix either. As a result I have a vehicle I CANNOT drive that I have to continue to pay for and ford is only offering me $5,000 as a trade in value but I owe $20,000. Had I been notified of the recall I would have been able to get it fixed BEFORE anything happened. I would have a in perfect condition car that was still usable. It is now financially hurting me. Ford should be held financially responsible for the gross negligence they are putting me through.
Power train, Mar 26, 2024
I am experiencing transmission issues in my 2018 Ford Escape SUV, the vehicle is barely 5 yrs old with less than 75k on the odometer. I started noticing that when I go over 60mph it starts to sputter, I took it to the ford dealership and was told I need to replace the torque converter and transmission at a cost of over 6K. I am in a delima as this is my only vehicle and or not to repair the vehicle or get rid of it. This is a very frustrating situation to be in.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, a warning message stated there was "High Engine Temperature Stop Safely". The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with internal engine failure. Additionally, anti-freeze was leaking into the cylinder causing the engine to overheat. The independent mechanic contacted the dealer where it was recommended for the vehicle to be taken to the dealer. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3, a cylinder compression was low, and it was stated that the long block assembly needed to be replaced. The dealer submitted the findings to the manufacturer and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle would not be included in Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 due to the mileage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2024
I received a warning on my dashboard to pullover safely because my engine was overheating even though I just left work from a cold start. I had it towed to my mechanic who told me I had a serious issue and recommended I take it to Ford. Ford just confirmed a short engine block issue and even though I had the required repair done on 7/9/22 that was supposed to prevent this more expensive issue. My particular vehicle was not on the Program 21N12 Coolant Intrusion Recall for possible short engine block issue but that's the exact issues the dealership just told me has happened to my vehicle. Luckily I was able to maneuver it out of the line of traffic safely.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost significant motive power. After which, the contact observed excessive smoke emanating from the exhaust, prompting her to pull to the side of the roadway. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed oil covering the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the contact was unable to recall the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.
Engine, Mar 23, 2024
Timing belt slipped at 72,000 miles causing total engine failure
Engine, Mar 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the exhaust began to show signs of smoke, and the vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The Check Engine Warning Light had illuminated. The vehicle was restarted but failed to maintain power and would not drive. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was Anti-Freeze leaked into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a Ford Service center where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired as of yet. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Engine, Mar 22, 2024
I recently took my car for an oil change and was informed by the technician that a diagnostic was needed due to hearing coolant pooling into the engine. After the diagnostic was performed I was provided with a list of codes that stated it was a recall issue with coolant pooling into the engine. I then took it to a Ford dealership and they stated it was not a recall issue. I submitted a copy of the codes that the independent repair technician emailed me, and that they signified a recall issue. A week later after vehemently denying there was no coolant issue, Ford stated they removed a spark plug and found contaminants in the engine, yet stated it was not a recall issue. My safety was put at risk in that my engine could seize at any moment and cause bodily harm to me or others. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance representative. There were no warning sign when I initially heard the coolant pooling, however, when I took it for an oil change the check engine light appeared as I was driving to have an oil change.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 21, 2024
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his daughter was driving 25 MPH, there was a significant amount of smoke coming out of the tailpipe, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine. The mechanic determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a repair fee because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle 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 118,692.
Engine, Mar 20, 2024
The vehicle started overheating due to an internal coolant leak that sends coolant into the cylinder head. This is apparently a common issue with these vehicles and could easily lead to a fire. There is an active recall for the same exact engine in the Ford Fusion. There needs to be a recall for the Ford Escape engines as well before people sustain unnecessary injury/death.
Engine, Mar 20, 2024
There is a known issue with the 1.5 liter engine for the 2018 Ford Escape related to coolant leaks in the engine causing cylinder misfires (which can lead to damaged spark plugs, lost coolant, overheating, among other things)--Ford has addressed the issue via a "customer service program" (program [XXX]) in what appears to be an attempt to avoid an active recall. Although the issue is widespread for the 1.5 liter engine, it still occurs in the 2.0 liter engine. I have the 2.0 liter engine and am having the same issue (coolant leak due to the design of the open block, has caused multiple issues). The Ford dealership service center (McLarty Daniel Ford in Bentonville, AR) confirmed the diagnosis and that I would need an entirely new engine. But because I'm 2,000 miles outside of my power train warranty and the customer service program only applies to 1.5 liter engines, Ford wants me to pay for all or most of the repairs. Ford should expand program [XXX] to cover the 2.0 liter engine or be forced to address the issue via a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Mar 18, 2024
Engine coolant leaking into engine cylinder number two.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2024
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 an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the spark plugs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, who then determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. 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, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Power train, Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 18, 2024
Check engine light came on steady. Took vehicle in for service at 1st possible appt. Was told it was engine block failure due to faulty porous block installed by Ford. Vehicle has 54000 miles on it, 8 months out of the 60,000/5yr powertrain warranty. Have an extended warranty but they refused to pay stating Ford knew about the faulty engine blocks installed on thousands of vehicles. Ford had issued a TSB warning of potential engine failures in these vehicles, but no recall. TSB 22-2322 Huge safety issue due to possibility of catching fire or breaking down on busy interstate. Vehicle currently at Ford dealership with a repair price tag of 10,400.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2024
I bought a used 2018 Ford escape eco-boost SUV from Elder Ford. I recently have been experiencing coolant problems where the coolant is dissipating from the engine. The car has run hot two or three times and now there appears to be coolant and oil mixed together that's over the engine and it appears that there is a cracked head gasket. I have researched on the computer to find this is a known problem from Ford back to 2010 and there are multiple customers that have experience the same thing. Now I believe the engine has to be replaced. Ford needs to be held accountable for this faulty mechanism. There's a coolant intrusion issue which causing gulping of the coolant into the cylinders. Apparently Ford changed the area around the pistons to an open deck which is causing this problem . I noticed that there's a class action lawsuit in California for the same problem.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Mar 15, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 35-45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was overheating. A message advising to pull to the side of the road was displayed. The contact's wife was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the nearest independent mechanic, where the water pump, the serpentine belt, the water pump gasket, the cylinder head temperature sensor and the coolant temperature sensor were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, the message "Service Now" was displayed, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was hydrocarbon intrusion into the coolant system. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, and the dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,100.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2024
Coolant intrusion to the cylinder bores.
Engine, Mar 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of a flowing liquid sound underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant leak into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12; however, the contact was informed that the repair could not be covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Engine, Mar 13, 2024
Coolant leaked into causing engine failure. Now having to have engine replaced. Noticed 156 other complaints to NHTSA regarding same issues. Why is Ford not doing anything about this. My Ford has 58560 miles on it.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 12, 2024
Widely known issue that the engine has coolant leaking into the engine. Ford issued a statement on it. Now the same thing is happening to my car. Safety of myself and others put at risk by vehicle running incorrectly and engine is now misfiring resulting in difficulty maintaining power while driving. Problem has been confirmed by independent body shop and is being confirmed but dealer now. Check engine light was on at 97k and now at 106k with same codes.
Engine, Mar 12, 2024
Our vehicle is a 2018 Ford Escape with 54,843 miles. This vehicle was purchased Used from Ted Britt Ford, Chantilly, Va. and assured there was no issues with the vehicle. On or around February 20, 2024 my daughter notified me the check engine light is on. Dropped it off a local repair shop which identified there was a misfiring and needed a bore scope to see inside. Borescope discovered coolant in the cylinders indicating the head gasket is leaking. Call Ford US Customer Service same day (February 26, 2024), said they need Ford mechanic to look at it. Took to Chantilly who confirmed. Called Ford USA back, said they would talk with Ford Dealer and call me back, never returned a call. I've been calling them every 2-3 days since. Finally today they said 'there is no program to provide financial assistance' which really pisses me off. Reading industry material from reddit indicates this is a consistent problem experienced by many drivers of the Ford Escape. Seeing these reports indicate a bigger problem with the design and manufacturing of the Ford Escape. Consumers are left to pay the bill estimated at $13,000 - $15,000. Ford states there is no program to support this. I see this is a safety issue. What if a driver (in this case an 18yr old girl) has an engine seize stranding the driver. Ford America Customer Service Case # CXH-01638292