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.
Power train, Sep 8, 2023
I drove about 20 minutes to an eating establishment. Left the establishment after about an hour and a half. Got into my car. It would not shift into gear. The shifter moved., but not into gear. No reverse. No drive. No neutral. I called triple a. The arrived in 45 minutes. The gentleman went into my car after telling him what happened. He came back to me and told his tow truck can’t tow my car. They need a truck with a special tool to be able to pull my vehicle out. Since it wouldn’t go into neutral. He did not have that on his truck. I waited for 4 hours. Still no tow truck. I then realized that I had road side assistance with Ford. I called them. I told the gentleman my situation including what the previous tow company told me. He called me back in 20 minutes. Said he found a tow truck. He wouldn’t be able to get there for and hour and half to 2 hours. The tow company towed it to jannell ford in Hanover, Massachusetts. On Monday Jannell called me. They said since I didn’t have an appointment it’s gonna be a while before we can look at it. Through out the 3 weeks they kept in touch with me and were talking about a new transmission. Finally it was my turn for my vehicle to be looked at. And it went into gear. There were no repairs made. I brought my car to a transmission place. He could not recreate what happened. But he did tell me it would happen again. It’s a matter of time. This is the third time I have brought my vehicle involving transmission issues. The first time was June 30, 2021. Torque converter was replaced 2nd time April 12, 2022 Te problem I have now happened July 24, 2023.
Engine, Sep 8, 2023
Vehicle has 45655 miles on it. Vehicle idled rough at start on 9-5-23. Upon driving at highway speeds check engine light illuminated. Vehicle was taken to repair shop the next day and was found to have coolant in the engine block and no coolant in the reservoir. No other engine lights are on no indicator for temp and temp was in the normal range.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the engine overheated warning alert indicated that he should stop driving the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, he observed that the coolant level was abnormally low. After refilling the coolant reservoir, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality, but the failure recurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined coolant had leaked into the cylinder, causing damage to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to Technical Service Bulletin 22-2322, but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 6, 2023
The contact's sister owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, that the vehicle hesitated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where the mechanic discovered that coolant had intruded into cylinder #1. Upon investigation, the contact thought that the vehicle would be covered under a Customer Satisfaction Program; however, the dealer informed him that the vehicle was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 60-70 MPH, a message indicating that the vehicle was overheating and to pull over was displayed. The contact veered to the side of the road and allowed the engine to cool down. The contact continued driving, however, the vehicle was not accelerating as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred 7-8 times within one week. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the engine cylinders, and the engine, the cylinders, and the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Power train, Engine, Sep 5, 2023
On August 1, 2023 my vehicle began to show engine issues. When I started it, it would shudder, like it wasn't getting fuel. I contacted Firestone and scheduled a diagnostic for that Friday. In the meantime, I bought some enginge cleaner and put it in my gas tank. Firestone reports that the coolant has leaked into the head gasket, causing my vehicle to need a new enginge. They printed out a report of CSP21N12 which covers this KNOWN ISSUE for 84,000 or 7 years. My vehicle has 92,800 miles on it and had shown no signs of this issue prior. The vehicle was then seen at Dahl Ford in Davenport, Iowa where they confirmed that the coolant was leaking into the enginge and it needed replaced. Again, this is known issue that Ford has been aware of since 2019. They have released numerous TSBs (which I didn't even know existed until August 4). Ending the coverage at 84,000 miles is not acceptable and this is a serious safety hazard. The vehicle can catch fire if it runs out of coolant. The vehicle can stall in the middle of the road causing a potential accident. Ford needs to issue a recall.
Power train, Engine, Sep 3, 2023
Shifts hard sometimes slamming into and out of gears causing car to jump. No warning lights torque converter replaced at 58000 miles. Less than two years later problem came back. It causes the car to jerk sometimes when it shifts and stutters at times as well causing the car to slow down. May someday stop with no warning causing a crash.
Engine, Sep 1, 2023
Headgasket failed. Coolant is leaking into the cylinders. Repair requires complete engine replacement. After doing some questioning/investigating, it was revealed that this is a known problem with this vehicle and Ford is doing nothing to notify owners/compensate for this mechanical failure. The symptoms of this failure (misfires leading to improper engine behavior/failure to accelerate) are a significant safety issue.
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the auto Start/Stop feature was no longer operable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Power train, Aug 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35-37 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear, and was jerking significantly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected for fluid leakage, but no issues were found. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was connected to an OBD reader, but no diagnostic codes were retrieved. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the transmission needed to be repaired; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to partially cover the repair cost. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The engine overheated. The contact checked the coolant level but found no leaks. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Power train, Exterior lighting, Engine, Aug 29, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned. Flexplate cracked at 62037 It is available for inspection upon request. I have the dealer's invoice. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There was a knocking noise in the motor while i was on the highway with my kids. no Warning lights. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, The dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, the Wayne Ford service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No there was no warning lights. No symptoms.
Engine, Aug 29, 2023
Coolant intrusion into engine block which caused rough idling and overheating. Potential for vehicle to start on fire. Engine has to be replaced.
Power train, Engine, Aug 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the local dealer for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered water inside the cylinder head, and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, and the failure was remedied. Recently while driving at various speeds, there was a loud revving sound while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.
Engine, Aug 29, 2023
Coolant leaking in engine making car not Start and getting stranded
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to overheat intermittently, prompting the driver to pull to the side of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the head gasket had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V380000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000. The contact stated after the independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure, the vehicle was towed to Ford who confirmed it was in fact engine failure. The cost for repairs was $10,000+ prohibitive without a recall, especially since there is a $17,000 balance on the financed car only ten months earlier.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle overheated. The message "Vehicle Running Hot” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine, Aug 21, 2023
My 2018 Ford Escape started out with a flashing engine light. Code said was coil #2. Overheated because didnt realize was using coolant. We changed the coils and spark plugs. Engine light went off and continued to keep an eye on the coolant. Engine light came back on next day. Noticed it not wanting to start and was having to fill coolant up frequently. Then noticed the lag when accelerating. Finally wouldn't start at all. Took it to the dealership and they said the coolant was leaking into the second cylinder and I need a new engine. The extended warranty is out (118,880 miles) so I'm not able to get it fixed. I'm still paying on the car.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was being serviced at an independent mechanic, the check engine warning light illuminated. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the spark plugs were replaced; however, while driving 55-65 MPH, the engine started misfiring and the vehicle was sputtering. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,893.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where it was discovered that coolant had leaked into cylinder #2. The dealer informed the contact that either the engine block or the engine might need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Power train, Aug 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined coolant intrusion had damaged the engine block, requiring the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12, but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 132,000.
Wheels, Aug 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle in for service, the contact was made aware that the lug nuts were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the lug nuts were damaged due to the manufacturing installation process. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 95,000.
Engine, Aug 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, the vehicle was running rough. The message stating that the engine was overheating was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure, caused by a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed the engine failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under Warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 84,572.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2023
After having the 2018 Ford Escape for three weeks, the entire APIM system went down. I was not able to charge anything, use the radio, or the touchscreen for all of the functions in the dash. It goes in and out constantly, often does not turn on at all, the touchscreen lags, the radio takes up to a minute or longer to change a channel once a button is pressed. The only thing that is in tact is the rear camera. The 2016-2017 APIMs have been recalled, and this one should as well. Other than the rear camera and now being able to charge a phone, I cannot use the touchscreen at all and do not use the radio because I cannot see what channel it is on.
Engine, Aug 10, 2023
We found out on July 3, 2023 that the coolant level was low in the reservoir and the vehicle was stuttering. While doing research on the issue I found that there is a manufacturer defect in the engine short block on the 1.5L engine installed from 2017 to 2019 in the ford fusion and the ford escape. I also found a Customer Satisfaction Bulletin 21N12 that was sent out June 09, 2022 which extended the manufacturer’s warranty from 5 year 60,000 miles to 7 year 84,000 miles. Our 2018 ford escape fell out of those parameters, since we found the issue when the vehicle was at 88,000 miles.