2018 Ford Escape problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (913) · Engine And Engine Cooling (322) · Power Train (239)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Escape model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
671 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater 2026-01-15 · campaign 26V011000 · 116,672 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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. For
Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 2022-06-10 · campaign 22V413000 · 2,925,968 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2018-02-12 · campaign 18V104000 · 88 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:side/Window 2017-12-18 · campaign 17V803000 · 11,113 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (173)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Electrical System 2025-11-26 · TSB 25-2570 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 24-2165 to update the tsb service procedure. some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit various sync performance related concerns including but not limited to: display operation concerns navigation inoperative voice recognition concerns phone co
Power Train 2025-11-12 · SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2021 ford and lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated mil with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0011, p0012, p0014, p0015, p0016, p0017, p0018, p0019, p0021, p0022, p0024 and/or p0025. pinpoint test hk in the powertrain control and emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) or in section 303-14 of th
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Unknown Or Other 2024-05-27 · TSB 24-2165 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 21-2175 to update the tsb service procedure. some 2016 mks, 2016-2017 navigator, 2016-2018 f-150/focus/c-max/edge/fiesta/mkx/transit connect/mustang, 2017-2018 continental/fusion/mkz, 2017-2019 explorer, 2016-2019 escape/mkc/flex/mkt/taurus/transit/expedition/f-super duty
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Showing the 6 most recent of 173 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-28 · Engine“this is in relation to the coolant intrusion problem with all the ford ecoboost engines. the vehicle has 98,958 miles - all recommended services were done. mechanic is recommending a full engine replacement to the tune of $19000. that is nearly 2/3 the value of the car when purchased. ford not standing behind their products has gotten to a point of…”
2026-10-28 · Engine“i suffered catastrophic engine misfires with a sudden loss of power and white smoke coming from the exhaust. this was due to a design flaw in the ford ecoboost 1.5l engine which allowed coolant into the #3 cylinder.…”
2026-10-27 · Engine“the vehicle is experiencing ongoing coolant loss with no visible external leak. the coolant level drops consistently and requires frequent refilling. the issue began around mid‑mileage and has continued to worsen. the engine sometimes emits a coolant smell, and the temperature gauge rises more quickly than normal. warning messages about high engine…”
2026-10-27 · Power Train“the car was driving completely fine, then when starting to go at a stoplight it had trouble shifting out of the first gear. at the next stop, it would not go uphill and began slowly rolling backwards as i am trying to move forward. this was in downtown [xxx] traffic with nowhere for me to pull over. it was very close to hitting the car behind me. i…”
2026-10-25 · Engine“21n12 coolant intrusion \ at dealership coolant in oil, coolant in firing cylinders possible explosion fire. engine light popped on 2 weeks ago and they have my vehicle now and still do not know if they will fix it. …”
2026-10-21 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“there have been several issues that cause safety concerns with my 2018 ford escape 1.5l ecoboost. the two most concerning are the headlights and engine failure. since i drove this vehicle off the lot in 2023 i have had to replace the headlights every 4 to 6 months. i recently learned it is do to an electrical issue and the most recent occurrence ca…”
2026-10-20 · Engine“ apparently my 2018 ford escape 1.5 liter ecoboost engine has a known flaw of coolant intrusion into the cylinders. it can be inspected right now as it's at the ford service center. this problem could have left me on the side of the freeway at night. ford service has verified the problem and that it needs a new engine. i dont believe the parts have…”
2026-10-18 · Engine“i have had a cylinder 2 misfire every 6 months for the past 3 years. after the 3rd misfire i replaced the entire engine that had less than 86,000 miles with another one that had only 32,000 miles on it. after another 6 months i had it happen again. i got the spark plugs and coil replaced and now i'm having it 6 months again happen and the read out …”
2026-10-15 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 110,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford escape. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature increased, and the vehicle entered limp mode. the vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. the failure mileage was 110,000. …”
2026-10-15 · Engine“i have a 2018 escape that died on july 10, 2026, 39312 miles. paid $300 for a diagnosis at a ford dealer. a new engine was recommended. the dealer quote is $13,500 for replacement. called ford directly and was told, " too bad you're not covered".…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.