2018 Ford Escape: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 1,805 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (58% of complaints); the 2016 and 2019 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 56 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jan 2026
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 1,805 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Engine just started shaking and stopped working engine light came on then the hot light came on and no longer works. This car had been constantly serviced appropriately has 105,000 miles on it”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Ford issued TSB 22-2229 (and earlier TSB 19-2208) specifically covering 2018 2.0L EcoBoost engines with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The Root Cause: Ford redesigned the engine block around mid-2019 because the original design allowed coolant to pool in small grooves between the cylinder bores, eventually degrading the head gasket or cracking the cylinder wall. Error code * P0316 - misfire detected during startup. Ford dealer estimate $12,700 for the Repair. A new engine block.. Ford customer care says there is no assistance available because the vehicle is out of warranty. It has 60,555 miles.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Radiator fluid ìs leaking into cylinder, requiring engine replacement. Every other model and year of escape has recalls for this issue”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Cylinder cracked due to Coolant intrusion. A Customer Satisfaction Program was opened 21N12 however it closed last November. My vehicle is under the milage for the fix.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“2018 Ford Escape Mileage 74,920. Catastrophic unrepairable engine failure due to coolant leaking into engine on 09/21/26. Ford Motor Company knew of this design flaw as early as 2010 but continued manufacturing and selling the cars with this flaw. Engine light came on but only after the engine was already compromised. Car was towed to Clay Cooley Ford Dealer in Arlington Texas on 09/23/26 who confirmed this diagnosis. My safety and safety of others was at risk because the car stopped running while I was in traffic with no warning, and it could have caused a fire.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“Coolant reservoir emptying due to design flaws. Rough idle,white smoke from exhaust. Engine light constantly on. No Coolant or wet spots on the ground. Coolant leaking into the cylinders. Not good.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“I have a 2018 Ford Escape with a 1.5 liter engine. I am loosing coolant into my combustion chambers. I just learned that Ford knew about this problem but did not issue a recall. The only way to repair this is to replace the engine.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“My 2018 Ford Escape SE 1.5L EcoBoost is actively suffering from the manufacturer defect outlined in Ford TSB 19-2375 (coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders). The vehicle shakes violently on startup, emits heavy white smoke from the tailpipe, and displays an 'Engine Fault Service Now' warning. Because it is burning through coolant, this vehicle poses an immediate safety risk of sudden power loss, highway stalling, or catastrophic engine failure while driving. My job requires me to transport vulnerable medical patients, and this severe defect makes the vehicle entirely unsafe to operate on public roads.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“My sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving. It made a very loud noise, at first I thought a tire blew, but the tire light didn't come on. I could hear like a whistling coming from the top of the car and thought it must be the sunroof. It only cracked at that point, but lots of cracks. We were able to finish driving to our destination, but then when going to drive back home, it began to break and pieces fell onto the cover and some blew away also. There were no signs of issues before this happened.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“The engine is having issues. There is coolant leaking into the engine. Causing for the engine to shake upon starting the car. Issues that can come from operating the vehicle are overheating, fire and explosion of engine. I took the car for diagnostics at a Ford dealership and they confirmed that it is a fault with the engine that Ford is aware about but issued no recall. The check engine light first appeared on Saturday 9/05/2026 and that same day upon igniting the engine that was the first time that the engine rattled when starting the vehicle.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 25 of these complaints and injuries in 30 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Escape years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Escape by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Ford Escape reliable?
NHTSA has 1,805 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2018 Ford Escape. The most complained-about area is engine (58% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Escape problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 81,000 miles or less.
Does the 2018 Ford Escape have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.