2018 Ford Escape Problems: Engine (1,808 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2018 Ford Escape is Engine (70% of 1,808 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,808 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2018 Ford Escape?

1,269 of 1,808 filings named Engine (70% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (216 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Brakes, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2017 has 2,685 reports on file; this year has 1,808. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2018 Ford Escape

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 1,269 complaints · 70.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 26
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 30
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2017 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 1,269 of 1,808 owner complaints (70.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 1,269 complaints, 70.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 3 fire reports 1,269 · 70.2% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 216 complaints, 12.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 crash reports 216 · 12.0% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 35 complaints, 1.9% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 35 · 1.9% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 28 complaints, 1.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 28 · 1.6% Steering (STEERING): 26 complaints, 1.4% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 26 · 1.4% Wheels (WHEELS): 20 complaints, 1.1% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 crash reports 20 · 1.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 19 complaints, 1.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 crash reports 19 · 1.1% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 18 complaints, 1.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 18 · 1.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 16 complaints, 0.9% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 crash reports 16 · 0.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 176 complaints, 9.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 9 crash reports 2 fire reports 176 · 9.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 1,269 70.2% 3 crashes · 3 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 216 12.0% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 35 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 28 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 26 1.4% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 20 1.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 19 1.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 18 1.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 16 0.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 176 9.7% 9 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2018; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2017. 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2018-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2019-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2020-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2020-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2020-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2020-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2021-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2021-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2021-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2021-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2022-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2022-Q2: 33 owner reports 33 2022-Q3: 67 owner reports 67 2022-Q4: 37 owner reports 37 2023-Q1: 44 owner reports 44 2023-Q2: 52 owner reports 52 2023-Q3: 83 owner reports 83 2023-Q4: 77 owner reports 77 2024-Q1: 73 owner reports 73 2024-Q2: 133 owner reports 133 2024-Q3: 137 owner reports 137 2024-Q4: 121 owner reports 121 2025-Q1: 106 owner reports 106 2025-Q2: 173 owner reports 173 2025-Q3: 129 owner reports 129 2025-Q4: 82 owner reports 82 2026-Q1: 68 owner reports 68 2026-Q2: 119 owner reports 119 2026-Q3: 90 owner reports 90 2026-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 Owner reports Dec 2017 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 17V803000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V803000 Recall campaign 18V104000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V104000 Recall campaign 22V413000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V413000 Recall campaign 26V011000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V011000
  • Campaign 22V413000 was reported 1,329 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V011000 was reported 2,829 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 6
2018-Q3 Owner reports 10
2018-Q4 Owner reports 8
2019-Q1 Owner reports 5
2019-Q2 Owner reports 12
2019-Q3 Owner reports 11
2019-Q4 Owner reports 14
2020-Q1 Owner reports 9
2020-Q2 Owner reports 9
2020-Q3 Owner reports 16
2020-Q4 Owner reports 9
2021-Q1 Owner reports 18
2021-Q2 Owner reports 13
2021-Q3 Owner reports 13
2021-Q4 Owner reports 11
2022-Q1 Owner reports 13
2022-Q2 Owner reports 33
2022-Q3 Owner reports 67
2022-Q4 Owner reports 37
2023-Q1 Owner reports 44
2023-Q2 Owner reports 52
2023-Q3 Owner reports 83
2023-Q4 Owner reports 77
2024-Q1 Owner reports 73
2024-Q2 Owner reports 133
2024-Q3 Owner reports 137
2024-Q4 Owner reports 121
2025-Q1 Owner reports 106
2025-Q2 Owner reports 173
2025-Q3 Owner reports 129
2025-Q4 Owner reports 82
2026-Q1 Owner reports 68
2026-Q2 Owner reports 119
2026-Q3 Owner reports 90
2026-Q4 Owner reports 6
Recall campaign 1 17V803000
Recall campaign 1 18V104000
Recall campaign 1 22V413000
Recall campaign 1 26V011000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Brakes, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 17V803000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 18V104000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 22V413000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    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.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 26V011000

    Safety recall 26V011000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 1,808 complaints · page 1 of 73
2026-10-06Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11769240
CrashFireInjuryDeath
For the second time I have a coolant intrusion on my engine. It was fixed by the manufacturer once before.
2026-10-06Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11769225
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My liftgate will not open and there’s no emergency left to get it unlocked and this is a safety hazard
2026-10-03Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11768713
CrashFireInjuryDeath
On September 4, 2026, at approximately 6:00 PM, I was driving my 2018 Ford Escape SE (1.5L EcoBoost) and executing a left-hand turn across an intersection. Mid-turn, the vehicle suddenly lost all power, an "Engine Fault" warning message illuminated on the dashboard, and the engine completely stalled out. Because the vehicle died directly in the path of oncoming traffic, I was forced to steer the coasting vehicle out of harm's way to avoid an imminent side-impact collision. This emergency maneuver caused the vehicle to scrape a curb—damaging the right tire rim—and collide with a utility pole. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. I managed to bring the vehicle to a stop on a side street. Once stopped, the vehicle exhibited a total "no crank, no start" condition and completely refused to turn over or restart. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair facility. Upon professional diagnostic inspection, the technician discovered extensive engine oil intrusion within the main engine wiring harness. Engine oil had dynamically wicked through the harness directly into the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), completely compromising and shorting out the primary computer. This electronic failure is what triggered the sudden, catastrophic engine shutdown mid-traffic. This vehicle has a chronic history of severe electrical, powertrain, and "no-start" defects at only 56,000 miles, despite being meticulously maintained with routine synthetic oil changes as required. This is the second time I have experienced a life-threatening loss of engine power while actively driving, and I am fortunate to have narrowly avoided a major, high-speed collision on both occasions. In July 2025, the throttle body failed and initiated a dangerous Limp Mode mid-traffic, forcing a tow for replacement. In July 2026, a starter failure resulted in another total "no crank, no start" condition during the holiday weekend, requiring an emergency mobile mechanic. Following this my car has sat for a month.
2026-10-02Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11768462
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine has been diagnosed with coolant intrusion (very common ford ecoboost engine problem) where due to a manufacturing defect the engine has grooves in cylinder that allow coolant to enter combustion chamber. This causes coolant loss, engine mis fires, lots of white smoke upon starting and extremely rough idle. car has 120000 miles and the cost to repair is over 10,000 dollars. The vehicle and remainder of loan is a total loss because the common problem has made the trade in value around $6000 even if repaired. With out use of vehicle and remainder of loan and repairs I will be around 16000 in the hole and have to sell as salvage. FORD needs to recall this 2.0 ecoboost engine.
2026-10-02Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11768457
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the head gasket of the engine cracked and the vehicle stalled. There was coolant leaking into the engine previously, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was leaking coolant. There was white smoke coming from the tailpipe with a sweet odor during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, where a case was opened. The contact was informed that there was no recall or manufacturer warranty on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the head gasket was cracked. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
2026-10-01Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11768370
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2026-09-30Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11768013
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Ford Escape Complaints by Model Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ford Escape?

Owners named Engine most often — 1,269 of 1,808 reports (70%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Ford Escape?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Brakes, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2018 Ford Escape?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources