2018 FORD ESCAPE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Escape. This model year has 1,623 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2018 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Ford Escape. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 1,341 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 248 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 94 | 6 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 51 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 35 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 28 | 3 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 25 | 4 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 19 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 8 | 7 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,623 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
On 3/15/2026 I was on my way home from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, and about 35 minutes into my drive I got an alert stating "High Engine Temperature Stop Safely", so I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. After allowing the engine to cool down, I opened the hood an…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed, and the failure was not duplicated. The dealer cleared the check engine warning light. The con…
This Ford 2018 Escape has an Intrusion that is a Major defect on this motor . It is in the shop to be fixed now costing me a total of $6875.27 . As soon as the check engine light came on we stopped the car as we were home. We had the car towed to a mechanic for diagnosis & repai…
A check engine light came on then got over heated and the vehicle shut off on highway with no prior warning almost causing an accident and almost hit a guard rail.i was told that my vehicle is known for this ford is aware of the problem but refuses to fix it.the mechanic said it …
coolant intrusion in engine, dangerous, can cause fires
Engine Coolant Intrusion on Cylinder 2. Hydrolocks on start up. Yes available for inspection. Unknown. Yes dealership inspected and confirmed the issue. Recommendation was engine replacement. No inspection by manufacturer,police, or insurance. Check engine turned on for rando…
While entering the highway my vehicle started to buck.i took my foot off the gas and then it accelerated really fast in on coming traffic the check engine light came on it immediately over heated and shut of on the highway in traffic
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the warning light for the engine overheating was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion. The contact was infor…
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While the owner was driving at various speeds, the engine overheated and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode on several occasions. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed after each failure. The vehicle…
Blown Head gasket due to known faulty Engine. Coolant leaking into cylinders. Known design defect.
Coolant in engine block; replacement engine required and not covered by warranty.
Our 2018 Ford Escape has a 1.5L Eco Boost engine that currently has coolant intrusion in all 4 cylinders per a diagnosis by a Ford dealership in Orlando, FL. All indications point to it being the result of the same known design flaw for which Ford has previously issued a recall.…
I have 2018 Ford Escape SE 1.5L engine, approx. 81,500 miles. Date into service 05/26/2018. Diagnosed on 04/18/2026 at Ford dealer (see attached) with Coolant Intrusion into engine. Ford dealer states that Ford will not assist with repair/replacement of engine because vehicle has…
Coolant intrusion into the cylinders
This vehicle has 110000 miles. Has coolant intrusion in cylinder 2. Has had an issue since 45000 miles with drivability. Coils and spark plugs were replaced even though coolant intrusion was a known issue at the time.
Hello, I would like to file a safety complaint regarding my Ford Escape. Vehicle Information: VIN: [XXX] Make/Model: Ford Escape Year: 2018 Issue Description: While driving, my vehicle suddenly overheated. The temperature gauge moved from normal to hot within seconds, and a w…
Car began making noises and overheating. Had to pay $2200 for water pump coolant thermostat timing belt etc. with the uncertainty if the engine was “blown”. Drove two days began overheating again. Has been determined that head gaskets are blown due to coolant leaking into the eng…
On Sept.17, 2021 my 2018 Ford Escape rolled away. When I was leaving a driveway, I got in car, buckled my seatbelt, started the engine and put the vehicle in Reverse. I immediately realized I had not paid for the item and shifted into Park. I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the doo…
I am writing to formally report regarding a serious issue with my Ford Escape 2018. The engine failed at the mileage of 37,833 miles, which is far earlier than any reasonable expectation for a vehicle of this age and mileage. This type of major mechanical breakdown is not consist…
My 2018 Ford Escape has diagnostic codes P0302 and P0316 cylinder 2 misfire and no compression on cylinder 2 due to coolant intrusion into the engine block. This is a known defect documented in Ford TSB 22-2322 and Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. My VIN was excluded from thi…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2018 Ford Escape.
Recalls for 2018 Ford Escape
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Escape. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2018 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2018 Ford Escape has 1,623 NHTSA owner complaints, 25 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (1,341 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Escape?▾
#1: Engine Problems (1,341 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (248 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (94 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Ford Escape?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2018 Ford Escape?▾
The 2018 Ford Escape has 25 crash-related complaints and 5 fire reports out of 1,623 total NHTSA complaints. 29 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2018 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2018 Ford Escape. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Ford Escape?▾
The 2018 Ford Escape has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2018 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.