Your vehicle report
2018 Ford Escape
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 1,824
- Received Jan 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine626 complaints · 34% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion483 complaints · 26% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Check engine light comes on repeatedly91 complaints · 5.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #26V011000Ford 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.
- Recall #22V413000Ford 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engineFirst signal: May 2019
- Check engine light comes on repeatedlyFirst signal: Oct 2019
- Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolantFirst signal: Jan 2023
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 26 crashes, 6 fires, 30 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
8 more problems
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant
- Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration
- Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 55 |
| 2022 | 150 |
| 2023 | 256 |
| 2024 | 466 |
| 2025 | 490 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 297 |
| Total | 1,824 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 626 | 34% | 14.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.9% |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 483 | 26% | 20.2× | NHTSA recall #26V011000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 91 | 5.0% | 3.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.4% |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 38 | 2.1% | 0.8× | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 34 | 1.9% | 0.7× | NHTSA recall #22V413000 |
| Plastic intake manifold cracks and leaks coolant | 20 | 1.1% | 13× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 16 | 0.9% | 0.3× | NHTSA recall #17V803000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 16 | 0.9% | 0.5× | |
| Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates | 15 | 0.8% | 0.7× | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 14 | 0.8% | 0.4× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 12 | 0.7% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 12 | 0.7% | 0.2× | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 12 | 0.7% | 0.3× | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 12 | 0.7% | 0.3× | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 10 | 0.5% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 9 | 0.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 0.5% | 0.2× | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 9 | 0.5% | 1.8× | |
| Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission | 9 | 0.5% | 4.6× | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 8 | 0.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #26V011000January 15, 2026116,672 vehicles affected
equipment: electrical: engine block heater
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #22V413000June 10, 20222,925,968 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl); power train: shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #18V104000February 12, 201888 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #17V803000December 18, 201711,113 vehicles affected
air bags: side/window
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2018 Ford Escape.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN