10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 31,272 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was still jerking and failed to accelerate as needed. The "Transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on another occasion, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission and flywheel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,184.
- Lambertville, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and was jerking. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was still jerking and failed to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to an out of state dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was still under warranty and was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and was taken to another out of state dealer who diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
- Ponder, TX, USA
I had to replace the engine May 28, 2024. The coolant started mixing with the oil based on the poor design of the engine. Then December 16, 2024, I had to replace the transfer case. Now my transmission has gone out on January 22, 2025. All of this has been out of pocket because I was out of the warranty mileage range. I'm still currently financing the vehicle and have to make all these costly repairs. I'm trying to see what can be done? There is no way a new vehicle like this should be having all these problems especially when it was bought new off the lot.
- Hammond, IN, USA
My transmission started slipping while driving on a main street. It barely moved, less than 1 mph, while accelerating to get to a safe place and not rear ended. This was very dangerous for me and the car behind me. There was no warning prior to this happening and the engine light never came on even after the transmission -??slipped-??. I had a mechanic check it out and he couldn-??t find any codes. It ran decently around the neighborhood but then the next day it started slipping again. Took it ford because this time it said power train failure. Turns out my 2018 ford escape, around 105,00 miles, needed a new transmission with no prior signs of distress. I was quoted 10,000. Ford knows about this problem with their 2018 escapes for a while and has not recalled them. Unacceptable.
- Mckinney, TX, USA
Transmission failed at 42,000 miles
- Des Plaines, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH, the transmission fluid warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH to the dealer the following day, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond upon shifting to drive(D) or reverse(R). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer ordered the part for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 93,385.
- Rock Hill, NY, USA
Transmission is not going into fifth gear correctly.
- Hardinsburg, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH in the rainy weather, the vehicle lost motive power. The "Transmission Failure" message was displayed. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission shifter cable bushing listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) for which the VIN was included, had failed along with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission shifter cable bushing had not caused the transmission to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
Purge valve stuck open causing check engine light to come on. Same as current recall on Ford Focus 2012-2018 vehicles. Ford Escapes within the same time frame should be included in the recall. Every time I fill gas there is a hard turn on since beginning of December. Then check engine light came on and code P1450.
- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the transmission hesitated, and the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.
- Edison, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter had disintegrated and there were metal fragments inside the transmission, causing transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,169.
- Norwood, OH, USA
With 125,000 miles the engine has coolant leaking into it with a possible blown head gasket.
- Ann Arbor , MI, USA
I have the 6F35 transmission in my 2018 Ford Escape. On 11/12/24, while driving, the transmission had a catastrophic failure. The vehicle started jerking, it would not move when giving it gas, and the transmission was whining loudly. After taking my vehicle to a Ford dealer, I learned that the pump inside of the transmission flew apart, causing the transmission to fail and to get metal shavings throughout the transmission and oil cooler system. There was no warning. The vehicle drove normal until it didn't. I never got a warning light, even after the transmission completely failed. I believe this to be a catastrophic failure because I had the transmission fluid changed at a Ford dealership about a month ago and I was not told there were any metal shavings in the fluid and the vehicle drove normal after this service. For a new transmission and oil cooler, Ford is quoting me ~$7,000.
- Jefferson City, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (POWER TRAIN) however the contact stated that the remedy completed was not correctly addressed which had a lead coolant leak into the vehicle transmission. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was advised that they would have to replace the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
- Taylor, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. Additionally, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 115,572.
- North Adams, MA, USA
2018 Ford Escape engine coolant leaking into engine oil. 88,000 miles. Car well taken care of. White smoke coming from exhaust. Ford knows of this defect. I am a poor student and owe 8k on this vehicle. This defect should be a required recall.
- Exeter, RI, USA
2018 Ford Escape started jerking when first accelerating. Had it looked at by a service shop and they said they found metal filings in the transmission fluid and it should be replaced. Instead of replacing I decided to try to change the fluid to extend the life. But about 1 week later it completely went out at a stop light and it would not move. It was a very dangerous situation since the car would not move at a busy intersection.
- Alpharetta, GA, USA
Total engine failure and rebuild due to faulty head gasket component from ford. Vehicle went from running good to all of a sudden having smoke when starting, engine light came on. Immediately had inspected and was told total head gasket/engine failure.
- Geddes Sd 57342, SD, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle shuddered, jerked, and felt bouncy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 66,018.
- Havelock, NC, USA
- Boaz, AL, USA