10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,427 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #839

Aug 122025

Escape

  • miles
A cracked engine block caused coolant intrusion into my Eco Boost engine resulting in overheating engine. I was almost stranded in the Cascade mountains. Randy Wright at Bill Pierre Ford of Seattle says he sees a Ford Escape with this problem once a week. After multiple conversations with Ford corporate, it appears Ford is aware of the problem but unwilling to issue a recall for these dangerously defective engines. The vehicle gave no prior warnings before the overheating took place.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #838

Jul 312025

Escape

  • miles
OBD trouble code P0302 -?" cylinder 2 misfire caused by coolant seeping in from a deformation in the block.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #837

Aug 262025

Escape

  • miles
In 2021 my engine was replaced by the dealership I purchased it from, with a manufacturer made engine. The issue was that the coolant was leaking into the cylinders causing the engine to overheat which is a potential risk of fires. It was under warranty for 5 years or 50K miles whichever came first. Today, I was notified by the dealership that my engine needs to be replaced AGAIN for the SAME ISSUE as 4 years ago. Coolant leaking into cylinder causing misfire. I was charged $1400 for repairs that DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUES. Ford is now telling me there is nothing they can do for me and my car is safe to drive so long as I keep it filled with coolant.

- Raynham, MA, USA

problem #836

Aug 252025

Escape

  • miles
Engine light came on. Took directly to Ford dealer. Code P0303:00-A8. Cylinder 3 misfire. Coolant leaked into engine. Need long block replacement. 2018 1.5L engine. 57000 miles. Ford won't warranty. $14,000 to replace engine.

- Dixon, CA, USA

problem #835

Aug 222025

Escape

  • miles
The engine light came on and we took it to the dealer where we purchased it. They told us the engine had coolant leaking into it from a warped engine block. The vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it. The dealer told us it would cost $14000 to replace the engine. We are feeling quite frustrated as FORD was aware this was a known problem / design defect. They even went as far to correct the design on new models. What can we do?

- Gray, ME, USA

problem #834

Jul 312025

Escape

  • miles
The car began a rough idle, followed by odd fluid noises from the engine once shut off. I then saw an engine fault light come on and brought it straight to the dealership. They diagnosed a coolant leak into the engine, based on a default in that model, which would require a full replacement. Otherwise the car could lose power without warning.

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #833

Aug 202025

Escape

  • miles
I was sold the Escape and was not informed about the coolant intrusion and have been having the check engine light come on and off since I purchased it last September, I've replaced multiple spark plugs on cylinder 3 and later found out that the inside of the cylinder had developed surface rust and was having coolant leaking into that cylinder, and due to the coolant leak, my engine overheated and shut it self off in my driveway.

- New Bern, NC, USA

problem #832

Aug 202025

Escape

  • miles
I have 117k miles on my ford escape and have always maintained the services on my car. I was driving and my car started to overheat and warning lights came on. Pulled over immediately and turned car off and had it towed to the shop. Mechanic told me the coolant leaked into the cylinder and caused a misfire in cylinder 2&3. He currently has 3 other ford escapes there with the same issue. Yet there is no recall for this? He quoted me $6,400 for this job. This is crazy. Something needs to be done about this if so many people are having the same issue.

- Jacksonville, IL, USA

problem #831

Aug 152025

Escape

  • miles
Check engine light came on. Then overheat light. Stopped vehicle and stayed 45 mins. Had to put refrigerant in vehicle drove home. Took to parts store than ran codes. #2 spark plug misfire. Now my car at Ford dealership with engine gone. Will contact ford.

- Chatsworth, GA, USA

problem #830

Aug 192025

Escape

  • miles
Blown head gasket which is causing coolant to leak into the cylinders. Check engine light came on at 72,000 miles (leased the car at 71,000) with coolant loss. The problem was diagnosed by an independent service center on 8/19/25, 3 weeks after leasing to buy.

- Macomb, MI, USA

problem #829

Aug 102025

Escape

  • miles
[XXX] Ford Escape panel flashed red with warnings about overheating. Could not drive vehicle. Vehicle towed to nearest Ford dealership. After inspection, advised that coolant intrusion into Cylinder 2 caused engine to overheat and was not repairable. Replacement cost ranges from $8,000-11,000. Contacted Ford Corporate since class action suit involved this exact problem. Ford Corp said that they could not assist with repair even though this make and model was included in a class action suit of which we knew nothing. There is a loan on the vehicle that cannot be sold except to a salvage company. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Adams Run, SC, USA

problem #828

Aug 132025

Escape

  • miles
Due to a lack of power I took my car to my mechanic for diagnosis. After performing compression checks he found that 3 of the 4 cylinders had low compression. Additionally the coolant level was found to be low. A check of the Ford web site showed that TSB #22-2229 was issued and indicated that coolant was leaking into the block. The Ford remedy was to replace the short block assembly. This repair would cost approximately $6 - 7000. No re-call was ever issued for this problem.

- Pilot Point, TX, USA

problem #827

Aug 112025

Escape

  • miles
The engine design allows premature failure of the head gasket and allows coolant to leak into the cylinders. This is a known issue and I just had it happen to my car.

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #826

Aug 012025

Escape

  • miles
Engine failure. No engine lights are on and vehicle is driving fine, but engine block could crack due to coolant intrusion problem. Coolant intrusion is a defect in the motor well know to Ford and mechanics.Ford customer satisfaction program:21N12 and 19B37.TSB tech. serv. bulleting 22-2134 and 19-2375. Problem has been confirmed by private mechanic shop and Ford dealer. No warning lights, no messages, no symptoms. Problem appeared scheduled maintenance & multipoint inspection.

- Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #825

Mar 012025

Escape

  • miles
Coolant leak into Cylinder 1 causing engine to overheat. Have to keep putting coolant in to drive it. Brought it to Park City Ford for evaluation. They confirmed it is coolant leaking into Cylinder 1. Engine replacement necessary to resolve issue. Called Ford customer service several times. Because it is over 60,000 miles its out of warranty and nothing can be done for me.

- Stratford, CT, USA

problem #824

Oct 012024

Escape

  • miles
Coolant leak into the engine

- Battle Creek , MI, USA

problem #823

Aug 052025

Escape

  • miles
Check engine light came on, Ford Dealership told me I need to have the engine replaced at my cost $10,000 I am the second owner and it only has 45,000 miles Please help!

- Washington , MO, USA

problem #822

Jul 312025

Escape

  • miles
Coolant intrusion. Coolant leak caused the vehicle to overheat and thus making it unable to drive. Had to tow to a repair facility and they confirmed that it-??s a coolant intrusion, a common issue with Ford Escape.Engine warning light came up and there were mis fires in engine. In a week, got an engine overheat warning in the morning when I started the car.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #821

Aug 012025

Escape

  • miles
Car in shop for the 4th engine. First was coolant going into the oil-cracked block. 2nd was cracked cylinder wall- coolant leaking in to cylinder 4 now coolant leaking into the cylinder again. They can't find the leak but can see the inside there is coolant. All have been covered under warranty for now. And taken to Ford dealerships. But there has to be an issue, why it keeps happening. The service light only went on for the second engine. It was labeled as a misfire, and i had reduced engine power. So i went straight in knowing I had just gotten it replaced 3 months prior. Car bought- 40k miles 11/2021. taken in 3/2022, 6/2022 for coolant intrusion. taken in 11/2023 for thick white smoke. They told me it was just condensation. taken in 8/2025 for persistent thick white smoke, and oil/coolant build up on turbo case. Dealership is ordering a 'long block' vs the short block its been replaced with.

- Hudson, WI, USA

problem #820

Aug 012025

Escape

  • miles
There is a known ford problem with the engine in 2018 Ford escape manufactured in Louisville from 11-16-17 / 4-8-2019. And the final assembly plant was in Louisville. I spoke with Ford today my vin should have been covered under 21n12 and 19b37. A rep at Ford, Tim, told me to contact you because my vin was missed on this recall. This is the 2nd engine it has needed. I just purchased this car in Oct of 2024. The car is in the Ford dealer for the same exact thing in Aug 2025. The engine needs to be replaced. There is a problem with the block due to coolant intrusion. The blocks were built poorly causing this problem. There is also a TSB issued for this problem. The cost of this repair will not be covered by Ford and it should. My vin was not included in recall, and this came from a Ford rep in customer relations. Ford is well aware of these problems and are doing nothing about this problem. Something should be done before more people experience this problem.

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »