10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,531 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #658

Feb 262025

Escape

  • miles
coolant leak in to cylinders

- New Castle, IN, USA

problem #657

Feb 092025

Escape

  • miles
ENGINE malfunctioned at 70,000 mile. Was told there was a misfire in cylinder 2 and engine coolant intrusion. The problem has been thoroughly noted online as a defect that FORD will not assume recall for. Engine light just turned on 2 weeks prior to dealership service diagnostic.

- Waynesburg, PA, USA

problem #656

Feb 222025

Escape

  • miles
I first started showing a check engine light for cylinder 2 misfire, and believed it was my spark plugs. Then, one singular day after the initial code, the car refused to start, took it to a local mechanic (as close as I could possibly tow it) and they replaced my fuel pump thinking that was the issue. They did not offer the service to repair a blown head gasket, but told me the white smoke coming from my exhaust indicated I might have a blown head gasket. Took it to another local mechanic who is a Marine motor transport mechanic (it was a friend so this was a free visit), changed my spark plugs hoping to repair the reoccurring cylinder 2 misfire, checked my exhaust and it is in fact a blown head gasket minimum due to the coolant coming completely out of my exhaust along with oil. This was all in the course of less than 150 miles and 7 days total including the three that my car was in the shop for the fuel pump. I have now taken it to the Ford service shop to get diagnosed, and through research, there has been a class-action lawsuit already launched for issues with this engine and the head gasket being blown time and time again under 100 thousand miles. My car has never overheated, but this issue can cause total engine failure, fires, and more. It's dangerous. It is a design flaw with the engine. The lawsuit is Miller et al. vs. Ford Motor Company. This is in regard to the 1.5 L Ecoboost (which is what I have). Alongside this, I'm a teacher, and I know multiple coworkers who have experienced the same exact issue. This is an extremely expensive and dangerous design flaw. If I had waited on it, the best case is the car dies, worse it catches fire and explodes on me.

- Alvin, TX, USA

problem #655

Feb 242025

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  • miles
I was told by a mechanic that my engine block has a crack in it and that I need a new engine. This seems to be an ongoing issue with 2018 Ford Escapes. It will cost me $7000 for a used engine and there are a lot of people in the same boat with this vehicle. Is there a recall on it yet??

- Whitman, MA, USA

problem #654

Feb 012025

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  • miles
The engine has internal coolant leakage causing sudden and extreme overheating. A warning comes on to pull over immediately.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #653

Feb 042025

Escape

  • miles
Engine misfires low coolant

- Oak Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #652

Feb 072025

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  • miles
Engine overheat warning and vehicle shut down on highway. Mechanic says most likely compromised head gasket with coolant intrusion into engine. Currently quoted $7200 at Ford dealer for short engine block replacement.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #651

Jan 312025

Escape

  • miles
On recent trip to Florida from Ohio, we experienced an incident where the check engine service light was flashing and the car was running very rough(determined later that it was misfiring). Incident lasted about 3-4 minutes. Were able to get to next exit; before we exited the highway the incident stopped, and the engine sounds back to normal. Pulled into a parking lot, shut off the engine, and restarted and stopped a number of time. The check engine light never came back on. Drove another 600+ miles to our destination in Siesta Key FL. Decided to contact local Ford dealer, Sarasota Ford, to have it checked out before having to drive 1100 miles back home. Learned that their diagnostics indicated that we had a coolant leak into the engine. Service advisor initially indicated that he thought their was a "recall repair" for this issue. But later advised that the "recall" had expired on Nov. 30, 2022, and was subject to a limit of 7 years of service or 84000 miles. Estimated repair cost was $8000, about the value of the 2018 Ford Escape with 100,900 miles. Contact Ford customer service to discuss why the "recall" had a time and mileage limit, and why I wasn't notified. CSR was really rather rude; advised that it was NOT a recall but a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). On subsequent discussion with both Sarasota Ford and Masheter Ford in Columbus OH, where we bought the vehicle, also learned that the one time repair offered by the TSB was only valid IF the vehicle actually experienced a coolant leak. I have a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and in researching what lead to the TSB being issued, learned that the actual design of the head gasket was changed. This to me indicates that a defect in the design was discovered, prompting a change. Based on that this TSB should have had NO restrictions on time or mileage for the one time repair, and quite frankly should have been offered to customers BEFORE a coolant leak actually occured, not afterwards

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #650

Feb 152025

Escape

  • miles
Coolant intrusion in the cylinders that requires a replacement engine, a known issue by Ford but not something they are replacing or assisting with the cost of if you are outwith 84,000 miles.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #649

Feb 102025

Escape

  • miles
Engine has a defect that causes car to have coolant leak and engine block to crack while driving, putting the vehicle into "limp mode". Accident can occur when vehicle suddenly begins decelerating while driving. There is no current recall for this issue for this vehicle.

- Hartford, KY, USA

problem #648

Jan 312025

Escape

  • miles
The engine on my car has become unusable because antifreeze leaked into my engine. It is available for inspection. Thankfully due to familial support my safety was not put at risk. The problem was confirmed by a mechanic. BJ's Auto Collision and Restoration, 816-279-2886. The check engine light came on when I first started the car for the day. This happened to my car while I was 5 hours away from the city where I live. I do not have the money to repair the car. So I had to rent a car. And will have to find a way to buy a new car.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #647

Feb 052025

Escape

  • miles
My 2018 Ford Escape started to shake upon starting the engine. Within 2 days the check engine light turned on. I immediately phoned my mechanic and took the car in for diagnostics. The mechanic determined that coolant is present in the engine cylinders, he said likely due to head gasket failure. He said that the only was to resolve the issue is a total engine replacement which he quoted could cost as much as $17,000. The mechanic tells me that the car cannot be driven at all as it is because the engine can fail at any time. This renders the car a total loss. I have done internet searches and have discovered that many Ford owners are experiencing this same problem and that it has been known to Ford that there is this defect in certain models yet they have not offered a recall or compensation for repairs.

- Fuquay Varina, NC, USA

problem #646

Feb 062025

Escape

  • miles
Fluids leaked into engine. Overheated and died on highway drive home no check engine lights were on prior. 2nd and 4th cylinder misfires. Spark plug welded and cross threaded and needed to replaced but when when it was attempted it broke off in engine due to being welded. Due to the original issues and all of those caused from them this vehicle is NOT SAFE; even if this was able to work again it is NOT SAFE! It was a family car and we do NOT trust for our families safety!! (Had car towed to repair the next day and has been inoperable since without either new engine or engine rebuild.)

- Moriarty , NM, USA

problem #645

Feb 062025

Escape

  • miles
My 2018 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 Ecoboost engine is experiencing issues that include coolant leaking into the cylinder. There has been white smoke emitting from the exhaust with an odor present. Multiple mechanics have looked at the vehicle and have reported that it might need a total engine replacement. The vehicle has roughly 64,200 miles on it and is currently at a Ford Dealership in Clarksville, Indiana. A google search shows that this is a known issue with the Ford 2.0 Ecoboost engine, but Ford is not showing a recall. I also have seen that there is or there is the possibility of a class action lawsuit.

- Jeffersonville, IN, USA

problem #644

Feb 022025

Escape

  • miles
My check engine light came on after a few rough starts prior, all of the rough starts came with white smoke from my exhaust pipe, and the entirety of my vehicle shaking. My first initial impression of the issue was either my spark plugs or my ignition coils. Neither was the case. I have had my car checked out by multiple mechanic shops, and they have all said I have a -??coolant intrusion-??, as I have had to refill my coolant several times in the past 2 months, while also having -??milky oil-?? indicating coolant has been leaking and mixing into my oil, causing the code P0302, or a cylinder 2 misfire. For a new engine from Ford themselves, I have been quoted $14,000 plus taxes to get this issue fixed. My only concern is Ford has a class-action lawsuit filed against them for this same issue. I can-??t afford to put $14,000 into this vehicle for a new engine, when the issue has been happening to many, many others, all fitting the exact description of what I am complaining about. I am concerned for my safety as people with the same issue, have expressed their vehicles have overheated without warning. I am worried my vehicle will catch on fire, as well as my own safety while driving the vehicle. My vehicle is also not covered by warranty.

- Paulsboro, NJ, USA

problem #643

Dec 192024

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  • miles
The motor started to get hot dealership said it dumped coolant into the head of the engine and that its a know issue with this motor but it's not on the recall list why not

- Lutz, FL, USA

problem #642

Jan 152025

Escape

  • miles
Cracked header, electric emergency parking brake says to release the parking brake when it's not even engaged

- Goodland, MN, USA

problem #641

Feb 012025

Escape

  • miles
Coolant leak into engine

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #640

Jan 232025

Escape

  • miles
An engine coolant leak on the engine caused the engine to overheat. This could have led to a possible fire. If we were on a highway or freeway when this happened and the car cut off, this could have caused an accident. There were NO warning signs or lamps that came on before this issue that would have alerted us to this issue. I had the vehicle towed into the Ford dealership and the diagnostic was engine failure due to a coolant leak. The engine coolant leak has been a known issue on the 2018 Ford Escapes by the manufacturer.

- Palmetto, GA, USA

problem #639

Jan 222025

Escape

  • miles
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

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