2018 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V803000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LARRY H. MILLER FORD LINCOLN DRAPER (11442 LONE PEAK PKWY, DRAPER, UT) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11062210 at NHTSA ↗

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2018 FORD ESCAPE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I FOUND THAT ALL THE SPINDLES WERE RUSTED. FORD SAID THIS IS NORMAL. BROUGHT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC-CARTEC IN TULSA, OK. THEY FOUND RUST NOT ONLY ON THE SPINDLES, BUT THE DRIVESHAFT, AND CV AXLES. THEY PUT THE PICTURES ON A URL HTTP://2UN.ME/2IL56. I AM WORRIED THESE RUSTED PARTS WILL EVENTUALLY RUST ALL THE WAY AND CAUSE THE WHEELS TO COME OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IF LEFT UNTREATED.

Owner-reported narrative. 797 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088921 at NHTSA ↗

BACK ELECTRIC TAILGATE DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. THIS IS INDICATED BY THE HORN DOUBLE HONKING WHEN LOCKING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATOR ON THE DASH WHEN THE CAR IS ON THAT THIS IS NOT FULLY LATCHED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD LEAD TO EXHAUST IN THE CABIN, ESPECIALLY IF IDLING.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093294 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED AND THEN DIMMED. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM READING THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO FORD OKLAHOMA CITY (2800 INTERSTATE 44 SERVICE ROAD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093920 at NHTSA ↗

BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON THE 24TH OF APRIL 2018. HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 60 MILES AN HOUR. I REAR ENDED THE OTHER VEHICLE AFTER THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I DID NOT STOP. THE AIRBAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN DUE TO THE COLLISION. IT WAS JUST CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING.

Owner-reported narrative. 397 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096357 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2018 FORD ESCAPE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY PUT A MACHINE ON IT AND SAID YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE. I WENT TO SEE MY SALESMAN AND HE WAS NOT IN. I CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD HIM ABOUT MY ESCAPE. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT NOW. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY STARTED A CASE FILE ON IT. FORD SAID THAT I NEED TO PICK UP MY ESCAPE WHEN IT IS READY AND DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 5 DAYS, AGAIN I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE. THE CASE WORKER SAID THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,444 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101854 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NOV 2017- ON MAY 23RD, 2018 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED SERVICES AT THE FORD DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I WAS AT THE DEALER FIRST THING TUESDAY MORNING DUE TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, WHERE THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE COOLANT HAD MIXED WITH OIL AND WAS IN THE 2ND COMPRESSION CYLINDAR AND A BULLETIN THAT THIS WAS THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME ENGINE MODEL AS THE ORIGINAL WITH NO MODIFICATION THAT RECTIF…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104604 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START NOT WORKING, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE FROM THE FORD PASS APP WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN AN UNCOVERED LOT, WHICH DID NOT START. I STARTED REMOTELY FROM THE KEY FOB AND LOADED MY INFANTS CAR SEAT INTO THE CAR, PUT MY BAG IN THE CAR, AND SHUT THE DOOR. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR, I HEARD THE LOCKS CLICK, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR WITH MY KEYS AND BABY LOCKED IN AND THE ENGINE OFF. I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE APP BECAUSE MY PHONE WAS IN MY POCKET WHEN I…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,615 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110885 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-02-12 (February 12, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2022-06-10 (June 10, 2022)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 15, 2026)

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.

Consequence: 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.