2018 Ford Escape

While driving this vehicle (~88,000 miles) on a route of ~100 miles, the car started shuddering / shaking at highway speed for 30 - 90 seconds every 10 - 15 minutes. I was 50 miles in to the drive when the shaking began. The shaking was startling and distracting. I drove the car to the dealer that night. While driving to the dealer, the car continued to shudder / shake for even longer durations at greater frequency. Additionally, the car had weak acceleration when the gas pedal was compressed. This created significant challenges when trying to navigate traffic (merging on to highway, accelerating car from stop, etc.). I have a video of the dash which shows the car exceeding 4000 RPM and not exceeding 25mph. I can share this video over e-mail, but could not attach to this form. - The dealer believes this is a malfunction of the powertrain (transmission). It is available for inspection at the time of this writing. However, I am working with Ford and the dealer on a repair solution as this is my primary car. - My safety was at risk because the car shaking was distracting and the lack of acceleration presented challenges with merging, passing cars, accelerating from stop, etc. - Vehicle is currently with dealer beginning inspection - initial suspicion is transmission issue. - No warning lights came on as I was experiencing this issue.

While driving this vehicle (~87,000 miles), the engine began to overheat. The engine light had come on the day before (Saturday). The engine began to overheat the next day (Sunday) while driving on the highway. I quickly pulled off the highway and drove the vehicle back home while staying at a low speed. If I had not taken this action, the engine overheating could have posed a safety risk. Upon receiving repairs at a Ford dealer, I later learned that this engine overheating is a known issue by Ford. It is caused by coolant intrusion to the engine. Two customer satisfaction programs have been issued for this problem: 19B37, 21N12. However, given the safety issue (engine overheating), I was surprised this repair was not fully covered. This issue happened in my vehicle after the extended warranty period of 84,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Engine Overheated message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the mileage warranty had expired. The contact stated that he had not received notification of the Customer Satisfaction Program. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

I Purchased a 2018 Ford Escape SE (VIN# [XXX] ) with 1.5 EcoBoost Engine on 9/24/2023 with 89,726 miles. On 12/10/2023 my 16 year old son was operating vehicle when he experienced a catastrophic engine failure and the vehicle is unserviceable. The vehicle had 90,766 miles on it at the time of the failure. Vehicle was diagnosed on 12/18/2023 and it was determined that there was coolant intrusion into the #2 and #3 cylinder and that the engine will need to replaced. Diagnosis showed that Ford had issued (2) Customer Satisfaction Program alerts on the vehicle for this issue Ford CSP 21N12 and 19B37 on 06/9/2022. I contacted Ford Motor Company and my local dealer to report the issue. I was advised this is a known issue with this specific engine although the vehicle is beyond the extended warranty under the Ford CSP's above. This known issue on this vehicle was not disclosed to my at the time of purchase and Ford will not cover any cost associated with the repair. I feel this known issue should be a recall due to the fact that this catastrophic engine failure does pose a significant safety risk to the vehicle operator and other traveling public. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The system that had failed is the engine. According to the dealership where I took my car, which is the same dealership I purchased the car from, the engine has a coolant intrusion in cylinder #2 that has compromised the engine. There is a technical service bulletin [XXX] stating similar issues in Ford Escapes and my VIN # is not included in that service bulletin. The problem has been confirmed by the Ford dealership where I have taken my car. According to the service manager, many Ford Escapes have encountered similar issues. The vehicle is readily available for inspection at the Ford dealership. While driving, a temperature notification informed me of an issue, but the temperature gauge was not affected. A 2018 vehicle is excellent condition with only 78,516 should not have this kind of engine malfunction. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after the vehicle had received an oil change, the check engine warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the engine; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who determined that the airflow shutter actuator needed to be replaced, but the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,932.

11/29/2023 Temperature light came on/reported hot, said please pull over when safe; I stopped shortly but was on a hill with vehicles behind me, and had to get to the top to pull off. (Within 1 minute); NO previous warnings or having to put additional antifreeze in the vehicle. The coolant in the reservoir was boiling; Called Tow Truck; took to Ford Dealer; several days later they informed me there was coolant in the engine; Option replace the engine for $9,300 and did not tell me this is a recurring issue with the 1.5l EcoBoost Engine; The vehicle is still at the dealership and is available for inspection; Ford knows about the issue and is not taking full responsibility for a design or manufacturing problem; If the engine just shuts down in front of other vehicles our safety is compromised; An engine fire or coolant reservoir explosion is possible. The coolant leak issue has been inspected and confirmed by Ford and the local dealership; Ford acknowledges there is a problem (Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 and stated they provided recall information in 2022 to all Ford Escape 1.5l EcoBoost Owners that Ford would replace the short block in the Escape at their cost; said it ended 11/30/2022. I NEVER received any recall information from FORD and my vehicle had 0 Unrepaired recalls. What happened? Ford should replace the engine at no cost to the owner because of the known recurring issue. Hundreds of complaints. This is a design or manufacturing issue! Escape owners need HELP with this issue from the NHTSA.

At roughly 54600 miles the engine began to shudder badly when starting the vehicle and driving for the first minute or so. The vehicle produced a check engine light that would come on and then would go off within the same day after it was parked multiple times over several weeks, finally staying on for 2 days. Shuddering from the engine became significantly worse in that time and the check engine light began to flash while driving along with experiencing sudden loss of engine power. Took the vehicle to Ford who found the cause was a known defect causing coolant intrusion into the engine, requiring short block replacement new spark plugs, gaskets, etc. The vehicle was retained by Ford for over 3 weeks for this repair.

Coolant going into block and ford refuses to fix makes no since there was a customer satisfaction on this issue it ended . But I never got the paper work on this issue I would say people before me did .Ford customer service told me I should of been cking internet really it was a new car for me and now they want 6000 to fix . I don't understand cuz I did a recall and the 1.6 and 2.0 why did they not do a recall on the 1.5 that makes no sense to me I really wish somebody would explain it to me this problem has been with this motor since 2010 they recalled all of them but they won't recall this now I'm lost please help me I'm done with that a car now for a month nobody is willing to help I have an extended warranty they won't help because they said that Ford should fix it cuz it's their default. But it doesn't make any sense that you got it somebody recalls all the other ones but not the 1.5 and now they're recalling 2020