SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2018 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

About this comparison →
1,791Owner complaints

Model-year median: 996

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,092
20151,115
20162,677
20171,791
2018585
20191,594
2020343
2021
Compare all Escape years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
1,145Engine And Engine Cooling
342Power Train
269Unknown Or Other
104Electrical System
53
All reported categories
Fuel/propulsion System
42Steering
32Service Brakes
24Vehicle Speed Control
22Wheels
22Structure
20Fuel System, Gasoline
12Exterior Lighting
11Suspension
11Air Bags
9Seat Belts
9Forward Collision Avoidance
7Visibility/wiper
7Back Over Prevention
6Lane Departure
6Visibility
6Latches/locks/linkages
5Electronic Stability Control (esc)
3Equipment
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Tires
2Firerelated
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Traction Control System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

668 reports with mileage · 1,123 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 1,145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 342 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports5 fire reports23 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
5,000 miles · Mar 4, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION ON THE GEAR SHIFTER (PRNDL) WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF. EVERY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD, HAS HAD THE ILLUMINATED GEAR SHIFTER. I HAVE READ REPORTS THAT SAID FORD DID NOT INCLUDE THIS FEATURE IN CERTAIN TRIM LEVELS, AND THE ILLUMINATION IS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOW. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIA…

Read full complaint

THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION ON THE GEAR SHIFTER (PRNDL) WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF. EVERY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD, HAS HAD THE ILLUMINATED GEAR SHIFTER. I HAVE READ REPORTS THAT SAID FORD DID NOT INCLUDE THIS FEATURE IN CERTAIN TRIM LEVELS, AND THE ILLUMINATION IS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOW. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING. I AM A FORD OWNER AND FORMER FORD CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN AND I CANNOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM ANYONE AT THIS POINT. I DO NOT HAVE DOCUMENTATION AT THIS TIME OF THIS CONCERN EXCEPT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS CONCERN. IF NEEDED I CAN TAKE PICTURES AND DOWNLOAD THEM. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11184200

Official recalls

4

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 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 & remedy

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.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

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.

18V104000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

17V803000 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →