← 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 →

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

Service Brakes complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
55,000 miles · Apr 18, 2021
Service BrakesSteeringUnknown Or Other

COMING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN NEVADA, IT BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE WE RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OVER AND OVER. THERE WAS A SHAKING IN THE STEERING/WHEELS SO FELT LIKE IT KEEP HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. WE FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT MAY BE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF, IT BEGAN TO CORRE…

Read full complaint

COMING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN NEVADA, IT BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE WE RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OVER AND OVER. THERE WAS A SHAKING IN THE STEERING/WHEELS SO FELT LIKE IT KEEP HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. WE FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT MAY BE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF, IT BEGAN TO CORRECT. BUT IT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON BY ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #11408686

32,000 miles · Jan 21, 2021
Service Brakes

AT THE 32,000 MILE ROUTINE SERVICE THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR, IMHO, PREMATURE WEAR. BOTH REAR ROTORS WERE DEEPLY SCORED ON THEIR OUTSIDE FACES, WHILE THE OUTSIDE PADS WERE WORN DOWN THEIR WEAR SLOTS AND THE INSIDE PADS WERE HARDLY WORN AT ALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR A…

Read full complaint

AT THE 32,000 MILE ROUTINE SERVICE THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR, IMHO, PREMATURE WEAR. BOTH REAR ROTORS WERE DEEPLY SCORED ON THEIR OUTSIDE FACES, WHILE THE OUTSIDE PADS WERE WORN DOWN THEIR WEAR SLOTS AND THE INSIDE PADS WERE HARDLY WORN AT ALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND BLAMED THE UNEVEN WEAR ON DIRTY PAD SLIDE PINS. HE COULDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE DEEP SCORING. MY EXPERIENCE OVER 6 DECADES OF VEHICLES IS THAT PADS SHOULD LAST 40,000 MILES AND ROTORS 100,000 MILES OR MORE.

NHTSA ODI #11389205

150 miles · Oct 18, 2019
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING NEXT TO A TRAIN, THE PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WILL ENGAGE AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES EVEN WITH NO OTHER CARS IN THE AREA. THIS HAPPENS DAILY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (75MPH+) GOING STRAIGHT. IT HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT OTHER CARS IN THE AREA. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11269347

397 miles · May 16, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

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 CONSI…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11096357

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