2018 Ford Escape Safety Report
2018 Ford Escape Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Ford Escape
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Ford Escape. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (1586) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 30 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Ford Escape with 272 complaints and 19 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Ford Escape before buying across this generation. |
Ford Escape Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Escape years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Escape | 503 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 2495 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 1386 | 23 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Ford Escape | 947 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 272 | 19 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Ford Escape | 969 | 9 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Ford Escape Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Ford Escape, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
750 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Ford onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
246 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Ford onlyPower Train
127 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Ford onlyPower Train,Engine
68 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Ford onlyEngine And Engine Cooling,Engine
48 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling,Engine issues Ford onlyUnknown Or Other
34 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Ford onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Ford Escape
Reliability Score
The 2018 Ford Escape receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Ford Escape
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2018 Ford Escape
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Ford Escape:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolant Intrusion Coolant intrusion into the engine is a severe and frequent issue, leading to engine misfires, rough starting, and potential engine failure. |
High | Rare | 46k-130k miles |
| Engine Misfires Engine misfires are a common issue, often occurring at around 46,000 miles, leading to rough idle and potential engine failure. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Overheating Overheating issues are frequent, with coolant intrusion being a primary cause, leading to engine misfires and rough starting. |
Medium | Common | 46k-130k miles |
| Unintended Acceleration There have been reports of unintended acceleration, though this is less frequent and not directly linked to the known coolant intrusion issues. |
Low | Occasional | 0-130k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Ford Escape:
Engine issues, particularly coolant intrusion, are the most common problems.
Cooling system issues, including coolant intrusion, are frequent.
Electrical issues, such as the engine block heater, are less common.
Transmission issues, such as gear position indication, are rare.
Recall Details for the 2018 Ford Escape
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Ford Escape by NHTSA:
Summary: 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...
Summary: 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 1-866-436-73...
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Ford Escape
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Ford Escape with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires.
With only 122,000 miles on the vehicle, the Escape is generating an error associated with a misfire in cylinder 1. New plugs were installed for the entire engine and the coil in cylinder 1 was replaced. A few days later, the error was generated again with an added warning to Server now. The service station that did the previous repair, stated that this was a known issue with this Ford engine an...
I went in to get a tune-up on car because a engine light came on which was a misfire. The mechanic had a hard time getting out one spark plug with a hard residue on it. I drove for a couple days after tune-up and engine light came on again. I then started the next day the garage filled with white smoke with a real weird smell. The car showed another engine light that said Engine fault service now....
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle, and the vehicle entered SAFE Mode, lost power, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the temperature gauge was raised from COLD to HOT immediately, and the vehicle was turned off unintendedl...
The engine has a coolant intrusion problem with a rough idle and potential for complete failure. This problem is documented as a known problem with this engine and Ford has in the past provided extended warranties including engine replacements. Ford had earlier released TSB 20-2100 and has acknowledged the problem.
At approximately 46,000 miles our 2018 Ford Escape experienced coolant intrusion in cylinders 2 and 3. The car has the 2.0 Liter EcoBoost engine. The car was out of warranty, requiring us to pay for the majority of the nearly 9,000 engine replacement. Additionally, we did not have the use of the car for over three months. We found that this a common problem with these engines throughout the Ford...
The component that is failing in my vehicle is the engine, specifically the 1.5L EcoBoost engine short block, which is experiencing coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This defect causes misfires, rough running, loss of coolant without visible leaks, and can lead to catastrophic engine failure. The car and all its components are available for inspection upon request. My safety, my child's safet...
coolant intrusion. apparently this is a very well documented and known issue
I have owned this car for a year have taken it to multiple mechanics to get the overheating issue fixed. Well the most recent time my car had overheated my whole car had smelt like it was on fire. I've had to fix this issue 5 times in the last year and mechanics are not cheap
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the windshield wipers activated independently. Neither an independent mechanic nor the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,8...
Vehicle overheated in middle of traffic and immediately went in limp mode due to antifreeze leaking in the internal engine
I am reporting a confirmed safety defect in my 2018 Ford Escape equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine involving engine coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores. This appears to be a manufacturing defect associated with this engine design rather than a maintenance issue. I have exercised proper diligence as the vehicle owner and have two prior inspection reports (available upon request) that show...
The engine leaked coolant into the cylinder. Bad cylinder #2 per mechanic. Engine needs replacement. This is a know problem with 2017-2109 ford 1.5L eco boost engines.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 45 MPH. The vehicle continued to accelerate without the accelerator pedal depressed until the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stopped. On another occasion, while the vehicle was at a stoplight, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle acceler...
Vehicle: 2018 Ford Escape SE, 1.5L EcoBoost, 130,000 miles Problem: Coolant intrusion into cylinder 2 has caused engine misfires, rough starting, check engine light, and the engine now requires replacement. Circumstances: The failure occurred suddenly. The vehicle was properly maintained and regularly serviced. Safety concern: Coolant intrusion can lead to sudden engine stall and loss of power, cr...
A check engine light came on the vehicle and I decided to get it tested with my device and it said that the was a problem with the crankshaft position sensor and there was a misfire on cylinder 2 and 3. When I did my research it said that it could be many things and I should replace my spark plugs and crankshaft position sensor. I did that and immediately after replacing the spark plugs and the se...
Check engine light came on last week. Took it into the repair shop and they let me know that there is coolant in the first cylinder. There is not a recall for this but it is a known issue with Ford escapes designs and that Ford has redesigned the engine block and gasket, and in some cases, they are replacing the entire long block.
My 2018 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. The dealership confirmed the diagnostic, a Technical Service Bulletin applies to my VIN. This defect can cause engine failure while driving, creating a serious safety risk. I am experiencing coolant loss,...
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off with the check engine, transmission, battery and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact and her husband shifted into neutral(N) and pushed the vehicle off to the shoulder of the roadway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was purchased, and a diagn...
While driving on a highway the RPMS in my 2018 Ford Escape with 88,600 miles went up high without me touching the gas because I was coasting downhill & then once I pushed the gas pedal to resume normal speed it shifted real hard into gear but would not move, it just kept coasting as cars were speeding up behind me going at least 55 MPH! I was finally able to pull over and once I put the car into p...
The CEL light came on and when it was checked by a Ford Dealership, they said there was coolant intrusion and the engine block or entire engine needs to be replaced. Evidently this is a well known problem at Ford but they never let me know, never issued a recall, and now I have to replace an entire engine instead of just some part. The cost of replacement is as much as the car is worth.
Showing 20 of 1586 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Ford Escape
Has the 2018 FORD ESCAPE been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 FORD ESCAPE has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 FORD ESCAPE have?
The 2018 FORD ESCAPE has 1,586 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 25 involved crashes. 28 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
The 2018 FORD ESCAPE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 FORD ESCAPE involve engine (750 complaints), engine and engine cooling (246 complaints), power train (127 complaints). Other affected components include power train,engine, engine and engine cooling,engine, unknown or other.
How many crash reports does the 2018 FORD ESCAPE have?
There are 25 crash reports associated with the 2018 FORD ESCAPE out of 1,586 total complaints (1.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 FORD ESCAPE have?
There are 5 fire reports for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE out of 1,586 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
28 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 FORD ESCAPE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 FORD ESCAPE is proceed with caution. It has 1,586 complaints, 4 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 FORD ESCAPE are: 1. ENGINE (750 complaints), 2. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (246 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (127 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (68 complaints), 5. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE (48 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 750 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
Be cautious of coolant intrusion and engine misfires, which are common issues in the 2018 Ford Escape. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent these problems. The 2018 FORD ESCAPE has 1,586 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
The 2018 FORD ESCAPE receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 1,586 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 30 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Coolant Intrusion and Engine Misfires.
What are the known issues with the 2018 FORD ESCAPE?
Known issues with the 2018 FORD ESCAPE include: Coolant Intrusion, Engine Misfires, Overheating, Unintended Acceleration. These are based on patterns found across 1,586 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2018 Ford Escape?
The most common issues are coolant intrusion and engine misfires, which can lead to engine failure and overheating.
Is there a known safety defect in the 2018 Ford Escape?
Yes, there have been reports of coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine misfires and rough starting.
What should I do if I experience coolant intrusion in my 2018 Ford Escape?
Seek immediate professional repair to address the coolant intrusion and prevent further engine damage.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of coolant intrusion and engine misfires, which are common issues in the 2018 Ford Escape. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent these problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Ford Escape
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Ford Escape. The data includes 1586 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 25 reported crashes, 5 fire incidents, 28 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Ford Escape an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-15