2018 Ford Escape complaints

There is an internal coolant leak from the coolant reserve that cycles through my engine, breaking the head gasket and seeping out through the spark plugs. This was confirmed by a team of mechanics at Christian Brothers. According to the TSP released by Ford this can result in engine failure when operating the vehicle. This is a severe risk to drivers and there are cases where it has resulted in death. I brought my car to a Ford dealership for an oil change and inspection. They failed to see my coolant was empty and the next day my check engine light came on. My husband did a quick inspection and my coolant was empty. When I confronted the dealership with this information they did not respond to me or taken blame for missing any of the signs.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound, the engine overheated, and the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care, where it was diagnosed that the cylinders were abnormally thin and had fractured due to coolant pressure, causing coolant intrusion into the engine and engine combustion. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced and ordered the part. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but had no early availability for a diagnostic test or repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 103,117.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the tires serviced, and the independent mechanic informed the contact that the water pump needed to be replaced. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the dealer diagnosed and confirmed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,500.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the overheating and engine fault warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and became aware that the engine had a cracked cylinder head. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

UNKNOWN: Engine shakes and rumbles when going 35-45 miles per hour. Originally smooth when starting, now rumbles and shakes when started. Check engine light goes on and off. Engine kicks or jumps when accelerator is pushed... Not smooth, jerks very hard. Engine/starter/transmission issues. Available for inspection at dealership doing repair. Shakes and jerks going down the road. Feels like it's going to shake apart. Currently at the dealership for repair and they diagnosed there is "Coolant entering into the cylinder" Check engine light came on then went off. Did this about 3 times and is currently still on.

Engine diagnosed with coolant intrusion related to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. A serious misfire happened without warning after coming to a stop on the road and car perceived to be undrivable. Mechanic advised coolant in cylinders and engine needs to be replaced. Ford will not replace the engine after 84k miles but mine is at 85k.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while servicing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the coolant level was low. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 30 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that an abnormal coolant odor was coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and confirmed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to the failure of Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure recurred, and the contact parked the vehicle, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The approximate failure mileage was 76,900.

I was driving and the vehicle suddenly started to not accelerate. Then the check engine light started to flash and the motor shut off. I had to coast to the side of the road. After being toward my mechanic told me there was no oil and I had complete engine failure. This happened with no warning and I was stuck waiting for a tow in a very scary situation.

Coolant leak into the cylinders due to a manufacturing defect in this type of engine (1.5L ecoboost). Cylinder 2 and 4 misfired detected. Harmful emissions.

I took my car in for a tune up and was advised the engine needed to be replaced and that Ford is having this issue with multiple vehicles with the same engine. Coolant leaking into the engine. I called NHTSA as Ford told me that they would have to add my car to their customer recall list. I was advised to go back to Ford that they have to do this. Upon having an electronic chat for an hour with ford I was again told to file a concern and request with NHTSA to get my vin added. According to Fords Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 ( which my car was serviced for on 1-27-2021) This was the first step to complete the issue of coolant leaking into the engine. Fast forward to 3-13-25 I was informed by a Ford dealership that the coolant was indeed leaking into the engine and needs a replacement. Under Fords customer satisfaction program 21N12 issued 6-9-22 my engine should be covered. However according to ford my vin was left off the list however my car was built under the 3 guidelines of 21N12 which were model year 2017-2019, Built in Louisville, build date was 1-10-18 according to Ladicia at ford Customer care and should have been included. On 1-27-2021 Nations Ford of Margate Florida performed the 19Be7 requirement to satisfy the 21n12 recall should the problem persist. No one seems to care nor chooses to use common sense that if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck its a duck. I am asking your agency to officially look into this concern. Ford is and was aware of this is

While driving at 60 mph on the highway, my vehicle suddenly overheated and lost power, forcing it into limp mode and reducing acceleration. The coolant was completely gone, even though it had been refilled and bled by a mechanic just a week earlier. Prior to this, I experienced engine misfires, which is a known early symptom of coolant intrusion in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The check engine light and an overheating warning message appeared at the time of failure. This matches Ford’s known coolant intrusion defect, which was previously covered under CSP 19B37 and CSP 21N12, yet my vehicle is now experiencing the same failure outside the program’s coverage. This issue is extremely dangerous because it can cause the engine to suddenly fail at high speeds, creating a serious risk for drivers and passengers. This issue has not yet been confirmed by a dealer, as I am arranging transport to a service center. However, the coolant loss and overheating symptoms are consistent with reports from other Ford owners. Ford has acknowledged this problem in past service programs, but vehicles like mine continue to fail. This is a serious safety hazard, and Ford should be required to extend coverage or issue a recall before more drivers experience sudden engine failure.

The engine light came on in my car. The heat was not working either. Took it to my mechanic, the coolant was empty and leaked into the engine. Mechanic advised this is a known issue with this car.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a tune-up, the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a scan of the engine determined that the failure was related to a misfire. An independent mechanic replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils; however, the check engine warning light returned soon after the repair. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test discovered coolant intrusion into cylinders #1 and #3, which caused engine failure. The contact was provided an estimate for a new engine. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting the accelerate, the RPM increased quickly but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact then heard an abnormal grinding noise coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle started to lose motive power, with the transmission slipping. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to provide a diagnostic cause for the failure because the MIL was no longer illuminated when the vehicle was taken in for inspection. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who then diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. Then contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 49,000.

Check Engine light came on and car was taken to the shop where it was diagnosed to have diagnostic codes PO302 and PO316 - at which time the mechanic informed me that the spark plug had "ceased" and could not be removed - upon further research, found out that this is an issue with the 1.5L Ecoboost motor and that there was a program to replace but based on mileage/age, could not be replaced. The car is a 2018 Ford Escape SEL with 133k miles.

While traveling from Massachusetts to South Carolina we stopped at a rest area for a break. when we re-started the S.U.V., a message was displayed that the power steering assist was no longer working. No warning and it was running fine before stop. Because the same thing happened on my other Ford Edge, I knew what I needed to do. We had to have the car towed off highway to a local Ford dealership, were they confirmed that the rack and pinion steering system FAILED. It took the dealer 2 weeks to repair it at a cost of $3,171.45. Because this as happened on two different FORD products I believe that Ford has a problem with the steering system and that the N.H.T.S.A. dept should look into this?? I filed a complaint with N.H.T.S.A. dept on my first S.U.V.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the cylinder head-over temperature message was displayed. The contact stated that the engine started to vibrate while depressing the accelerator pedal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant was leaking into cylinder #3 and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the spark plugs were replaced but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a Customer Satisfaction Program. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (GTDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The failure mileage was 66,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an engine misfire. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

Coolant leak in to cylinders

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering with the engine overheating warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway. The "Engine Coolant Overtemperature" message was displayed on the instrument panel and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact continued driving the vehicle at 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a cracked #2 cylinder. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 20-2100. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained at the independent mechanic and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

My seatbelt wont latch properly and also when it does latch will come unlatched without pushing any button

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while in a parking lot, the vehicle failed to shift into gear without warning. A tow truck driver was able to temporarily repair the vehicle and instructed the contact to drive the vehicle straight to the residence. The contact's grandson was able to reconnect an unknown part on the transmission which temporarily fixed the transmission. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shut off with the "Transmission Fault Service Now" message displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

I first started showing a check engine light for cylinder 2 misfire, and believed it was my spark plugs. Then, one singular day after the initial code, the car refused to start, took it to a local mechanic (as close as I could possibly tow it) and they replaced my fuel pump thinking that was the issue. They did not offer the service to repair a blown head gasket, but told me the white smoke coming from my exhaust indicated I might have a blown head gasket. Took it to another local mechanic who is a Marine motor transport mechanic (it was a friend so this was a free visit), changed my spark plugs hoping to repair the reoccurring cylinder 2 misfire, checked my exhaust and it is in fact a blown head gasket minimum due to the coolant coming completely out of my exhaust along with oil. This was all in the course of less than 150 miles and 7 days total including the three that my car was in the shop for the fuel pump. I have now taken it to the Ford service shop to get diagnosed, and through research, there has been a class-action lawsuit already launched for issues with this engine and the head gasket being blown time and time again under 100 thousand miles. My car has never overheated, but this issue can cause total engine failure, fires, and more. It's dangerous. It is a design flaw with the engine. The lawsuit is Miller et al. vs. Ford Motor Company. This is in regard to the 1.5 L Ecoboost (which is what I have). Alongside this, I'm a teacher, and I know multiple coworkers who

ENGINE malfunctioned at 70,000 mile. Was told there was a misfire in cylinder 2 and engine coolant intrusion. The problem has been thoroughly noted online as a defect that FORD will not assume recall for. Engine light just turned on 2 weeks prior to dealership service diagnostic.

I was told by a mechanic that my engine block has a crack in it and that I need a new engine. This seems to be an ongoing issue with 2018 Ford Escapes. It will cost me $7000 for a used engine and there are a lot of people in the same boat with this vehicle. Is there a recall on it yet??

The engine has internal coolant leakage causing sudden and extreme overheating. A warning comes on to pull over immediately.

Engine misfires low coolant

Engine overheat warning and vehicle shut down on highway. Mechanic says most likely compromised head gasket with coolant intrusion into engine. Currently quoted $7200 at Ford dealer for short engine block replacement.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was still jerking and failed to accelerate as needed. The "Transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on another occasion, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission and flywheel had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,184.

On recent trip to Florida from Ohio, we experienced an incident where the check engine service light was flashing and the car was running very rough(determined later that it was misfiring). Incident lasted about 3-4 minutes. Were able to get to next exit; before we exited the highway the incident stopped, and the engine sounds back to normal. Pulled into a parking lot, shut off the engine, and restarted and stopped a number of time. The check engine light never came back on. Drove another 600+ miles to our destination in Siesta Key FL. Decided to contact local Ford dealer, Sarasota Ford, to have it checked out before having to drive 1100 miles back home. Learned that their diagnostics indicated that we had a coolant leak into the engine. Service advisor initially indicated that he thought their was a "recall repair" for this issue. But later advised that the "recall" had expired on Nov. 30, 2022, and was subject to a limit of 7 years of service or 84000 miles. Estimated repair cost was $8000, about the value of the 2018 Ford Escape with 100,900 miles. Contact Ford customer service to discuss why the "recall" had a time and mileage limit, and why I wasn't notified. CSR was really rather rude; advised that it was NOT a recall but a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). On subsequent discussion with both Sarasota Ford and Masheter Ford in Columbus OH, where we bought the vehicle, also learned that the one time repair offered by the TSB was only valid IF the vehicle actually experien

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that recently the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was stalling more frequently. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local Auto Parts Store and was diagnosed and DTC: P0456 (Evap. System); P0451 (Evap. System Switch) and P1450 Bleed out Fuel Vacuum) were retrieved. The contact stated that a friend recently had a recall of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) for the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) completed and related the failure to the recall. The contact had spoken to the manufacturer and a dealer and was advised that the vehicle was included. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

While driving the vehicle car completely shuts off in the middle of traffic, dash lights turn off then power went out.Now HORN no longer works. Turned the car back on and pulled to the side of the road. I tried to accelerate and white smoke came out of the back of the vehicle and a rattle noise from the front passenger side. Warning lights never turned on ! I was able to drive the vehicle to a nearest ford dealer after stopping multiple times in the process. Took the car to Ford , they claimed there was no issues except the ones they found not relating to the problem I first stated . They advised me for security I would have to get these problems fixed and that could be the cause. I picked the vehicle up 2/17/2025, $1951.72 later. Car cuts off again in the middle of Traffic , Smoke , lights flash then everything went off. I have a full report of the battery and everything else however the car is a big SAFETY ISSUE IF IT KEEPS STOPPING IN TRAFFIC .

Coolant intrusion in the cylinders that requires a replacement engine, a known issue by Ford but not something they are replacing or assisting with the cost of if you are outwith 84,000 miles.

Engine has a defect that causes car to have coolant leak and engine block to crack while driving, putting the vehicle into "limp mode". Accident can occur when vehicle suddenly begins decelerating while driving. There is no current recall for this issue for this vehicle.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

The engine on my car has become unusable because antifreeze leaked into my engine. It is available for inspection. Thankfully due to familial support my safety was not put at risk. The problem was confirmed by a mechanic. BJ's Auto Collision and Restoration, 816-279-2886. The check engine light came on when I first started the car for the day. This happened to my car while I was 5 hours away from the city where I live. I do not have the money to repair the car. So I had to rent a car. And will have to find a way to buy a new car.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately start. The vehicle was taken to the local O'Reilly Auto Parts store which diagnosed that the EVAP high purge flow was faulty. No further information was available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 117,000.

My check engine light came on after a few rough starts prior, all of the rough starts came with white smoke from my exhaust pipe, and the entirety of my vehicle shaking. My first initial impression of the issue was either my spark plugs or my ignition coils. Neither was the case. I have had my car checked out by multiple mechanic shops, and they have all said I have a “coolant intrusion”, as I have had to refill my coolant several times in the past 2 months, while also having “milky oil” indicating coolant has been leaking and mixing into my oil, causing the code P0302, or a cylinder 2 misfire. For a new engine from Ford themselves, I have been quoted $14,000 plus taxes to get this issue fixed. My only concern is Ford has a class-action lawsuit filed against them for this same issue. I can’t afford to put $14,000 into this vehicle for a new engine, when the issue has been happening to many, many others, all fitting the exact description of what I am complaining about. I am concerned for my safety as people with the same issue, have expressed their vehicles have overheated without warning. I am worried my vehicle will catch on fire, as well as my own safety while driving the vehicle. My vehicle is also not covered by warranty.

My 2018 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 Ecoboost engine is experiencing issues that include coolant leaking into the cylinder. There has been white smoke emitting from the exhaust with an odor present. Multiple mechanics have looked at the vehicle and have reported that it might need a total engine replacement. The vehicle has roughly 64,200 miles on it and is currently at a Ford Dealership in Clarksville, Indiana. A google search shows that this is a known issue with the Ford 2.0 Ecoboost engine, but Ford is not showing a recall. I also have seen that there is or there is the possibility of a class action lawsuit.

Fluids leaked into engine. Overheated and died on highway drive home no check engine lights were on prior. 2nd and 4th cylinder misfires. Spark plug welded and cross threaded and needed to replaced but when when it was attempted it broke off in engine due to being welded. Due to the original issues and all of those caused from them this vehicle is NOT SAFE; even if this was able to work again it is NOT SAFE! It was a family car and we do NOT trust for our families safety!! (Had car towed to repair the next day and has been inoperable since without either new engine or engine rebuild.)

I bought this car a month ago and now the transmission is not working I got a warning from my car saying “transmission fault service now” and now I’m trying to see how to fix that, if you guys can help me that would be great

My 2018 Ford Escape started to shake upon starting the engine. Within 2 days the check engine light turned on. I immediately phoned my mechanic and took the car in for diagnostics. The mechanic determined that coolant is present in the engine cylinders, he said likely due to head gasket failure. He said that the only was to resolve the issue is a total engine replacement which he quoted could cost as much as $17,000. The mechanic tells me that the car cannot be driven at all as it is because the engine can fail at any time. This renders the car a total loss. I have done internet searches and have discovered that many Ford owners are experiencing this same problem and that it has been known to Ford that there is this defect in certain models yet they have not offered a recall or compensation for repairs.

The motor started to get hot dealership said it dumped coolant into the head of the engine and that its a know issue with this motor but it's not on the recall list why not

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that several days later, the vehicle was difficult to start. The vehicle was started after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, to be diagnosed and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle was not covered because the vehicle had exceeded the mileage limit. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,200.

Cracked header, electric emergency parking brake says to release the parking brake when it's not even engaged

Coolant leak into engine

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and was jerking. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was still jerking and failed to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to an out of state dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was still under warranty and was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and was taken to another out of state dealer who diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.