2018 Ford Escape complaints

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, an alert indicating engine failure was displayed, along with the “Service Now” message. The vehicle was on the verge of overheating, with the temperature gauge showing an excessively high temperature reading. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir to address the issue temporarily. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic recommended an engine replacement; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that a prior Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The manufacturer also confirmed that there was no recall coverage for this issue and offered no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the engine was shaking, and smoke was coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined 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 VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that it was a known issue with similar vehicles. The failure mileage was 46,000.

I lost engine power trying to accelerate while entering the highway. Check Engine light flashed several times then went steady. I pulled over into the slow lane with my flashers on and with reduced power to get off the highway exit straight to the Dealer. The Check Engine light stayed on steady. This is apparently part of a known issue with the 1.5l GTDI engine. There was a Technical Service Bulletin created for it 22-2322 and a Customer Service Program fix was set up- 21N12

We started to notice a rough idle when starting the vehicle, the check engine light came on. The rough idle continued to get worse. We took it to a Certified Mechanic to have it inspected. Based upon the check engine status, they did further diagnosis through various tests. They determined that the coolant appeared to be seeping into the #1 cylinder. They checked the Ford website for any recalls and found a TSB ( Technical Service Bulletin} # 19-2346 regarding the 2.0L Eco-Boost engine. Ford's TSP says to replace the engine block, but does not indicate at who's expense. If this is defective and Ford knows, the consumer should not be responsible to pay for this major expense. What do we do? Within the ;next couple weeks we plan to take the car into a Ford Dealership to do their own diagnosis.

While driving the car got hot and on the highway the car slowed all the way down to 5mph almost causing a car to hit me from behind and cause a crash on the highway

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly, with the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to shift into reverse and was unable to operate while in reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Transmission slips and transmission fault error alerts while driving. VIN # doesn’t come up when searching the NHTSA recall # 22S43 involving the faulty shift cable bushing effecting Ford Escapes 2013-2019. While my car isn’t listed on the recall it seems I’m having the same issues.

I was advised to have the coolant flushed in our 2018 Ford Escape in July of 2025 by VIP in Concord NH while an oil change was being performed. Took vehicle to Nucar in Concord, the tech advised that the coolant was low and would not pressurize, they kept the vehicle overnight, it did in fact keep pressurization overnight. Made an appointment on 07/25/2025 to make sure the coolant was at an acceptable level, the tech advised all good. It is now September of 2025, took car out on SaturdAY [XXX] to run errands, got 2 miles down the road, vehicle starting running extremely rough, sort of bucking like it wanted to stall. Got it home and parked it there until I call Nucar in Tilton NH (Ford Dealer), car was towed on 09/04/2025, they confirmed we need a new engine. After market warrant company AAC Warranty is stating this is going to cost us hundreds if not thousands of dollars to replace! There are many documented cases of Ford Escapes having coolant issues due to poor engine design, Ford needs to honor these fixes and offer guests a solution so they are not out a lot of money! At this point we may not be able to afford the fix and have to junk the vehicle and still pay our monthly car payment! I will not rest until this fix is honored, it is not fair to the consumer to have a vehicle that is not save, when FORD is too cheap to honor the fixes! They received their money when we bought the vehicle, now we could potentially be out hundreds if not thousands of dollars due to this kno

I lost engine power trying to accelerate while entering the highway. Check Engine light flashed several times then went steady. I pulled over into the emergency lane and shut the car off. It did start again but with reduced power to get off the highway. The Check Engine light stayed on steady. This is apparently part of a known issue with the 1.5l GTDI engine. There was a Technical Service Bulletin created for it 22-2322 and a Customer Service Program fix was set up- 21N12

Check engine light, White smoke on cold start, low coolant, P0302 - misfire cylinder 2, P1299 - Cylinder Head Protection Active. No power - limp mode

My 2018 Ford Escape was sputtering one morning and I realized the oil was dark and almost gone. I took it for an oil change and they discovered there wasn’t coolant in the reservoir. But that didn’t solve the issue. The vehicle shut down and I was left in the middle of the road until I could get help. I took it to the shop and I was told coolant had leaked into the cylinders and the I would be needing a head gasket and short block. I called Ford customer service and I was made aware that is is an issue with the 2018 ford escape ecoboost. But they were unable to help me because 21N12 has expired.

Component or System: Engine – Coolant intrusion into the combustion chamber (cylinder 2). The vehicle and documentation (dealer diagnostic report, photos) are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Coolant intrusion causes engine misfires, loss of power, and rapid coolant loss, which can lead to sudden engine stalling or hydrolock at highway speeds. A stall could result in loss of power steering and braking assist, creating a serious crash risk for occupants and others on the road. Confirmation: The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Ford dealership using a borescope inspection. Inspection: A Ford dealership service department has inspected the vehicle. They confirmed coolant pooling in cylinder 2. Warning Signs: The check engine light first appeared in early July 2025 with a misfire on cylinder 2. Spark plugs and other components were replaced, but the issue returned within two weeks. The engine misfired, produced white exhaust smoke, and lost coolant over time.

It started out as a misfire which can be caused by multiple issues, after changing spark plugs and coils, noted low coolant (no visible leaks), white smoke, running rough. Ford dealer diagnosis as coolant intrusion and states a complete long block needs replacement. The cost of this is more than the market value.

The contact's son owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to pull into the nearby parking lot and parked the vehicle. It was unknown whether the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket had failed, causing coolant intrusion into the engine and engine damage. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 67,700.

My check engine light came on Saturday August 23rd. I took my car to my local Ford dealership on Monday August 25th and on Wednesday, August 27th the Ford technician verified a misfire and found coolant was low. They removed the spark plug and found cooling system was under pressure. They found coolant entering into the cylinder via the cylinder head and that my vehicle now needs a new engine. This problem has been confirmed by the dealership and my only option is to purchase a brand new engine for my 2018 Ford escape that has less than 40,000 miles on it. An engine failure at just 40,000 miles is simply unacceptable and raise serious concerns about the reliability of this model. I am aware that engine issues on certain Ford escapes have been the subject of multiple customer complaints and I strongly believe that this may be part of a broader quality or manufacturing issue. There are numerous reported cases from 2018 Escape owners describing engine failures, tied to coolant intrusion and instances where an engine fails unexpectedly often linked to coolant, entering the cylinder and requiring full engine replacement, which seems to be a common pattern in these 1.5 L and occasionally the 2.0 eco-boost. While no formal recall exists for this Ford has implemented a customer satisfaction program 21N12 which addressed coolant intrusion into the engine, especially affecting 1.5 L eco-boost engines.

Had a lot of knocking in the engine on startup and sometimes driving down the road. Engine check light went on, used code reader to diagnose and it said misfire on cylinder 2. Replaced spark plugs and ignition coils to solve problem. Ran well for about a week, week and half before had the same issues pop up again. Then all of the sudden I’m driving down the road and the temp spikes in the engine and warning light comes on about car overheating and to pull off the road . I was on the highway so I let off the gas and the temp came right back down. Took the car to a Tire Kingdom to get it checked out and the coolant is almost all gone, it’s leaked back into the engine and the head gasket needs replaced. Call Ford to see if they would cover service and the dealer and Ford corporate both said it would not be covered, despite TSBs being out about this issue.

A cracked engine block caused coolant intrusion into my Eco Boost engine resulting in overheating engine. I was almost stranded in the Cascade mountains. Randy Wright at Bill Pierre Ford of Seattle says he sees a Ford Escape with this problem once a week. After multiple conversations with Ford corporate, it appears Ford is aware of the problem but unwilling to issue a recall for these dangerously defective engines. The vehicle gave no prior warnings before the overheating took place.

MY FORD ESCAPE IS A 2018 WITH 54,000 MI AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING IN THE CYLYDERS. IT WAS SOLD TO ME AS A LOW MILAGE MINT COND. SUV THROUGH CARMAX WHO DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS PROBLEM AND ALSO FORD. NOW ITS SITTING AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR 2 WKS WITH NOTHING DONE AND "WAITING TO HEAR" FROM FORD. THEY SAY THE JOB COULD BE UP TO $11,000.

I own a 2018 Ford Escape. Current mileage is 58,847 and was serviced regularly. In July of this year, the transmission failed completely while driving. No warnings or symptoms prior to complete failure. I was very lucky that the highway I was traveling on was not busy and I was able to coast into a parking lot. I had to pay a towing fee to have it taken to my local Ford dealer where they informed me my transmission had failed!! The transmission fluid was found to be burnt and contained a lot of metal shavings in it. The cost to replace the transmission with a remanufactured one was over $9500. My local Ford dealer installed a remanufactured transmission on July 22, 2025. I continued to have issues such as shift hesitation and other error messages. I took it back to the dealer on Aug 25, 2025. I requested to the tech that the transmission fluid be checked. He stated that after only 30 days, the oil was already discolored from being too hot and there were metal shavings in the fluid. Only about 600 miles were put on the vehicle since the transmission repair. The service manager stated that it will surely fail again based on the condition of the fluid. The service manager also stated that it is possible that I will need a THIRD transmission! In doing research, I found that my particular model is prone to premature transmission failure. There are several Class Action lawsuits against Ford Motor Co for 2018 - 2020 Escapes for this defective transmission. And in addition, it states

Due to a known manufacturing defect in the casting of the engine block, coolant leaked into the #2 cylinder causing failure of the engine. Due to the fact that this is a known issue by Ford, they will do nothing as the vehicle is no longer under warranty. The extended warranty we purchased will not cover the damage or repair as it is a "known issue from Ford." Vehicle is available upon request, if catastrophic failure of the engine had occurred possible loss of power and or control of the vehicle, vehicle was inspected at a certified Ford dealership, check engine and a lot of white smoke the day of service appointment, rough idle the day prior

The car began a rough idle, followed by odd fluid noises from the engine once shut off. I then saw an engine fault light come on and brought it straight to the dealership. They diagnosed a coolant leak into the engine, based on a default in that model, which would require a full replacement. Otherwise the car could lose power without warning.

The engine light came on and we took it to the dealer where we purchased it. They told us the engine had coolant leaking into it from a warped engine block. The vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it. The dealer told us it would cost $14000 to replace the engine. We are feeling quite frustrated as FORD was aware this was a known problem / design defect. They even went as far to correct the design on new models. What can we do?

Engine light came on. Took directly to Ford dealer. Code P0303:00-A8. Cylinder 3 misfire. Coolant leaked into engine. Need long block replacement. 2018 1.5L engine. 57000 miles. Ford won't warranty. $14,000 to replace engine.

In 2021 my engine was replaced by the dealership I purchased it from, with a manufacturer made engine. The issue was that the coolant was leaking into the cylinders causing the engine to overheat which is a potential risk of fires. It was under warranty for 5 years or 50K miles whichever came first. Today, I was notified by the dealership that my engine needs to be replaced AGAIN for the SAME ISSUE as 4 years ago. Coolant leaking into cylinder causing misfire. I was charged $1400 for repairs that DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUES. Ford is now telling me there is nothing they can do for me and my car is safe to drive so long as I keep it filled with coolant.

OBD trouble code P0302 — cylinder 2 misfire caused by coolant seeping in from a deformation in the block.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the contact observed smoke and coolant. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "High Engine Temperature - Stop Safely" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved DTC: P0303-28 (Cylinder #3 misfire) and P0316-28. The mechanic informed the contact that the coolant level was low, and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle received unknown repairs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred within one week. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was then informed that the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,742.

I have 117k miles on my ford escape and have always maintained the services on my car. I was driving and my car started to overheat and warning lights came on. Pulled over immediately and turned car off and had it towed to the shop. Mechanic told me the coolant leaked into the cylinder and caused a misfire in cylinder 2&3. He currently has 3 other ford escapes there with the same issue. Yet there is no recall for this? He quoted me $6,400 for this job. This is crazy. Something needs to be done about this if so many people are having the same issue.

I was sold the Escape and was not informed about the coolant intrusion and have been having the check engine light come on and off since I purchased it last September, I've replaced multiple spark plugs on cylinder 3 and later found out that the inside of the cylinder had developed surface rust and was having coolant leaking into that cylinder, and due to the coolant leak, my engine overheated and shut it self off in my driveway.

Check engine light came on. Then overheat light. Stopped vehicle and stayed 45 mins. Had to put refrigerant in vehicle drove home. Took to parts store than ran codes. #2 spark plug misfire. Now my car at Ford dealership with engine gone. Will contact ford.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 85,822.

Blown head gasket which is causing coolant to leak into the cylinders. Check engine light came on at 72,000 miles (leased the car at 71,000) with coolant loss. The problem was diagnosed by an independent service center on 8/19/25, 3 weeks after leasing to buy.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced harsh driving and hesitation while accelerating. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of coolant. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 146,000.

[XXX] Ford Escape panel flashed red with warnings about overheating. Could not drive vehicle. Vehicle towed to nearest Ford dealership. After inspection, advised that coolant intrusion into Cylinder 2 caused engine to overheat and was not repairable. Replacement cost ranges from $8,000-11,000. Contacted Ford Corporate since class action suit involved this exact problem. Ford Corp said that they could not assist with repair even though this make and model was included in a class action suit of which we knew nothing. There is a loan on the vehicle that cannot be sold except to a salvage company. 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 while driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost motive power with white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle after approximately 30 minutes. The contact stated that there was still white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the vehicle was driving in LIMP Mode. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 94,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was losing coolant. The contact related the issue to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for an oil change, and it was diagnosed that the coolant was bubbling and entering the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 67,500.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light displayed, and the vehicle was taken to the local Auto Zone who diagnosed a cylinder misfire. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant inside the cylinders, causing the spark plug to fuse inside the cylinder, and the spark plug could not be removed. The contact was later advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 88,418.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspection, the coolant level in the coolant reservoir was low. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

Due to a lack of power I took my car to my mechanic for diagnosis. After performing compression checks he found that 3 of the 4 cylinders had low compression. Additionally the coolant level was found to be low. A check of the Ford web site showed that TSB #22-2229 was issued and indicated that coolant was leaking into the block. The Ford remedy was to replace the short block assembly. This repair would cost approximately $6 - 7000. No re-call was ever issued for this problem.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was cold-started, the vehicle was idling roughly and vibrated abnormally before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the failure was a known failure. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that there was a TSB, but the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Coolant leak into Cylinder 1 causing engine to overheat. Have to keep putting coolant in to drive it. Brought it to Park City Ford for evaluation. They confirmed it is coolant leaking into Cylinder 1. Engine replacement necessary to resolve issue. Called Ford customer service several times. Because it is over 60,000 miles its out of warranty and nothing can be done for me.

Engine failure. No engine lights are on and vehicle is driving fine, but engine block could crack due to coolant intrusion problem. Coolant intrusion is a defect in the motor well know to Ford and mechanics.Ford customer satisfaction program:21N12 and 19B37.TSB tech. serv. bulleting 22-2134 and 19-2375. Problem has been confirmed by private mechanic shop and Ford dealer. No warning lights, no messages, no symptoms. Problem appeared scheduled maintenance & multipoint inspection.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2 due to coolant intrusion. The contact was informed that the bottom of the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 75,600.

The engine design allows premature failure of the head gasket and allows coolant to leak into the cylinders. This is a known issue and I just had it happen to my car.

Check engine light came on, Ford Dealership told me I need to have the engine replaced at my cost $10,000 I am the second owner and it only has 45,000 miles Please help!

Coolant leak into the engine

Coolant intrusion . Coolant leak caused the vehicle to overheat and thus making it unable to drive . Had to tow to a repair facility and they confirmed that it’s a coolant intrusion, a common issue with Ford Escape .Engine warning light came up and there were mis fires in engine. In a week , got an engine overheat warning in the morning when I started the car .

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was coolant intrusion into various cylinders, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.

Car in shop for the 4th engine. First was coolant going into the oil-cracked block. 2nd was cracked cylinder wall- coolant leaking in to cylinder 4 now coolant leaking into the cylinder again. They can't find the leak but can see the inside there is coolant. All have been covered under warranty for now. And taken to Ford dealerships. But there has to be an issue, why it keeps happening. The service light only went on for the second engine. It was labeled as a misfire, and i had reduced engine power. So i went straight in knowing I had just gotten it replaced 3 months prior. Car bought- 40k miles 11/2021. taken in 3/2022, 6/2022 for coolant intrusion. taken in 11/2023 for thick white smoke. They told me it was just condensation. taken in 8/2025 for persistent thick white smoke, and oil/coolant build up on turbo case. Dealership is ordering a 'long block' vs the short block its been replaced with.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine and the cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the VIN was not included in the program. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to pay a portion of the cost for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine was slow to turn over, and after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that coolant was leaking into the engine, but there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and verified the failure. However, it was determined that there was no warranty or recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle remained unrepaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that a manager would respond soon. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.