What 1,734 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Escape Gas

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.

NHTSA ODI 11681619

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.

NHTSA ODI 11680107

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 .

NHTSA ODI 11679618

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the power train malfunction warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact became aware of fluids leaking underneath the vehicle and accumulating on the rear glass. The contact drove the vehicle to a nearby parking space and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fractured flex plate, a failed torque converter, a failed front pump, a failed crank shaft and engine failure. The contact was informed that the suggestive repairs would be to replace the flex plate, torque converter and the front pump. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 approximately 56,500.

NHTSA ODI 11669282

Transmission failed in the middle of me turning and a car almost hit me. Their Transmissions should be recalled on ALL ford escapes this is ridiculous.

NHTSA ODI 11668399

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the flex plate had failed and 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 assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666709

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the engine was running roughly while driving at various speeds. While driving approximately 40-50 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond and decelerated instead. The contact was able to continue driving off the highway at a slower speed. The following day while starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The “WRENCH” warning light was illuminated, indicating the vehicle needed to be serviced. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure due to a coolant leak in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train); however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and provided a reference number from the dealer for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666334

Check engine light first appeared early May 2025 days after the car started running very roughly, then bucking upon startup; local mechanic said may need engine but should go to dealer; dealer towed a couple of days later as engine light had begun to blink and said it couldn't be driven; a few days later dealer reported coolant leaking into combustion chamber and would need a new engine at $12,860. Apparently a known failure as reported in Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229, date 6/9/2022 for vehicles including my 2018 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 L Ecoboost with only 44k miles, final assembly Louisville KY. Reported danger of engine failure while driving, possible fire.

NHTSA ODI 11666006

Blown engine, misfire cylinder 3 coolant leaking into cylinder 3, block cracked...smuttering. problem has been identified by our mechanic, and Ford has been called for a replacement engine. Check engine light was on.

NHTSA ODI 11665168

HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER THE END OF APRIL 2025 FOR OIL LEAK THAT THEY DISCOVERED. IT WAS FIXED. THEN ON MAY 8 2025 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG. CAR HAD WHITE SMOKE, SHAKING WHEN STARTING AND SMELLED LIKE OIL. THEY HAD IT 6 DAYS BEFORE RETURNING IT. THEY SAID THE WHITE SMOKE WAS NORMAL FOR AN OLDER CAR BECAUSE THE EXHAUST STSTEM IS OLDER. HUH??? SO THEN ON MAY 29 2025 THE CAR STILL HAD THE WHITE SMOKE WHEN STARTED. MOVED CAR DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET AND IT DIED. IT WOULD NOT MOVE AND WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. CALLED DEALER AGAIN AND ASKED THEM TO TOW IT AGAIN. DEALER SAID THE WALL WAS CRACKED AND THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDERS AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $10,000.00. OH AND THAT WAS A DISCOUNTED PRICE. THE WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT 86 MILES BEFORE. I ASKED FORD MOTOR CO. IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PROGRAMS TO PAY FOR IT. THEY SOLD A FAULTY VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, NOT ME. IT WAS A DANGER TO DRIVE AND WE AS OWNERS WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11664411

The vehicle flywheel is currently damaged at around 66000 miles. There are currently no warning lights for it at this time. There is a loud knocking sound that is known to get louder when turning the AC on.

NHTSA ODI 11664186

At 46000 miles mileage cylinder 3 misfired. This led to sudden engine slowdown on a busy street. Headgasket broke and coolant intruded into engine causing total engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11662450

In the middle of driving without warning, the vehicle started accelerating without shifting. It wasn't til I was pulled off the road and had only neutral that the vehicle had indicated a tranmission/power train issue

NHTSA ODI 11661715

Ford is trying to say that my engine is blown, my check engine light came on at 105,000 miles and it said that my cylinder too was misfiring. I brought it to my mechanic and he replaced the coils and the spark plugs and the check engine light kept coming back on within a few hours I took the vehicle to my mechanic five times in three days the last time I took it to my mechanic the vehicle started overheat, there was no power, the vehicle is shaking, and it left me pretty much stuck on the side of the road with a child in my car.

NHTSA ODI 11661516

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH and approaching a red traffic light, the vehicle began to jerk then suddenly lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the contact stated that upon reaching her destination, the vehicle stalled and had since not been able to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 11660936

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The service transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred in 2022, and the transmission was replaced under warranty by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11659367

The vehicle was shaking really bad when started. I took the vehicle to a mechanic since it seemed like it was mis-firing. I was told the vehicle was leaking coolant into the 2nd cylinder causing damage to my engine. I was told I needed a whole engine replacement. I called Ford Customer care and was told there is no service programs for my VIN number. I also purchased the extended warranty when purchasing this vehicle which just expired in NOV 2024. I can't believe Ford will not honor this engine replacement when I just saw online this was an ongoing issue and my vehicle was was in the time frame of 96 months or $150,000 mile time frame.

NHTSA ODI 11659026

My car had less than 143,000 miles on it and started shuddering going down the highway. I was able to get pulled over and have taken it to a mechanic shop and they diagnosed it as a bad transmission. With metal shavings in the fluid. They also said they had another escape there with exactly the same issue. As well as I have seen that there are now class actions going on for this issue. And that Ford was aware of the issue as a consumer I feel this should not be allowed

NHTSA ODI 11656055

The contact's mother owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined 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: 19B37 (Powertrain Control Module Reprograming); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11656080

My short block engine failed in the middle of pulling out onto a 4 lane roadway while my two children were in the vehicle. We were almost hit from behind as I lost power while entering the roadway. The vehicle was taken to and diagnosed by a Ford dealership as needing a short block and full engine rebuild. There was no warning or problems before the failure. My vehicle has 23,000 miles on it and is currently waiting for repairs at an independent shop because I cannot afford another new vehicle at this time.

NHTSA ODI 11655917

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission shifted hard while changing gear and the transmission was also slipping. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was repaired. On a separate occasion, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken for maintenance, and the contact was informed that one of the cylinders was stuck. The vehicle was diagnosed with head gasket failure due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,500.

NHTSA ODI 11655503

The contact called for a friend who owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While the contact's friend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the vehicle was driven uphill. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11655081

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed while driving at various speeds. The RPM failed to immediately lower when the accelerator pedal was released. The failure was intermittent. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH and releasing and depressing the accelerator pedal off an exit to the right, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was pulled into a nearby parking lot and parked. The “Transmission Fault – Service” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11654476

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine block was replaced twice, the transmission was replaced twice, and the front axle was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer it was purchased from, Steven's Jersey City Ford (740 NJ-440, Jersey City, NJ 07304), and the engine block was replaced a third time; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while one of the dealers was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer informed the contact that there were metal shavings inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11653498

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle jerked, and the contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact coasted to an oil change business nearby. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and the transmission failure diagnostic result was confirmed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer a year prior to the failure, and the transmission was replaced. The contact was later informed by Car Shield that, per the pictures submitted, there was engine damage seen. The pictures indicated coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to a dealer for a routine oil change, and the contact was informed that the check engine warning light was illuminated; however, the dealer found no failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 248,000.

NHTSA ODI 11651275