Lemon Law Check › 2018 Ford Escape

2018 Ford Escape Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1677 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in engine. Owners whose Escape has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 1677 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Escape:

Engine838 complaints
Engine and engine cooling316 complaints
Power train245 complaints
Unknown or other75 complaints
Electrical system41 complaints
Steering28 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"The contact owns a 2018 ford escape. the contact stated while driving 50-55 mph in the rainy weather, the vehicle lost motive power. the "transmission failure" message was displayed. the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. upon inspection, the contact discovered that tran…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2024
"The contact owns a 2018 ford escape. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant was l…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2024
"I purchased a 2018 ford escape se (vin# [xxx] ) with 1.5 ecoboost engine on 9/24/2023 with 89,726 miles. on 12/10/2023 my 16 year old son was operating vehicle when he experienced a catastrophic engine failure and the vehicle is unserviceable. the vehicle had 90,766 miles…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2023

NHTSA recall campaigns (4)

Air bags:side/window
18/12/2017 · 17V803000
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
12/02/2018 · 18V104000
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.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
10/06/2022 · 22V413000
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 …
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
15/01/2026 · 26V011000
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 …

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Escape been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Escape has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

Check My Escape — Free →

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Escape?

Based on 1677 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2018 Ford Escape are engine, engine and engine cooling, power train.

How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Escape have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2018 Ford Escape a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Escape has had engine or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2018 Ford Escape.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.