2018 Ford Escape: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 1,739 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
1,739
Complaints
4
Recalls
25
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
30
Injuries
21.3
Severity index
Severity index 21.3 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Ford Escape ranks 107 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 12% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1,104 | 63.5% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 338 | 19.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 262 | 15.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 101 | 5.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 53 | 3.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 41 | 2.4% |
| STEERING | 30 | 1.7% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 26 | 1.5% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 1,104 of 1,739 complaints (63.5%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 55 |
| 2022 | 150 |
| 2023 | 256 |
| 2024 | 462 |
| 2025 | 490 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 216 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 4.9x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V803000 | 18/12/2017 | AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 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. |
| 18V104000 | 12/02/2018 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 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. |
| 22V413000 | 10/06/2022 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 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. |
| 26V011000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.