NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 1,823 owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Escape. Most complaints involve engine (1,171) and engine and engine cooling (345). The EPA rates it 23–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Escape model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,027 |
| 2002 | 1,070 |
| 2003 | 598 |
| 2004 | 499 |
| 2005 | 1,584 |
| 2006 | 720 |
| 2007 | 393 |
| 2008 | 2,417 |
| 2009 | 1,693 |
| 2010 | 2,130 |
| 2011 | 1,319 |
| 2012 | 604 |
| 2013 | 2,757 |
| 2014 | 2,089 |
| 2015 | 1,135 |
| 2016 | 1,178 |
| 2017 | 2,701 |
| 2018 | 1,823 |
| 2019 | 599 |
| 2020 | 1,548 |
| 2021 | 353 |
| 2022 | 238 |
| 2023 | 102 |
| 2024 | 77 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 3 |
“I suffered catastrophic engine misfires with a sudden loss of power and white smoke coming from the exhaust. This was due to a design flaw in the Ford ecoboost 1.5l engine which allowed coolant into the #3 cylinder.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature increased, and the vehicle entered Limp mode. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. The failure mileage was 110,000.”
“The car was driving completely fine, then when starting to go at a stoplight it had trouble shifting out of the first gear. At the next stop, it would not go uphill and began slowly rolling backwards as I am trying to move forward. This was in downtown [XXX] traffic with nowhere for me to pull over. It was very close to hitting the car behind me. I had to turn the car off to rest it for a few minutes and was finally able to slowly get up the hill to pull into a parking lot. I ended up getting it towed to a Ford dealership and they said it needed a whole new transmission put in.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,450 | 342 |
| Escape AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 370 |
| Escape FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 372 |
| Escape FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,700 | 369 |
| Escape FWD FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,700 | 369 |
| Escape AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,800 | 387 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 1,823 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (1,171), engine and engine cooling (345), power train (276). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Ford Escape at 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Ford Escape 5 out of 5 stars overall.