Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
6,145 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Ford Escape miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2018 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Jan 092024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving this vehicle (~88,000 miles) on a route of ~100 miles, the car started shuddering / shaking at highway speed for 30 - 90 seconds every 10 - 15 minutes. I was 50 miles in to the drive when the shaking began. The shaking was startling and distracting. I drove the car to the dealer that night. While driving to the dealer, the car continued to shudder / shake for even longer durations at greater frequency. Additionally, the car had weak acceleration when the gas pedal was compressed. This created significant challenges when trying to navigate traffic (merging on to highway, accelerating car from stop, etc.). I have a video of the dash which shows the car exceeding 4000 RPM and not exceeding 25mph. I can share this video over e-mail, but could not attach to this form. - The dealer believes this is a malfunction of the powertrain (transmission). It is available for inspection at the time of this writing. However, I am working with Ford and the dealer on a repair solution as this is my primary car. - My safety was at risk because the car shaking was distracting and the lack of acceleration presented challenges with merging, passing cars, accelerating from stop, etc. - Vehicle is currently with dealer beginning inspection - initial suspicion is transmission issue. - No warning lights came on as I was experiencing this issue.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #50

Jan 092024

Escape

  • miles
While driving this vehicle (~88,000 miles) on a route of ~100 miles, the car started shuddering / shaking at highway speed for 30 - 90 seconds every 10 - 15 minutes. I was 50 miles in to the drive when the shaking began. The shaking was startling and distracting. I drove the car to the dealer that night. While driving to the dealer, the car continued to shudder / shake for even longer durations at greater frequency. Additionally, the car had weak acceleration when the gas pedal was compressed. This created significant challenges when trying to navigate traffic (merging on to highway, accelerating car from stop, etc.). I have a video of the dash which shows the car exceeding 4000 RPM and not exceeding 25mph. I can share this video over e-mail, but could not attach to this form. - The dealer believes this is a malfunction of the powertrain (transmission). It is available for inspection at the time of this writing. However, I am working with Ford and the dealer on a repair solution as this is my primary car. - My safety was at risk because the car shaking was distracting and the lack of acceleration presented challenges with merging, passing cars, accelerating from stop, etc. - Vehicle is currently with dealer beginning inspection - initial suspicion is transmission issue. - No warning lights came on as I was experiencing this issue.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #49

Nov 102023

Escape

  • miles
Ford is refusing to fix the coolant intrusion that is now happening on my vehicle

- Marquette, MI, USA

problem #48

Nov 042023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car says it-??s in neutral but the gear shift is in park.

- Mt Airy, NC, USA

problem #47

Oct 062023

Escape

  • miles
I purchased a 2018 Ford Escape from CarMax, I-??ve had the car for 6 months I drove it to Illinois and my car was in park but stating it was in neutral upon a diagnostic it was discover my shifting cable was not working and I needed to keep my car parked and keep The emergency break on at all times. I called Ford and told them my issue they explained to me that in November of 2022 the gear shifting cable was a was fixed per a recall and I would have to pay to have it fixed because they only fix it one time for free. In January of this year another lawsuit was filed against Ford that alleges that even after the shifting cable is fix its still breaking on customers then can results in serious injury to the driver or others. I am asking that Ford take this vehicle back in exchange for a vehicle equal in value, i transport my grandchildren and children in this car and it-??s not reliable or safe

- Windermere , FL, USA

problem #46

Sep 202023

Escape

  • miles
Check engine light came on while driving down the highway. Vehicle lost power to approximately 20 mph even though the throttle was pressed. This was a hazardous situation as the speed limit was 55 mph and no place to pull off. Was told by a mechanic the throttle body was defective and needs replaced.

- Mcveytown, PA, USA

problem #45

Sep 142023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Coolant appears to be leaking into the engine block.

- Parker, CO, USA

problem #44

Aug 152023

Escape

  • miles
Car has 95k miles. Recently started showing code P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire). Took it to mechanic, replaced spark plug and engine coil. Got car back, ran fine a couple days, then started noticing coolant level way down from mechanics top off. Mechanic has it now and is thinking coolant leaking into engine. Common issue for this model as I have read online. Also read about a service bulletin offering a one time fix for this, but never received the alert in my Ford app. No recall issued that I can see. Hopefully won-??t need a new engine.

- Burlingame, CA, USA

problem #43

Sep 022023

Escape

  • miles
Was driving when engine light came on, then warning that engine was to hot. My car then began to slow down and I pulled over and allowed to cool for a while. Finally able to drive but each time I would drive it happened. Took to a independent contractor and was told my coolant was leaking into engine and it needed to be replaced

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #42

Apr 042022

Escape

  • miles
After having the 2018 Ford Escape for three weeks, the entire APIM system went down. I was not able to charge anything, use the radio, or the touchscreen for all of the functions in the dash. It goes in and out constantly, often does not turn on at all, the touchscreen lags, the radio takes up to a minute or longer to change a channel once a button is pressed. The only thing that is in tact is the rear camera. The 2016-2017 APIMs have been recalled, and this one should as well. Other than the rear camera and now being able to charge a phone, I cannot use the touchscreen at all and do not use the radio because I cannot see what channel it is on.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #41

Jul 222023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When I stop at a red light and begin to to go the vehicle jumps and jerks forward before going

- Jesup, GA, USA

problem #40

Jun 082023

Escape

  • miles
What happened was I was Driving down the street at thirty miles per hour and the speed limit changed to thirty five miles per hour so I put my foot on the gas and nothing happened. The engine did not rev and the speed did not go up the speed kept going down. Quit thinking made me push the auto start off button and then I pushed on the gas again and the Car speed went up as I pushed on the gas pedal. There were no cars in front of me or beside me in the next lane but there was a pickup truck behind me. He was far enough back that he did not have to step on his breaks. This scared me to death and if quick thinking had not been a part of the situation for the auto off button, Then I would have easily caused a wreck with the truck behind me if he would not have been paying attention. This just happened about five minutes ago so I have not been able to tell the dealer yet. I am already scheduled for next tuesday to get my transmission bushing recall fixed next week at the ford dealership in my town.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #39

Jun 022023

Escape

  • miles
Car begin leaking coolent and then check engine light on. White smoke from tale pipe. This car sold to me Jay Hodge Ford Muskogee Oklahoma with open recall and costumer satisfaction recall that expired approx 1 month after purchase. never notified by anyone and maybe 6 months in car not drivable

- Eufaula , OK, USA

problem #38

May 202023

Escape

  • miles
The dealership, All American Chevrolet of San Angelo TX, sold me this car 12/14/2022 without fixing the recall that was issued 6/2022. My battery has died 2x within a month, my check engine light came on yesterday but there are only 68k miles on the car. It's against federal law for a dealership to sell a car with an open recall, isn't it?

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #37

Jan 292023

Escape

  • miles
Drivers side headlight burned out and had to replace. 3 months later passenger side headlight burned out. While at the shop to replace the passenger side, the drivers side burned out again. 4 months later the drivers side is out again. I'm afraid they are both going to go randomly one night while driving in the dark.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #36

Nov 012022

Escape

  • miles
Every morning after starting, a thick cloud of white smoke emits from the exhausts. It clears up after a minute or so but it happens in both hot and cold weather. Took the car to the mechanic and it was determined there is a head gasket leak. Vehicle runs fine and does not overheat. Upon further research, i noticed it is a common occurrence with Ford Escape owners and the manufacturer isn't doing anything about it.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #35

Nov 012022

Escape

  • miles
Within 30,000 miles, my spark plugs failed and had me on the side of the road. By 60k miles, I needed a whole new engine. After the engine was put in, my purge valve went out. And now, at 110k miles, my transmission has blown.

- Valparaiso, FL, USA

problem #34

Sep 302022

Escape

  • miles
CEL came on and showed code P0302. I replaced the coil pack and spark plug, problem was fixed for a week and then the code came back on. Did research and realized when the car is on the coolant totally depletes and returns after the car is off, the coolant should not deplete like it did. This is a known issue with these vehicles that the coolant goes into the engine when it should not and causes problems with cylinder 2. This is a manufacturing defect and should have a recall so that Ford can fix their mistake. There are no recalls for this problem even though Ford has many customers with Escapes that are having this same exact problem and caused by no fault of our own. Ford will not fix it since it-€™s out of warranty so will need to pay out of pocket.

- Cibolo, TX, USA

problem #33

Sep 162022

Escape

  • miles
Lug nuts swollen - couldn-€™t remove at regular tire store. Had to buy all new lug nuts at dealer.

- Cincinnati , OH, USA

problem #32

Jun 202022

Escape

  • miles
The driver and front passenger door passenger won't latch. It doesn't catch properly and the warning light comes on for the door. There shouldn't be any problems for a car with only 22509 miles.

- Caldwell, ID, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?