FaultScore

FaultScore report

2018 Ford Escape problems

Owners have filed 2,167 complaints about the 2018 Ford Escape with NHTSA between 2018 and 2026. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 25 worst.

C

FaultScore 50/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Escape.

How this is worked out

The numbers

2,167

Complaints

38

Crashes reported

7

Fires reported

34

Injuries reported

80,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

20%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

NHTSA overall crash rating

From the agency's own crash tests

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 75 vs 50 Severity 19 vs 50 Early failure 33 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 75
Against the median year of the Ford Escape. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 19
3.6% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 33
20% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2018 compares with every other Ford Escape

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2018 Ford Escape

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 1,470 67.8%

4 crashes, 5 fires · median 85,725 mi

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 80,000 mi

6 crashes, 1 fires · median 14,350 mi

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 26,174 mi

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 112,323 mi

Steering 32 1.5%

3 crashes, 0 fires · median 28,000 mi

Brakes 27 1.2%

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 32,000 mi

Wheels 25 1.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 41,000 mi

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 29,682 mi

Median failure at 96,000 miles

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 22,000 mi

Median failure at 34,060 miles

Lights 11 0.5%

Median failure at 49,850 miles

Suspension 11 0.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 45,000 mi

Seat Belts 9 0.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 15,000 mi

Airbags 9 0.4%

7 crashes, 0 fires · median 59,381 mi

Doors, Latches & Locks 5 0.2%

Median failure at 64,800 miles

Stability & Traction Control 4 0.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 7,750 mi

Equipment & Accessories 3 0.1%

Median failure at 44,381 miles

Tires 3 0.1%

Median failure at 10,800 miles

Seats 1 0.0%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Body 12 27.9%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 6 14.0%
Automatic Transmission 6 14.0%
Automatic Emergency Braking 5 11.6%
Blind Spot Detection 4 9.3%
Cooling System 4 9.3%
Camera 3 7.0%
Accelerator Pedal 3 7.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 7 0.9%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 46 5.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 61 7.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 87 11.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 146 18.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 214 27.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 221 27.9%
150,000+ miles 11 1.4%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

Frontal crash test of a 2018 Ford Escape SUV AWD

Frontal crash test

Side barrier crash test of a 2018 Ford Escape SUV AWD

Side barrier crash test

Side pole crash test of a 2018 Ford Escape SUV AWD

Side pole crash test

Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Ford Escape SUV AWD
18.5% risk
2018 Ford Escape SUV FWD
19.1% risk

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 2018 peak 75 Aug 2026

Recalls on the 2018 Ford Escape

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

26V011000

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.

Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

22V413000

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.

Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

18V104000

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.

Risk: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

17V803000

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.

Risk: If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2026004 193,627 units in Canada

Electrical

Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine block heater could leak coolant. If this happens, the block heater could short circuit when it's plugged in. Note: This recall only affects certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0 L engine. Safety Risk: A short circuit can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk, Ford advises you not to use the engine block heater until the recall repairs have been completed. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the block heater. Alternatively, owners can choose to have the dealership permanently disable the engine block heater.

Recall 2022311 362,062 units in Canada

Powertrain

Issue: On certain vehicles, the shift cable may detach from the transmission. This could cause the transmission not to shift gears when the shifter is moved. As a result, the transmission could be in a different gear than the gear shifter indicates. If a driver attempts to exit the vehicle while the transmission is not in Park, and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle could move suddenly. Safety Risk: Sudden and unexpected movement of the vehicle could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the transmission shifter cable bushing and install a protective service cap. Ford advises that you should apply the parking brake each time the vehicle is parked.

Recall 2018087 4 units in Canada

Brakes

On certain vehicles, incorrect front brake hoses may have been installed and could cause the hoses to contact adjacent components while the vehicle is being driven. This could result in premature wear to the hoses and potentially lead to a brake fluid leak, which could increase stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the front right hand and left hand brake hoses to determine whether they are from the suspect population, and replace as necessary.

Recall 2017653 496 units in Canada

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the inflator diffuser installed in certain side curtain air bag modules may not have been manufactured correctly. If the vehicle were involved in a crash that warranted side curtain airbag deployment, this could potentially lead to the diffuser detaching. If the diffuser were to detach, it could become a projectile in the occupant compartment, and could cause a tear that could result in the side curtain airbag to not fully inflate. Both of these conditions could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect both the right and left hand side curtain airbags to determine whether they are from the suspect population, and replace as necessary.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Belleville, MI 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER MY HUDBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR BY AN INSURANCE COLLISION EXPERT THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR RODENTS THAT COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DEEMED A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL FAILURE/DEFECT. MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH HE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CRASHED AND POTENTIALLY LOST HIS LIFE. A COLLISION CENTER HAS CONFIRMED THIS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY COLLISION CENTER AND INSURANCE COLLSION EXPERT. THERE WERE NO WARNING MESSAGES OR LABELS OF ANY KIND.

NHTSA complaint #11742241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Loveland, OH 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES

On Sept.17, 2021 my 2018 Ford Escape rolled away. When I was leaving a driveway, I got in car, buckled my seatbelt, started the engine and put the vehicle in Reverse. I immediately realized I had not paid for the item and shifted into Park. I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the door, got out of my vehicle, walked fully past the door. At that point, I noticed the vehicle rolling backward on the flat driveway. I ran after my car to try to get my foot on brake because I was in a neighborhood with children. I nearly got my foot on it when I was knocked down and the driver-side front wheel ran over me, crushing my pelvis and sacrum and causing other injuries to my abdomen and legs. -I believe my car was in False Park.That is why it didn’t move as soon as I took my foot off the brake and was able to clear the open door. Both my husband and I have been able to get the car back to that false park position where it might stick for 5 seconds or several minutes. I have several videos I can share. - Automatic Electronic Park Brake would have prevented this accident. - Inadequate Warnings 1.The chime for Door Open when in Park is almost identical to the Door is Open not in Park. 2.The warning on the dash is in white and Orange for Door Open In Park and All WHITE for the more dangerous Door Open Not in Park. 3. A warning in the magnitude and attention-grabbing of the Seatbelt off or Collision warning would be more appropriate. 4.Ford did not warn customers until July of 2022 that there was a transmission issue recall. However, Ford sent a technical Bulletin to their Dealer Repair shops that there was a transmission issue in March 2021. I always used my Parking brake on hills but not on flat ground. Had Ford sent me a warning in March 2021, I most certainly would have used it that day and every day. -Quick Reference Guide should include Parking Brake Information and warning not just in the long owners manual. They don't even show its location.

NHTSA complaint #11731964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Loveland, OH 1 injured

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

On Sept.17, 2021 my 2018 Ford Escape rolled away. When I was leaving a driveway, I got in car, buckled my seatbelt, started the engine and put the vehicle in Reverse. I immediately realized I had not paid for the item and shifted into Park. I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the door, got out of my vehicle, walked fully past the door. At that point, I noticed the vehicle rolling backward on the flat driveway. I ran after my car to try to get my foot on brake because I was in a neighborhood with children. I nearly got my foot on it when I was knocked down and the driver-side front wheel ran over me, crushing my pelvis and sacrum and causing other injuries to my abdomen and legs. -I believe my car was in False Park.That is why it didn’t move as soon as I took my foot off the brake and was able to clear the open door. Both my husband and I have been able to get the car back to that false park position where it might stick for 5 seconds or several minutes. I have several videos I can share. - Automatic Electronic Park Brake would have prevented this accident. - Inadequate Warnings 1.The chime for Door Open when in Park is almost identical to the Door is Open not in Park. 2.The warning on the dash is in white and Orange for Door Open In Park and All WHITE for the more dangerous Door Open Not in Park. 3. A warning in the magnitude and attention-grabbing of the Seatbelt off or Collision warning would be more appropriate. 4.Ford did not warn customers until July of 2022 that there was a transmission issue recall. However, Ford sent a technical Bulletin to their Dealer Repair shops that there was a transmission issue in March 2021. I always used my Parking brake on hills but not on flat ground. Had Ford sent me a warning in March 2021, I most certainly would have used it that day and every day. -Quick Reference Guide should include Parking Brake Information and warning not just in the long owners manual. They don't even show its location.

NHTSA complaint #11731964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Thomasville, GA Fire

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed flames coming from the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and the contact and the passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the contact's mother was an additional occupant in the vehicle and was seated in the rear seat. The contact and the contact's mother exited the vehicle. The contact stated that within seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. In addition, the contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been inspected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN had no recalls associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA complaint #11720444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rohnert Park, CA Crash 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

We were at a stop on a over crossing, and all of a sudden, the car engine started racing loudly and , even with foot on the brake, hard, it surged forward twice and hit the vehicle in front of us and caused that vehicle to hit the vehicle in front of him.My husband tried to shift gear to park or neutral, but shift was stuck. My husband then turned off the car. The hits damaged our radiator and other components. It is now at the body shop and since, our insurance company deemed, we were at fault, we will be paying a deductible and insurance is taking care of driver #2 who sustained soft flesh injury. We are very uneasy about driving this car again after what happen. So far the body shop has not identified the problem. After looking this issue online, I found, that some 2018 ford escapes have problems with the ETB. I just want to bring this to your attention.

NHTSA complaint #11691280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Asheville, NC Crash

AIR BAGS

Driver rear-ended another car, the airbags did not deploy. The cars passenger front was damaged, the front end frame was bent, and the car is deemed totaled. Driver hit steering wheel.

NHTSA complaint #11690411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Seattle, WA

ENGINE

2018 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the long block engine assembly. THis is a known issue with a Techinal service bulletin issued on 6/9/2022. My car has only 87,000 miles on it and will need a new motor because coolant is leaking into the piston and causing a missfire.

NHTSA complaint #11758082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke, IN

POWER TRAIN

Transmission spudder when accelerates only at 75K miles

NHTSA complaint #11757726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke, IN

STRUCTURE:BODY

Transmission spudder when accelerates only at 75K miles

NHTSA complaint #11757726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Youngstown, OH

ENGINE

Engine coolant in the oil. The engine needs to be replaced. The cost is greater than the value of the car.. it is a known defect that Ford knows about, but will not do anything to repair or replace the engine problem….

NHTSA complaint #11757086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

POWER TRAIN

Check engine light would come on vehicle was not running well, seemed to stall. When I turned off the car I could hear liquid moving around from inside the vehicle. I am a Mom so I am driving with my 2 small children constantly and worried about their safety. The problem was confirmed by the dealership as well as an independent service center.

NHTSA complaint #11756696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burien, WA

POWER TRAIN

Coolant is leaking into the head causing engine failure. This car has fewer than 60,00 miles. From what I have read this is a common problem and is due to a manufacturer’s design flaw. Ford refused to help me in any way when I contacted them. When I took the vehicle to the dealership they informed me that the engine would need to be replaced. The bill would be $13,000.

NHTSA complaint #11756727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Check engine light would come on vehicle was not running well, seemed to stall. When I turned off the car I could hear liquid moving around from inside the vehicle. I am a Mom so I am driving with my 2 small children constantly and worried about their safety. The problem was confirmed by the dealership as well as an independent service center.

NHTSA complaint #11756696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

ENGINE

Check engine light would come on vehicle was not running well, seemed to stall. When I turned off the car I could hear liquid moving around from inside the vehicle. I am a Mom so I am driving with my 2 small children constantly and worried about their safety. The problem was confirmed by the dealership as well as an independent service center.

NHTSA complaint #11756696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Campbellsport, WI

ENGINE

Check engine light came on 3 weeks ago. Misfire codes on start up and cylinder 3. Mechanic replaced spark plugs, cleaned injectors. One week after repairs, check engine light came back on. Took vehicle back to the shop and after more tests, my engine showed it had suffered coolant intrusion and I was told a total replacement of the engine was needed.

NHTSA complaint #11756389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scranton, PA

ENGINE

The vehicle has a 1.5L Ecoboost system which has a design flaw allowing coolant to leak into the engine. I was driving and the temperature went eradically high for no known reason and then instantly dropped. It began repeating this over and over. My mechanic told me it was a cracked head gasket and the coolant was below minimum levels because it was leaking into the engine. He told me it is a known mechanical design flaw with 2012-2019 Ford Escapes. Some were recalled some were not. Ford dealerships told me it is a known problem also. Ford will not stand behind their product and since my vehicle was not randomly picked for a recall, even though it is a known design flaw, they offer no assistance. I went online and read so very many others who have had this happen and that the reason all were not recalled was that there weren't enough complaints. So I wanted to speak out for those who didn't know how to as well as myself. I feel Ford should be held accountable for their actions. I thank God I was not stranded on a highway somewhere due to this issue or worse yet in an accicent.

NHTSA complaint #11756551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Springfield, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the engine overheated while driving, causing the contact to be four minutes late for work. There was white smoke coming from the exhaust while starting the vehicle. There was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was concerned about having to purchase another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion in the engine block. The contact stated that the purge valve assembly was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA complaint #11755888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fountain, CO

ENGINE

Engine has been replaced three times already. Now, the engine has a constant cylinder 2 misfire with coolant level significantly decreasing. Car is shuddering real bad now. This is not the first time it happened. Before the third engine replacement, the car was moving on its own even with foot on the brakes. Very dangerous vehicle and unsafe.

NHTSA complaint #11756100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hearne, TX

ENGINE

My 2018 Ford Escape SEL has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks.

NHTSA complaint #11755727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allen Park, MI

ENGINE

2018 Ford Escape equipped with EcoBoost engine suffering catastrophic engine failure due to the manufacturing defect known as open-deck coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders (per Ford TSB 22-2322). The vehicle has only 25,233 miles. This defect causes loss of power while operating the vehicle, creating an immediate traffic hazard and risk of a collision. The manufacturing flaw allows coolant to breach the cylinders, creating a stalling safety risk. Engine light is on. Ford dealer assessed and a new engine is recommended.

NHTSA complaint #11755500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

eva, AL

ENGINE

Cracked engine block due to coolant intrusion, which seems to be a known problem as engine blocks were redesigned for 2019 models. Could lead to overheating, engine damage, and even fires from my understanding. In Ford dealer service center at the moment, they confirmed diagnosis. White smoke from exhaust, rough idle and sensor lights also.

NHTSA complaint #11755520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wheaton, IL

ENGINE

Vehicle developed a pattern of misfires (cylinders 1, 2, and random/multiple) beginning within the last month. On 8/7/2026, a dealer inspection confirmed coolant intrusion into cylinders 1 and 2 via overnight pressure test, with block deformation. This is the identical defect addressed by Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. Prerequisite service 19B37 (PCM reprogram) was completed 2/8/2020. Misfires and coolant intrusion of this type present a risk of sudden power loss or stalling while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11755575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wall, NJ

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure due to an inherent manufacturing defect involving internal engine coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Prior to the failure, the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, accompanied by engine misfires and rough idling. A certified service technician inspected the vehicle and confirmed that coolant is actively leaking into the engine cylinders, causing complete engine failure and rendering the vehicle entirely un-drivable. The failed engine components remain intact and are fully available for inspection upon request. This defect poses a severe safety hazard. Coolant leaking into the engine cylinders can cause sudden engine stalling, complete loss of motive power while driving at highway speeds, and potential engine fires, creating a high risk of a collision. Crucially, an authorized Ford dealership previously attempted to mitigate this exact coolant defect under warranty in 2020 by applying Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 19B37. This software-based patch failed to fix the underlying physical hardware defect, ultimately leading to this total engine failure. Ford has since issued CSP 21N12 for this exact issue, but the vehicle is now left broken down and unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint #11755288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leander, TX

ENGINE

Coolent intrusion into engine

NHTSA complaint #11755208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wall, NJ

ENGINE

The vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure due to an inherent manufacturing defect involving internal engine coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Prior to the failure, the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, accompanied by engine misfires and rough idling. A certified service technician inspected the vehicle and confirmed that coolant is actively leaking into the engine cylinders, causing complete engine failure and rendering the vehicle entirely un-drivable. The failed engine components remain intact and are fully available for inspection upon request. This defect poses a severe safety hazard. Coolant leaking into the engine cylinders can cause sudden engine stalling, complete loss of motive power while driving at highway speeds, and potential engine fires, creating a high risk of a collision. Crucially, an authorized Ford dealership previously attempted to mitigate this exact coolant defect under warranty in 2020 by applying Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 19B37. This software-based patch failed to fix the underlying physical hardware defect, ultimately leading to this total engine failure. Ford has since issued CSP 21N12 for this exact issue, but the vehicle is now left broken down and unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint #11755288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Middletown, NJ

ENGINE

I read the recent article about the recalls for the ford fusion, focus and eco sport. The exact same issue happened to my 2018 escape with about 85000 miles. The oil light and engine light came on and the car lost power. It would only go about 30 miles an hour. This occurred when my son was traveling home from college from [XXX] to [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11754951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boise, ID

ENGINE

COMPONENTS FAILED & AVAILABILITY:Engine and transmission failed concurrently at 45,893 miles. Engine suffered internal coolant intrusion per Ford TSB 19-2139 . Transmission failed mechanically. Components are available for inspection. SAFETY RISK:Defects create severe roadway hazards. Transmission causes dangerous lack of acceleration on inclines and highway merging, risking rear-end collisions. Coolant intrusion causes severe shaking, rough running, and sudden stalling. Sudden loss of motive power at highway speeds heavily increases crash risks. CONFIRMATION & INSPECTION:An independent service center confirmed failures on August 4, 2026. Technician documented a cylinder misfire, active coolant leak, shaking on startup, and inability to accelerate uphill. Ford corporate customer service rejected all assistance and declined to physically inspect the car. WARNING LAMPS & PRIOR SYMPTOMS:Symptoms began with an illuminated check engine warning lamp, followed immediately by severe vehicle shaking and a violent shudder during engine startup just prior to the physical diagnosis.

NHTSA complaint #11754983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menifee, CA

ENGINE

The check engine light started flashing and my car lost acceleration as I traveling uphill on a busy freeway. I had it towed to my mechanic who found evidence of coolant leaking related to cylinder 2 in my engine. I did not feel safe going so slow on a busy freeway. My car did not have any problems prior and only has 31000 miles on it. It was diagnosed with a coolant intrusion leak (a known problem with this engine) and requires an engine replacement.

NHTSA complaint #11755055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, IL

ENGINE

The coolant leaked into the engine specifically regarding cylinder 3. Not available due to being at the Ford Dealership. I was driving and my engine started giving out. My car was shaking while driving and when pressing the gas peddle it was giving not. It then refused to move and I had to pull over. It was confirmed by my local ford dealership and inspected at the dealership. The check engine light came on AFTER these issues had occurred and I had to pull over. There were no warning signs for this prior to the incident. This occurred in July of 2026. I was not able to pay the almost $9,000 repair cost that Ford refused to cover, so my local dealership still has the car

NHTSA complaint #11755144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Heber City, UT

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel injector failure and coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

NHTSA complaint #11754690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Heber City, UT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel injector failure and coolant intrusion into the engine. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

NHTSA complaint #11754690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.