2018 Ford Escape engine problems
This is a safety-related system. If you notice symptoms, stop driving and have it inspected.
Related recalls
- 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.…
Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“The antifreeze is leaking into the engine or into another part of the vehicle. There are no external leaks. This causes a consistent refill issue and possible engine damage if left untreated.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 11/04/2026
“Id been getting misfires on cylinder 3 and eventually 2 even after replacing coilpacks, spark plugs, and fuel injectors into my 2018 ford escape sel 1.5L ecoboost engine. We believe it to be a coolant intrusion and have not been able to operate my vehicle. White smoke appears and it stutters a lot on start up.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 11/03/2026
“vehicle experienced a sudden misfire, loss of power, and internal coolant intrusion at Cylinder 2. Vehicle is now inoperable due to manufacturing defect.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/30/2026
“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.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/28/2026
“This is in relation to the coolant intrusion problem with all the Ford Ecoboost engines. The vehicle has 98,958 miles - all recommended services were done. Mechanic is recommending a full engine replacement to the tune of $19000. That is nearly 2/3 the value of the car when purchased. Ford not standing behind their products has gotten to a point of hilarity.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/28/2026
“The vehicle is experiencing ongoing coolant loss with no visible external leak. The coolant level drops consistently and requires frequent refilling. The issue began around mid‑mileage and has continued to worsen. The engine sometimes emits a coolant smell, and the temperature gauge rises more quickly than normal. Warning messages about high engine temperature have appeared during driving. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not find an external leak and stated the condition was normal, e…”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/27/2026
“21N12 Coolant Intrusion \ At dealership coolant in oil, coolant in firing cylinders possible explosion fire. Engine light popped on 2 weeks ago and they have my vehicle now and still do not know if they will fix it.”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/25/2026
“There have been several issues that cause safety concerns with my 2018 Ford Escape 1.5L Ecoboost. The two most concerning are the headlights and engine failure. Since I drove this vehicle off the lot in 2023 I have had to replace the headlights every 4 to 6 months. I recently learned it is do to an electrical issue and the most recent occurrence caused a small fire under the hood of my vehicle. Sometimes both lights would go out at once without warning. This issue has been reported by numerous c…”
NHTSA complaint · filed 10/21/2026 · fire
Unverified owner reports from NHTSA's public complaint database.
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- How common are 2018 Ford Escape engine problems?
- 1173 owners reported engine issues to NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Escape, 5 involving a crash and 5 a fire. Counts scale with how many were sold.
- Is there a recall for 2018 Ford Escape engine problems?
- Yes — campaign 26V011000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.