Is the 2018 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,829 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 1,455, 23× a quiet Escape year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2018 Ford Escape were filed between 60k and 104k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Escape owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 1,452 (79%) | 60k–104k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 276 (15%) | 56k–101k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 57 (3%) | 46k–109k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 57 (3%) | 10k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 32 (2%) | 15k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 27 (1%) | 11k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 23 (1%) | 7k–61k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 22 (1%) | 19k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 20 (1%) | 11k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (1%) | 23k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 9 (0%) | 16k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (0%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,829 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 156 say the car was towed.
351 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Throttle actuator stuck issue. Vehicle started shaking while in motion and stalled, the vehicle shut down and would not start.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Ford Escape: 4
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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.
These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak. A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 165
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Ford Escape. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
Some vehicles may be equipped with a 1.5L Ecoboost engine that uses a 50-tooth variable camshaft timing…
Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine…
Neighbouring years
2017 Escape: 2,707 complaints, consider selling · 2019 Escape: 602 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Escape year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Escape years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,829 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 1,455, 23× a quiet Escape year. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2018 Ford Escape were filed between 60k and 104k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Escape?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (1,452), transmission and drivetrain (276), fuel system (57), electrical system (57), steering (32). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 60k–104k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Escape have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 26V-011), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-413), Brakes (NHTSA 18V-104), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-803). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.