RecallMyCar

2018 Ford Escape Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2018 Ford Escape, and owners have filed 1,810 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
1,810
owner complaints to NHTSA
26 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
23–26
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2018 Ford Escape

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Engine block heater (equipment)

    NHTSA 26V011000 Reported 116,672 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater…

  2. Shift linkage/cable/rod (power train) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 22V413000 Reported 2,925,968 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1,…

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 18V104000 Reported 88 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

  4. Air bags: side/window

    NHTSA 17V803000 Reported 11,113 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

1,810 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2018 Ford Escape have filed 1,810 complaints with NHTSA; 26 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 30 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,296 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 490 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My liftgate will not open and there’s no emergency left to get it unlocked and this is a safety hazard”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2026 · Unknown or other

“For the second time I have a coolant intrusion on my engine. It was fixed by the manufacturer once before.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2026 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2018 Ford Escape (Escape AWD, Escape FWD, Escape FWD FFV). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined23–26 mpg
City / Highway20–23 / 27–30
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 1.5/2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Compare Ford Escape model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Ford Escape05
2001 Ford Escape13996
2002 Ford Escape81,027
2003 Ford Escape7558
2004 Ford Escape6499
2005 Ford Escape41,394
2006 Ford Escape3464
2007 Ford Escape2254
2008 Ford Escape31,974
2009 Ford Escape11,693
2010 Ford Escape32,070
2011 Ford Escape21,316
2012 Ford Escape1603
2013 Ford Escape182,750
2014 Ford Escape162,088
2015 Ford Escape91,109
2016 Ford Escape41,144
2017 Ford Escape42,694
2018 Ford Escape41,810
2019 Ford Escape3592
2020 Ford Escape231,604
2021 Ford Escape19349
2022 Ford Escape19234
2023 Ford Escape11100
2024 Ford Escape876
2025 Ford Escape924
2026 Ford Escape23

Checking a specific 2018 Ford Escape

How do I know if my 2018 Ford Escape has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2018 Ford Escape; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V803000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.