The Lemon IndexAll cars · Ford Escape · 2018
2018 Ford Escape. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 5
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | AWD | 22 / 28 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S6) | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 50,000 and 102,000 miles. Median 80,900, from 671 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 78,700 | 41,800–100,000 | 250 |
| Engine | 89,600 | 70,000–108,300 | 313 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 80,000 | 55,500–103,000 | 93 |
| Electrical | 17,300 | 3,400–95,500 | 17 |
| Steering | 28,000 | 6,700–55,800 | 16 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 50% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 15% |
| Electrical | 8% |
| Speed control | 6% |
| Steering | 6% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,819 | 26 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 156 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
26V011000 Jan 2026 Equipment / Electrical / Engine Block Heater
Defect. 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.
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 element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent
22V413000 Jun 2022 Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Defect. 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.
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, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-73
18V104000 Feb 2018 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Defect. 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.
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.
17V803000 Dec 2017 Air Bags / Side/Window
Defect. 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.
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S44.
Manufacturer communications 173
Ford filed 173 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Some 2017-2018 Fusion/MKZ/MKC/MKX/Continental with all audio systems and 2017-2018 Escape with…
- Some 2017-2018 Escape vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L engine and built on or before…
- Timing belt saw or chirp
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Escape SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
YouTube repair topics
100 videos about the 2013–2019 Ford Escape, 19.1M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 7 | 1.6M |
| Transmission & shifter | 6 | 1.5M |
| Heat, A/C & blend door | 6 | 1.2M |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 4 | 900K |
| Cooling system | 3 | 624K |
| Brakes & ABS | 3 | 537K |
| Steering & suspension | 4 | 407K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 2 | 259K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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