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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,793 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Ford Escape electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Aug 092024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On Friday, August 9, the check engine light was blinking and the car ran roughly. On Saturday, August 10, I had my car towed to AAA Repair. Current codes: P0316 - Misfire Detected on startup; P0302 - Cylinder 2 misfire; swap CYL2 coil to CYL4 & retest..misfire remains on CYL2. TSB:22-2322 indicates cylinder failure allowing coolant into the engine causing misfire and rough running. AAA recommended vehicle service be done at the dealership-?"complete engine rebuild/replacement. The dealership recommends a complete engine rebuild/replacement with an estimate of $11,400. The balance on paying off the car is $8,400.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #29

Aug 142023

Escape

  • miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the hatchback failed to open while pressing the power emergency release button and while using the key fob. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #28

Apr 062023

Escape

  • miles
Loss of power. Driving up hill, normal acceleration. Electrical- corrosion in the fuse box under the hood. Corroded fuse pin connector plate. Found wire from ECU relay to ECU fuse pin plate corroded and completely broke from corrosion. Ordered used fuse box online, opened up the fuse box and found the same exact fuse pin plate corrosion as my vehicle. Local dealer ship told me they are replacing fuse box in customer cars on average once or twice a month.

- Vergennes, VT, USA

problem #27

May 202024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the third time my lift-gate ( back hatch ) has started working intermittently. I assume the latch is an electromagnet. It is very unsafe as it does not always latch tight and there is no emergency release. Century Ford replaced the first latch on 3/11/21, R.O.342961. It was also worked on 9/15/21. the current incident started on or about 5/20/24

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #26

Jan 182023

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, she became aware of a failure with the software on the radio. The contact stated that while trying to connect the phone to the radio, the calls kept dropping, or she could not hear the other person over the radio, as intended. The contact stated the failure was dangerous since she had to maneuver the radio and the connection while driving, which w distracting to her while driving. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was repaired over a year ago; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, and it was diagnosed that the EPAM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while researching online, she became aware of an unknown recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. However, the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- Lyons, MI, USA

problem #25

Apr 082024

Escape

  • miles
My Ford Escape 1.5L EcoBoost Engine overheated. A Ford service mechanic confirmed the Escape has a defect that causes coolant to leak into the engine-??s cylinders, which can cause corrosion, oil dilution and contamination, and engine failure; and these defects create a safety risk, because the lack of coolant created by the leaks causes overheating. The ford service mechanic confirmed my cylinder head was cracked and will lead to total engine failure, and/or engine fires.

- Green Village , NJ, USA

problem #24

Dec 272023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Subject: Complaint Regarding Electrical Malfunction in 2018 Ford Escape To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to report a concerning electrical malfunction that occurred in my 2018 Ford Escape, resulting in a critical safety issue. At 55,000 miles, the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) failed, subsequently causing the touch screen, navigation system, voice command functionality, and hands-free communication features to cease operation. Additionally, this failure disabled the phone charging capabilities, posing a safety concern due to the loss of essential functionalities. The malfunction of the APIM at such a relatively low mileage directly impacted the navigation system, voice commands, and the hands-free communication system, rendering them non-functional. As a consequence, this electrical issue posed safety risks, particularly concerning the failure of the navigation system and voice commands, which are crucial for safe driving practices. The incident occurred, and subsequent repair cost of $1,163.72, were serviced at SERRA Ford dealership in Farmington Hills, MI. The nature of this electrical failure not only incurred financial costs but also posed potential safety hazards, especially with the impairment of critical functionalities like the rear-view camera, navigation, and hands-free communication. I urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this matter promptly, as it not only caused inconvenience and financial burden but also compromised the safety features of the vehicle. This complaint aims to highlight the serious implications of electrical failures in Ford Escape vehicles, emphasizing the potential risks it poses to drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Please consider this complaint as a formal report to address and rectify these safety concerns, preventing similar incidents in other vehicles. Your attention to this matter is highly appreciated.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #23

Feb 102022

Escape

  • miles
I was pulling out of a parking lot when going up a hill my car no longer would shift gears. There was a car coming up fast on me and I barely made it over the hill. I allowed the car to roll into the next parking lot to get out of traffic. No warning lights came on. I turned the car off to see if it was a computer problem. The car would not start up. I used a jump box to restart the battery. When the car was back on I attempted to drive in the empty lot and the car would not shift gears. The car is an automatic and I tried to do manual shift if sport mode and it would not function. I was in a different state with my sister and we were stranded. I had to call my husband to tow my car home because it would be months to get parts for the repair shop in the other state. I had it evaluated at Ford and they said it was the transmission. It took 7 months to get parts and to get it fixed. Now the radiator is leaking and the car no longer runs. I spent $8000 on repairs and I can-??t even drive it. Now my dad-??s escape that is a different year and body style has to have its transmission repaired too.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #22

Sep 022023

Escape

  • miles
Was driving when engine light came on, then warning that engine was to hot. My car then began to slow down and I pulled over and allowed to cool for a while. Finally able to drive but each time I would drive it happened. Took to a independent contractor and was told my coolant was leaking into engine and it needed to be replaced

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #21

Aug 312023

Escape

  • 132,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the auto Start/Stop feature was no longer operable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

- Northport, AL, USA

problem #20

Apr 042022

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After having the 2018 Ford Escape for three weeks, the entire APIM system went down. I was not able to charge anything, use the radio, or the touchscreen for all of the functions in the dash. It goes in and out constantly, often does not turn on at all, the touchscreen lags, the radio takes up to a minute or longer to change a channel once a button is pressed. The only thing that is in tact is the rear camera. The 2016-2017 APIMs have been recalled, and this one should as well. Other than the rear camera and now being able to charge a phone, I cannot use the touchscreen at all and do not use the radio because I cannot see what channel it is on.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #19

Mar 122023

Escape

  • 64,661 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 35 MPH, she observed the blind spot detection system had started flashing on both sides off and on. Additionally, the radio was inoperable. The contact stated that the radio functionality returned with the sound blaring. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,661.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #18

Nov 172018

Escape

  • miles
Another driver ran stop sign and hit middle of car, mostly the left door behind drivers seat. The back and passager airbags released but the driver side airbag didn't fully release. I didn't know at the time that this was weird and was actually relieved it didn't. Since then, my son's dad drove my suv and told me that the front windshield may not have been bonded correctly, he has to put additional force on the breaks and the engine makes random noises whenever it does, it looses power and he has to put the pedal to the metal. He says since my suv only has 18,000 miles, it shouldn't be doing these things. It also burns through coolant. I don't know if any other fords have issues likes this too.

- Wasilla, AK, USA

problem #17

Feb 152023

Escape

  • miles
I bought the vehicle in July of 2019 with approximately 20,000 mi on it. I have never touched or adjusted the steering wheel, and I'm the only one to drive the vehicle. My daughter has gotten her temps and I allowed her to drive the vehicle last night. She adjusted the steering column as she is a bit shorter than I am. When I got back into the driver seat, and move the steering wheel back into the position that I keep it in, and then proceeded to turn out of the driveway And it felt as if all the tires were flat and it was very hard to steer. I assume I lost my power steering abilities. Also the windshield wipers started going off and the washer fluid just started flying out onto the windshield and would not stop. I immediately put the car into park and turn the vehicle off. I turned on the car, proceeded to make the turn again, and the car did the same thing. The only thing I could think of was possibly something got pinched inside the steering column with the wiring harness because that is the only thing that changed between her and I driving. When I started the car up this morning and went to turn out of the driveway it did the same thing. I loosened up the lock on the steering wheel and I moved it up and down and relocked it, and got to my destination without any more issue, but concerned there is something going on with the wiring harness now.

- Allenton, WI, USA

problem #16

Jul 012022

Escape

  • miles
The SYNC system is failing causing no GPS, no phone connections, no radio, rear camera problems and other electronic issues. This is apparently a well known part (APIM) problem.

- The Villages, FL, USA

problem #15

May 052022

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
Hello, I am submitting a formal complaint on my 2018 Ford Escape. History: It is a Lease Plan vehicle that was assigned to me with 11,000 miles on it in 2018 It has a been maintained per the manufacturer schedule through the Lease Plan App Purchased the vehicle in May 2021 thru my companies purchase program, I have only had the car for 9 months and it is now inoperable It is a primary vehicle for work for a family member Situation Error alert appeared on the console for engine Took the car to Firestone initially as they had done all the maintenance work previously They were unable to look at the car and gave me a time of 5-7 days Took it to Tires Plus, they said they could look at it the next day which was a Sunday I had not heard back from anyone at Tires Plus, so I called, they recording indicated that they were closed. I drove up there and Mathew the Manager said that the mechanics had not shown up for work, it was Mother-??s Day. Received call that the car needed 1 coil and spark plugs approved the work The told me to come pick up car, they were still working on it when I arrived and I stood around for 45 minutes waiting When the technician test drove the vehicle it started backfiring again, Diagnosis was a cracked spark plug and another coil. Waited another day for it to be completed Picked up the car to drove fine for two days then more engine error codes, overheating codes and the car went into -??Limp Mode-?? The technicians allowed me to drive the vehicle and did not dive deeper into the codes to determine the root cause of why the car was showing all these engine codes Not until I brought it back 2-3 days later and explained that there was white smoke coming out of the tailpipes that the technician said these Ecoboost engines have a known issue with the computer dumping coolant into the cylinders. This cause the head gasket to blow. When I called Ford, they said there was not a recall for this VIN number even though the error codes and

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #14

Sep 142021

Escape

  • miles
While on the interstate, engine suddenly cut out. I was coasting and nothing else on the highway during rush hour. I got an alert the "auto start/ stop shift to park, then restart the engine" I pulled over and the engine would not restart.

- Ashland, OH, USA

problem #13

Jan 202021

Escape

  • 35,000 miles
Coolent leakage into engine block.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 012020

Escape

  • miles
The sync system stopped working. I was told it was the apim module. The vehicle has to be driven for quite some time (until it warms up?) when the car is turned off and back on the sync system might start working.

- Pine Plains, NY, USA

problem #11

Aug 302020

Escape

  • miles
Recurrent problems with coolant leaking. Engine replaced once, now leaking again. Recurrent problems with the spark plugs. Check engine light is on, car shakes when driving, unable to drive with air-conditioning

- Brandon, FL, USA

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