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4.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,704 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #14

Feb 102024

Escape

  • miles

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

I have ford escape 2018 S and I bought the car from koons ford silver spring MD. It is unfortunate whenever I drive the car for long hours ; suddenly the acceleration declines and the vehicle loose its power. And a strange click sound comes up and the check engine light on. Once I parked the car and the car cool down --the warning system disappear. I tried to contact the dealership and I was told my vehicle is not on recall list despite my vehicle have the same symptom--I bought this car very expensive and handle it with care and the car has only 5900 miles on it. Appreciate if you guys could investigate the case.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #13

Mar 222023

Escape

  • miles
I had my adaptive cruise control on while driving on a highway and suddenly lost power/acceleration. I was able to limp the car back home and the check engine light came on. I took it in to get the error code read, which prompted that there was an issue with the high pressure fuel pump. I got that replaced by our normal service provider and picked up my vehicle. While driving the vehicle again (with adaptive cruise on), I lost acceleration/power. Since I wasn't in the area, I had the vehicle towed back to the service provider where the replaced fuel pump had "collapsed onto itself and broke", which luckily didn't cause serious injury. In this state, the service provider told me it was unsafe to drive. With the newest fuel pump, everything seemed fine for a few days in my daily travels. We were on our way to a vacation stay (highway speeds, adaptive cruise, driving for 2+ hours, etc.) when the issue presented itself again. This time when we returned to the service center, they stated that the engine had sludge which was causing the damage to the fuel pump and we would need to replace the engine. Since owning this vehicle, I have had it serviced as stated in the Ford service schedule (90,000 mile service, oil changes, etc.) and have always kept an eye on the temperature gauge. The fact that I have maintained this vehicle well and the engine now needs replacing doesn't seem to add up. I feel like there is a serious flaw with these engines and luckily, they didn't cause any accidents or harm in this instance.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #12

Aug 092022

Escape

  • miles
Transmission fault notification appeared on the screen while on the highway. Vehicle unable to maintain speed and has "bumping" when attempting to drive it. Poses a safety threat because I was unable to maintain speed while driving. Ford has not found remedy and it has been a month without ability to use vehicle.

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 112022

Escape

  • 61,294 miles

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

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle emitted an abnormal winding sound. The vehicle decelerated independently, failed to accelerate and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had to push the vehicle out of the highway. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,294.

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #10

Dec 142020

Escape

  • 105,000 miles
While in motiion (taking off and during drive) the car 'cuts back' and doesn't pick up speed causing driver of vehicle to completely press the gas pedal to increase speed(only somewhat gradually after another cutback). This happens while traveling on highways and on city streets or country roads. In addition, when putting car in reverse (to park or pull out of parking space) the car either turns off or doesn't move back when pressing the gas pedal.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #9

Aug 102020

Escape

  • 20,000 miles
Engine long block was replaced, followed by a front main seal failure and replacement. After picking up vehicle from service, after about 1000 miles the engine lost oil a 3rd time and car went into "limp mode" and gave a cel.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #8

Jun 122020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles

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

I was stopped on a side street waiting on traffic so I could pull out onto the main road. There was a break in traffic and when the break came I pressed on gas peddle car too off then stopped pulling car. I'm sitting in middle of a main street that is very busy and the car would not move, transmission just spinning motor racing and cars head towards me at high rates of speed. After police show up help me out a bit. I try going again and after bout 45 min or so. Car started fine took off normally got on to interstate and now transmission is slipping, jumping jurking. Tried reporting to Ford, but they say my VIN # belongs to a different year to call back with right info. Every I have says 1 year Ford has another.

- Kingston, TN, USA

problem #7

Aug 012019

Escape

  • 1,700 miles
2018 Ford Escape SE acquired on 09/2018. At 17000 miles, in 08/2019, and driving on the highway, vehicle started to display the following messages: "hill start assist warning" "powertrain malfunction/reduced power" "malfunction indicator lamp - regulatory" "antilock brake fault" "restraints indicator lamp warning" "engine fault - service now". pulled over, shut down vehicle, restarted vehicle and continued driving. About 10 miles later, all dashboard indicator lights turned on and complete loss of all instruments (tachometer, speedometer, temperature, mileage, etc.) and A/C. brought it into dealership two days later (earliest available time) and they claimed it was the result of a bad body control module (BCM) and replaced it under warranty. Two and half weeks later, vehicle did the same thing while on the highway. Brought it into same dealership and it was determined that it was a bad ABS module and that was replaced under warranty. In 06/2020, while driving on the highway the vehicle exhibit the same behavior as the previous two times. Shut down vehicle on the side of the highway and it would not restart. After 45 minutes vehicle restarted and took it to nearest dealership. They acknowledged there were error/fault codes, cleared them and test drove from it for 20 miles and could not find anything. Currently waiting on Ford corporate to get vehicle to a dealership that can resolve the problem.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #6

Feb 022020

Escape

  • 62,000 miles
I had noticed coolant depleting finally got recall. Dealer reprograms now engine is just revving and looses all power to powertrain in multiple situation-3 from stop, 4 while going highway speed with constant speed prior each time the engine rev's up while giving no power. Then will spontaneously resolve within about 50ft then seems fine. I have video of the car doing this while I was attempting to get on the highway. We looked at oil and there is milk looking residue. The loosing power has only happened since reprogram for recall and now the cam shaft & high pressure fuel pump are destroyed per dealer this is my issue not recall related. Again these problems have only started within a week of the recall reprogramming of the vehicle

- Windham, OH, USA

problem #5

Dec 312019

Escape

  • 33,126 miles
While driving my car it began to accelerate on its on, I was able to control the speed by pushing on the brakes, the instant I removed my foot of the break the car accelerated on its own again. I found an area to park, turned off the car. I restarted the car to drive home the car again accelerated on its own, I parked it in a open lot, turned the car off. When I started the car the engine made a loud rubbing sound. At this point I had my car towed for service.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #4

Aug 132019

Escape

  • 24,000 miles

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

Brake lights do not illuminate when adaptive cruise control applies them; brake lights do function normally on manual braking. The apparent design flaw of brake lights failing to illuminate when adaptive cruise control applies the brakes violates the safety principle of brake lighting altogether. Such a design should not be allowed on the road as it could lead to increased collisions under certain conditions. This condition is observed to happen consistently.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #3

Mar 282019

Escape

  • 26,238 miles
My car allecrates at a fast speed by it's self, I have taken to the shop 3 times and they can't find any codes, they tried to say it was my floor mats, well those have been replaced and once again my car is accelerating without my foot on the actual gas, when it does that my engine makes a loud noise which the service manager said was from high RPM's

- Melvindale, MI, USA

problem #2

Jan 152019

Escape

  • 4,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While making a right turn at approximately 5 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated. Additionally, while the vehicle was reversing, it independently accelerated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Kelly Ford (776 magnolia ave, melbourne, fl 32935, (321) 216-2042) was contacted and a diagnostic appointment was scheduled. The failure recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.

- Belbourne, FL, USA

problem #1

May 232018

Escape

  • 6,500 miles
Purchased Nov 2017- on May 23rd, 2018 my check engine light came on. I contacted services at the Ford dealer the following morning. I was at the dealer first thing Tuesday morning due to the holiday weekend, where they ran diagnostics on my vehicle. I was informed that it needed a new engine. The engine coolant had mixed with oil and was in the 2nd compression cylindar and a bulletin that this was the steps to be taken to rectify the situation. The engine was replaced with the same engine model as the original with no modification that rectify the manufacture defect I was informed their statistics indicate that 1 in 5 of these vehicles are returning for a second new engine on June 12th, I got the call that my engine had been replaced and it was ready for pick up. I drove it home that evening as well as, to and from work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Three days is all it took at about 25 miles a day, Friday night on my way home from work the car started shaking on a busy section of the highway, (93sb between 293 and exit 5) where there is construction and little to no pull off points, my speed drops down to 20miles per hour and when I tried to accelerate that engine just raced. I almost get hit as two cars swerve to miss me at high speeds, thankful they were awake at the wheel during rush hour. I managed to get off the next exit and pull into a parking lot. Shut off the vehicle. I'm 2 miles from home and after waiting for the traffic to drop a bit from people trying to get home I take the back roads at 20mph the rest of the way home. The cars engine would race when I stopped and slowly accelerate to 20 shaking along the way. Services stated the computer needed to be replaced on Monday morning. This does not qualify for lemon law due to being out of the vehicle for under 30 business days however, this is a significant safety issue that needs attention.

- Derry, NH, USA

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