Engine. Review the 1,145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 342 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports5 fire reports23 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

104 reports

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250 miles · Aug 14, 2018

Unknown Or OtherInjury

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I BELIEVE MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCED WHAT IS KNOW AS PARK TO REVERSE. OUR CAR WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND MY WIFE PUT IT INTO PARK, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND GOT OUT AS I WAS GONG TO PUT IT IN THE GARAGE; (I WAS IN THE PASSANGER SEAT AT THE TIME) A DELAY OF SEVERAL SECONDS OCCURRED AND THEN THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE HITTING MY WIFE AND KNOCKING HER DOWN DRAGGING HER ON THE DRIVEWAY; NEXT THE CAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STREET WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT STILL MOVING SIDEWAY AND BACKWARDS SLAMMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORS FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. FORD MOTOR CO HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER STATING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY HAVE DENIED MY CLAIM FOR THE INJURIES AND MEDICAL BILLS MY WIFE HAS AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL AT FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSES TO PROVIDE ME WITH A COPY OF THE ENGINEERS REPORT WHO INSPECTED THE CAR. THEY STATE; "THERE IS NO WRITTEN REPORT"! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ATTORNEY THEY ARE TREATING US WITH THE MIDDLE DIDGET. PLEASE HELP AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFEY ISSUE WITH THE 2018 FORD ESCAPE WITH THE 6SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSIMISSION

NHTSA ODI #11119904

1,680 miles · Aug 7, 2018

Unknown Or Other

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FELL APART.

NHTSA ODI #11118314

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2018

Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

GETTING TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE ONLY ABOUT 17 MILES TO THE GALLON, HAD 60 MILES ON CAR WHEN LEASED AND THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT TILL I HAD A 1000 MILES NOW HAVE 2000 MILES AND STILL GETTING LOUSY MILEAGE. ALSO, STOP/START DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING. ALSO KICK PLATE ON BACK DOESN'T WORK WELL. WELL, NOW TRY TO TAKE IT IN.

NHTSA ODI #11115292

6,615 miles · Jul 11, 2018

Unknown Or Other

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AFTER HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START NOT WORKING, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE FROM THE FORD PASS APP WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN AN UNCOVERED LOT, WHICH DID NOT START. I STARTED REMOTELY FROM THE KEY FOB AND LOADED MY INFANTS CAR SEAT INTO THE CAR, PUT MY BAG IN THE CAR, AND SHUT THE DOOR. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR, I HEARD THE LOCKS CLICK, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR WITH MY KEYS AND BABY LOCKED IN AND THE ENGINE OFF. I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE APP BECAUSE MY PHONE WAS IN MY POCKET WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR, BUT OTHERWISE, WOULD HAVE TRAPPED MY NEWBORN IN A HOT CAR WITH NO WAY TO UNLOCK.

NHTSA ODI #11110885

Official recalls

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 15, 2026

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 10, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Consequence: 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

18V104000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 12, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 18, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

Ford Escape transmission problems →Ford Escape electrical problems →