2018 Ford Escape Engine

Engine Failure - available for inspection Safety was at risk when the vehicle died multiple times on the highway and I was told that there was no issue by ford. The dealership understand the problem now that the check engine light is staying on. No inspection other than by ford's mechanics. Possible insurance inspection. Alerts for engine failure whenever the car died. In November 2025 my car died on the highway. I was driving normally and the engine cut out (service code included Engine Failure). I was able to turn the vehicle back on and drive to auto zone. They believed the issue was my battery. I had the battery replaced at belle tire, 20 minutes after the battery replacement the car died again so I took it to a ford dealership and explained the issue. Ford drove the car approximately 40 miles and could not recreate the issue and told me it was fine to continue driving. Over the next month it was driven sparingly but still died a few times. The check engine light never stayed on after it died so mechanics were never able to confirm the Engine Failure (or other code). In mid January the problem became significantly worse one day. It now idles roughly and shakes - even in park. I brought the car back to the same ford dealership and the code is now no relative compression in the engine. After this happened I learned about the known issue with ford vehicles where coolant leaks into the engine. The mechanic at the ford dealership agreed this is likely what happened.

I had three incidents in January of 2026 where the coolant was leaking and then the check engine light would come on. I took it to the Ford dealership to have it checked and they said I need a new engine for $12000! But there are no recalls, I have the 1.5L engine. The recalls are on the 2L engine so they say I have no recourse! I have only owned this vehicle for 8 months and there was one previous owner before me.

Check engine light came on, took it to the ford dealership in Denison Tx. I was notified that there was coolant in 3 & 4 cylinders. Possible blown head gasket or cracked block. Estimated repairs $11,000.00. Vehicle was purchased used from Ford dealership in Sherman, Tx. in November of 2025, check engine light came on in Nov/Dec 2025. While diagnosising problem they broke a spark plug off in cylingder head.

my Ford issue had the short block coolant intrusion which has resulted in a blown engine with only 55,000 miles on my car. It is my understanding in 2022, Ford issued a one time no cost repair as they knew they sold cars with a junk engine yet I was never sent the customer satisfaction program letter 21N12 informing me of the potential issue and the one time no cost engine replacement. When I called the Ford customer satisfaction program today, using my VIN they confirmed this as well and mentioned there hasn't been a recall on it to date but possibly sometime in the near future and to save all my maintenance receipts. My engine light had been coming on for quite some time, but my car ran fine so each time I took it to my mechanic no code came up so it was cleared and I drove it. Ford wants me to pay them $12,000.00 to replace the engine because my 7 year extended warranty ended and they will not assist financially. I realize my car is 8 years old but it has low mileage. been well maintained and I don't feel I should have to pay for a new engine as the dealership sold me the car with a defective short block in the first place and never informed me of the potential issue.

Vehicle has overheated twice and left me in stranded in heavy traffic took to dealership to see what’s going on and was told coolant is leaking in cylinder number two and will need long block engine replacement no factory warranty or recall for this issue due to manufacture fault I have a infant granddaughter that has to ride in this car this problem is not anything of my fault at all

Coolant intrusion into cylinder

The engine failed after only 73,000 miles while I was driving the car. The car lost power suddenly and almost caused me to have an accident. I took the vehicle to the dealer and it requires the entire engine be replaced because of a known engineering defect noted in TSB 19 2346.

2018 Ford Escape EcoBoost 1.5L experienced a coolant intrusion issue at 95000 miles. This issue was known back in 2018 when I bought the vehicle new at the Frederick Motor Company in Frederick, Maryland. No communication about this issue was communicated to me but Ford did fix the problem on later manufactured Escapes. A proper diagnosis was done at Sullivan’s in Newport, RI on 2/27/2026. Ford was not able to schedule a proper diagnosis until mid March. Coolant loss followed by a flashing check engine light was the first indication of the issue. Car is inoperable and dangerous to start up and drive. I’m asking Ford for a goodwill repair because I’m a loyal Ford customer who has properly maintained the vehicle via extended warranty maintenance warranties purchased with the vehicle back in 2018.

Coolant intrusion. Engine has a known problem and it happened to my car.

The contact owned a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed flames coming from the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and the contact and the passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the contact's mother was an additional occupant in the vehicle and was seated in the rear seat. The contact and the contact's mother exited the vehicle. The contact stated that within seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. In addition, the contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been inspected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN had no recalls associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, and the engine and the inner coolant system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

After realizing that my issue is not isolated; I decided to report it. I have a 2018 Ford Escape SE with a 1.5L ecoboost engine. From day one, the car had a "ticking" sound - which we were told was normal. Originally, it was leased. Due to Pandemic, there was a shortage of cars. Lease was extended 4 months x 2. Repair facilities not open during most of Pandemic/ we were not working/ so the car was driven about 5 miles/ week. Maintenance has always been kept up/ oil checked. Normal use pattern/ at/ less than 10 - 15 miles per day. Repeated problems with the engine light on. Immediate service. Each time, blame placed on a sensor or valve (more than once)/ hundreds of dollars in repairs. 8/2025 in for another engine light. Mileage 34,976. Code PO496 showed second failure/ purge valve and replaced again. 11/2025, same engine light issue. Mileage 41121 miles. FIRST TIME, the oil was found to be a bit low. VVT Selenoid tests/ negative. Codes indicated problem with the engine's variable valve timing, which can be caused by a faulty VVT solenoid or actuator, worn timing chain/ belt or a bad camshaft position sensor. The OBD-II code P0012 indicated that the intake camshaft position was 'overretarded' for bank 1. Alternator drive belt was replaced/ notes showing that this included R&I of engine mount, replacement Serpentine and V-belt/ belts. On 2/16/26 noticed the "ticking" sound had become louder. The engine light NOT on. Self oil check showed no loss/confirmed. Mileage 41851. Mechanic unable to diagnose noise source. 2/19, mechanic decided valve cover should be removed/interior examined. 2/20/26, Found "worn out cam bearing cap and worn out cam metal on metal grinding due to oil starvation. Recommend replacing engine." Told that the engine had been faulty all along. Ford Motor company will not discuss repair/ engine replacement. (estimate:10K+) After reading that this is a widespread problem for consumers; I felt that a report should be filed.

I wife was driving the the car it went into limp mode, lights on dashboard says pull over asp. The car would not restart now mechanic is saying it needs a new motor.

While driving to work on February 16, 2026 my car started making a knocking noise and had a hard time going. At one point I was in the middle of the road and the car wouldn’t move. I had it towed to a mechanic and they said it needs a new motor. My car is a 2018, just barely 7 years old.

While driving 1,100 miles from Topeka, Kansas to Maryland to spend time with our first grandchild, our trip was interrupted by coolant intrusion in the cylinders of our 2018 Ford Escape SE (ecoboost), which had 78,600 miles on it. Both an independent garage and the Ford dealership in Maryland said the car needed a new engine. The garage put the cost at $16,000; the Ford dealer, $12,200. I quickly discovered online that the problem of coolant intrusion in Ford Escapes from that year was widespread and caused by a design flaw. After purchasing the vehicle used in 2020, I was never informed of any recalls or service announcements about this problem and after the problem was diagnosed, I was told by Ford that recalls had all expired by now. Instead of spending $12,200 for a new engine from an out-of-state dealership I had no knowledge of or past service history with, I decided to use the money I would have spent in repairs and instead use it toward purchasing a used car that hopefully had a better designed engine. I donated the Ford Escape to a charity to sell for parts. Both my wife and I are retired and essentially live on our Social Security, so purchasing a vehicle and losing the re-sale value of the Ford Escape is going to wipe out a lot of our savings. I believe Ford should compensate me for the private party re-sale value of the vehicle, roughly $9,000, plus the $2,000 I had to spend to rent a car while on our month-long visit in Maryland. Businesses should compensate customers for their business mistakes. I bought that car in 2020 and kept it serviced, and at no time did anyone from Ford or the dealership inform me of potential problems with the car that have since been reported. I have contacted Ford and they have told me there is nothing they can do about it. I hope the NHTSA can do something to make Ford stand by its product. Thank you.

Took car into local repair shop (HARLAN AUTO 650 W Main Street, Canfield, Ohio 44406. phone 330-506-1737.) for normal maintenance. 02/12/26 Odometer 65033. Previous maintenance 10/28/25 odometer 61335. Performed vehicle inspection, oil change and tire rotation. Harlan discovered no antifreeze, coolant in reservoir. I authorized them to perform a pressure test lasting several hours. Test revealed evidence of damage to spark plugs, cylinder walls and cracks in cylinder walls. Revealing major damage to ngine resulting in imminent failure. Harlan says short block replacement is necessary for repair. i authorized them to repair car based on value of the rest of the vehicle which they claimed it to be in very good condition. Totals for repair are as follows: labor $4790.07, parts $2501.78, tax $546.89, non-taxable nonjob supplies $29.49. GRAND TOTAL $ 7868.23. Engine failure could result in fire or being stranded on the road. There were no vehicle warning signs. i would like to be reimbursed for this repair by FORD .

1. Vehicle Information • 2018 Ford Escape ECOSYSTEM 1.5 • 84,000 • VIN [XXX] . Problem Description : My 2018 Ford Escape has experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders, a known issue affecting this model year. The vehicle began misfiring and consuming coolant without external leaks. This is an engine defect Ford has known about since 2010, yet they continued to put this engine into their cars. It is also the subject of at least one class action lawsuit. Common Issue: Many 2017–2019 1.5L engines suffer from coolant leaks into the cylinders, necessitating a replacement with a redesigned block.The dealership confirmed a Technical Service Bulletin applies to my VIN. This defect can cause engine failure while driving, creating a serious safety risk. Safety Risk: • Loss of power while driving • Risk of engine stall • Overheating risk • Highway safety concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The CEL light came on and when it was checked by a Ford Dealership, they said there was coolant intrusion and the engine block or entire engine needs to be replaced. Evidently this is a well known problem at Ford but they never let me know, never issued a recall, and now I have to replace an entire engine instead of just some part. The cost of replacement is as much as the car is worth.

Oct 2025 my engine died. Was told need new engine

MY 2018 Ford Escape Titanium has a engine malfunction that is known to Ford but has not been recalled. Their is a leak in the engine which causes coolant to leak. The long block engine needs to be replaced at a cost to me of $10,000. This cost was determined by the Ford dealership and I have included the invoice. This can cause complete engine failure without any warning.

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While her daughter was driving at a slow speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that coolant was leaking into cylinders #1 and #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed that there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Coolant leak into cyclender

I bought my 2018 for escape less than 2 years ago from carmax. I have 79,000 miles on it currently and have kept up with all the regular maintenance and upkeep. I had gotten an oil change and coolant flush in two days after this work had been completed. The check engine light came on and the code was read as an engine misfire. “VERIFIED THE CUSTOMER CONCERN OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. PULLED CODES AND FOUND CODE P0301 FOR A CYLINDER 1 MISFIRE. PULLED THE CYLINDER 1 COIL AND SPARK PLUG. FOUND NO CONCERNS WITH THE SPARK PLUG OR COIL. BOROSCOPED THE CYLINDER AND FOUND THAT CYLINDER 1 HAS COOLANT INTRUSION. FOUND TSB 22-2229 THAT STATES IF THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT THE LONG BLOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.” $10,246.06 is the estimated cost of repair from the dealership. Ford refuses to be held accountable because the car is over 7 years old and outside their warranty protection. There are hundreds of other complaints exactly like this from the research Ive done.

Engine began overheating. Noticed that the coolant was empty. Filled filled it with coolant to the max mark. In about two days and began to overheat again. This is when I found out that they had an engine designed flaw for the 2 L eco-boost. The block would crack, and Ford knew about it, but was still selling the engine with the design flaw. I never received any TSB on the problem. This is most definitely a safety hazard. Since the engine could’ve seized or caught fire as a result of this design flaw. At the very least Ford could’ve notified us that the problem was probable.

2018 Ford Escape SEL 1.5L 4Cyl Turbo. 43,883 miles. Engine light came on. Checked by mechanic on 1/15/26. (Philadelphia PA 19128). Diagnosis: Coolant leaking from head gasket into cylinder #3. Recommend remove & replace engine. Cost: $11,551.13 (total) (which is around what the vehicle is worth). I have since researched this problem and found out it is a longstanding issue with this Ford engine, across different models, but has not been addressed - no recall or maintenance notices that I am aware of. Many other consumers have encountered the SAME EXACT ISSUE, with engine replacement recommended for thousands of dollars - including in low milage vehicles like mine. Allegedly the faulty engines are still being manufactured and used...So, assuming this is true, if someone opts to replace the engine, couldn't they just be getting one with the very same problem?? It is INEXCUSABLE that this issue has not been addressed.