2018 Ford Escape: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1943 complaints
1943
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
38
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

49,548 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
102,547 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
981
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
320
POWER TRAIN
234
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
92
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
48
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
34
STEERING
30
SERVICE BRAKES
22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
18
WHEELS
18

Severity Assessment

38
Crashes
7
Fires
48
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V803000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LARRY H. MILLER FORD L..."
"BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2018 FORD ESCAPE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I FOUND THAT ALL THE SPINDLES WERE RUSTED. FORD SAID THIS IS NORMAL. BROUGHT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC-CARTEC IN TULSA, OK. THEY FOUND RUST NOT ONLY ON THE SPINDLES, BUT THE DRIVESHAFT, AND CV AXLES. THEY PUT THE PICTURES ..."
"BACK ELECTRIC TAILGATE DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. THIS IS INDICATED BY THE HORN DOUBLE HONKING WHEN LOCKING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATOR ON THE DASH WHEN THE CAR IS ON THAT THIS IS NOT FULLY LATCHED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD LEAD TO EXHAUST IN THE CABIN, ESPECIALLY IF IDLING."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28