2018 FORD ESCAPE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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)