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Buying a used 2018 Ford Escape? Check these 4 recalls first

4 NHTSA recalls · 1,784 owner complaints on file

This year has the heaviest record here: 1,784 unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, with 1,140 in engine and another 342 in engine and engine cooling, plus 269 power train — an overwhelming concentration on the engine. Reports allege 25 crashes, 5 fires and 30 injuries. Recalls include a critical block heater short that can cause fire, a side airbag part that may fly loose, brake fluid leaks, and a rollaway risk from Park. No stop-driving instructions.

Before you buy

1. Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
2. Have the engine inspected by a mechanic for coolant loss or overheating, given the 1,140 engine complaints
3. Confirm the block heater, brake fluid leak, and rollaway-from-Park recalls were all completed
4. Set the parking brake and test that it holds in Park on an incline, and ask about any rollaway incident
5. Open recalls are repaired free at any Ford dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.

Recalls covering the 2018 Ford Escape

What owners have reported to NHTSA

1,784 complaints filed for this model year, including 25 mentioning a crash, 5 a fire and 30 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.

Other model years

• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• All Escape recalls