2018 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 231owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- $8,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
1630 of the 1,802 complaints on this car are about the engine. 231 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 231 reports
Stalling on other Escape years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (42 reports), the ignition coil or plugs (25 reports) and the battery (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
All 4 recalls on the 2018 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Escape
Underhood fires caused by fuel leak. Closed oct 30, 2025, led to recall 25V-467.
Healey brothers ford / open recall sale. Open.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 27, 2024.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 21, 2013.
Engine stalling. Closed aug 31, 2004.
Engine stalling. Closed apr 15, 2004, led to recall 04V-165.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 10, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
38 of the 231 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,400 to $10,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,704 and 103,000 miles, from the 131 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ford Escape that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2016-2018 Escape/Focus/Transit Connect vehicles equipped with a remote start system may exhibit an immediate engine shut off with or without diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1594 stored in the BCM after using the remote start function to start the engine.
Some 2017-2018 Escape/Focus/Transit Connect vehicles equipped with remote start may exhibit the engine shut off after using the remote start function to start the vehicle with DTC P1594 stored in the BCM.
What owners wrote
“Transmission suddenly failed causing vehicle to violently vibrate and stall. No warning lamp or check engine light. Vehicle has been repaired by independent repair shop by installing remanufactured transmission.”
Filed Sep 24, 2026
“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.”
Filed Jan 5, 2026 · 73,000 miles
“Ford has a KNOWN issue with fluid intrusion in the engines of some of their vehicles built over many years and the repair is a new engine block. The issue causes the car to sputter and stall as well as emit smoke and have a burning smell. They have issued a Technical Service Bulletin about the issue but not a recall and are not fixing the issue in some vehicles.”
Filed Apr 8, 2024
“Engine cut out in middle of street right after turned on. Engine also overheated on highway. Garage says it's because of a leaked coolant into the engine causing a misfire.”
Filed Sep 12, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 231 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 1179 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 949 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 492 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 46 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 37 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports