2018 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Head gasket fails or coolant leaks into the engine
- 117owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- $10,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 12, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
117 of the 1,179 reports of overheating on the 2018 Escape describe head gasket failure.
Part of Engine overheats or leaks coolant (1,179 reports)
Tick what matches of 117 reports
Head gasket failure 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: 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside overheating and coolant leaks for reports that name the head gasket. The difference from the wider sheet is where the coolant goes: instead of dripping onto the driveway, it disappears inside the engine, into the cylinders or the oil.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (114 reports), the engine (23 reports) and the water pump (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers 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.
All 4 recalls on the 2018 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Escape
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
19 of the 117 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $7,200 to $11,551.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 53,249 and 91,021 miles, from the 59 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“I purchased this vehicle used in 2024, and since I bought it have had a variety of issues. I have already invested over 5k in repairs. I have replaced the head gasket and now the water pump twice. This vehicle will not stop overheating. Ford has a known issue with these engines and should correct these issues. They are making working families go broke and we still owed 8k on the car loan.”
Filed Jun 2, 2026
“They KNOW the headgasket will eventually bust and they donât tell you, it needs to be recalled because now I donât have a vehicle when it was built to blow. The headgasket doesnât have enough space or something and it causes coolant leaks, they have a whole procedure on replacing it because they know they messed up but only if youâre less than 84k miles!”
Filed Nov 2, 2025 · 84,000 miles
“Blown head gasket which is causing coolant to leak into the cylinders. Check engine light came on at 72,000 miles (leased the car at 71,000) with coolant loss. The problem was diagnosed by an independent service center on 8/19/25, 3 weeks after leasing to buy.”
Filed Aug 19, 2025 · 72,000 miles
“At 46000 miles mileage cylinder 3 misfired. This led to sudden engine slowdown on a busy street. Headgasket broke and coolant intruded into engine causing total engine failure.”
Filed May 21, 2025 · 46,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 117 reports involved a crash. 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
- Check engine light or misfire 949 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 492 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 231 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 46 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 37 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports