2018 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 37owner reports
- 100,000median miles
- $7,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
271 of the 1,802 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 37 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Transmission 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: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (37 reports) and the torque converter (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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
What owners paid
6 of the 37 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,800 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 62,000 and 114,000 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Multiple failures occurred while driving with my kids in the car from what we can tell an electrical system failure of the parking brake motor as well as a transmission failure it is unknown at this time whether the parking brake motor failed causing stress on the transmission or the transmission fault led to the end Electric motor failure of the parking brake”
Filed Dec 26, 2025
“Had vehicle in shop for axle repair, as soon as I got home transmission went out when I was about to turn onto a main road with 2 kids in my car. My car felt like it was in neutral but it wasnât. Barely got back to my parking spot. Seeing this is a common issue with my car and I think it should be covered under a recall”
Filed Dec 17, 2025
“On 10/17/2025, my transmission stop working properly after driving fine for 145,000 miles. This seems to be a common occurrence with this year and model for the Escape. The transmission is an automatic and stopped going in the drive gear on the highway. I was able to get the car off the road and have it towed to a mechanic where they verified that that I would need a new transmission.”
Filed Nov 23, 2025 · 145,000 miles
“My motor had to be replaced due to coolant intrusion. Now my transmission has to be replaced as well. It was definitely faulty. I have letters from the Ford dealership that worked on my car and put the new motor in. It was caused by coolant intrusion.”
Filed Oct 29, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 37 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
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 1179 reports
- 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
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports