Ford Escape 2018 — Problemas reportados

Coolant intrusion into the engine causing overheating issue that resulted in $4000 of repair costs and is still not fixed. While driving, the warning light came on to pull over immediately. I was at an intersection at a stop sign. Had to get it towed to the service shop.

We bought a 2018 Ford Escape new from the dealer in 2028. In August of this year, 2026, The check engine light came on and our vehicle was running very rough. I used a scanner to check the engine code and it indicated that cylinder # 2 was misfiring. I removed the spark plug to check its condition and there was coolant in the cylinder. I read up on the cause and was surprised to see that Ford Ecoboost engines in Escapes and other models have a problem with coolant intrusion into the cylinders caused by a head gasket/ block crack issue. There were many, many vehicles affected by this problem. Ford had offered an engine replacement for cars with this problem, but only if the vehicle was still under the original factory warranty. Ours is not still under warranty and I'm curious as to what my options are to force Ford to admit/assist in my problem.

I purchased a used 2018 Ford Escape SE equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine on June 26, 2026. The vehicle currently has approximately 55,088 miles. While driving, I experienced a check-engine warning light after accelerating. The warning light subsequently began flashing while the vehicle was moving and would become solid when stopped or idling. The vehicle also developed noticeable engine shaking and rough operation, particularly when stopped at traffic lights with the transmission in Drive. The shaking is significantly reduced when the transmission is shifted into Park. The vehicle displayed diagnostic trouble code P0302, indicating a cylinder 2 misfire. I also noticed that acceleration was not as responsive as expected, requiring additional time to gain speed. Upon inspecting the engine compartment, I observed that the coolant level appeared low. These symptoms raise safety concerns because the vehicle may experience reduced engine performance or potentially lose power while driving, particularly during acceleration or when merging into traffic. I stopped operating the vehicle because of concerns about further mechanical damage and driving safety. According to the vehicle’s service history, the engine short block was replaced on August 3, 2021, at approximately 28,170 miles. The service history also indicates subsequent cooling-system maintenance. I am concerned that the current misfire and apparent coolant loss may be related to an internal engine or cooling-system defect, including possible coolant intrusion, although the underlying cause has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle has not yet undergone a complete diagnostic inspection by a Ford dealership or independent repair facility for this incident. An experienced mechanic familiar with these engines expressed concern about possible internal engine failure based on the symptoms described, but no physical testing has confirmed that assessment. The vehicle remains parked and is available for inspection

Coolant intrusion on my 2018 ford escape 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine. Mileage is only 42500. Ford has offered no resolution or assistance. Known issue: 19b37 and 21n12 and TBS 22-2134. Technical Bullet 22-2229.

The antifreeze is leaking into the engine or into another part of the vehicle. There are no external leaks. This causes a consistent refill issue and possible engine damage if left untreated.

Id been getting misfires on cylinder 3 and eventually 2 even after replacing coilpacks, spark plugs, and fuel injectors into my 2018 ford escape sel 1.5L ecoboost engine. We believe it to be a coolant intrusion and have not been able to operate my vehicle. White smoke appears and it stutters a lot on start up.

vehicle experienced a sudden misfire, loss of power, and internal coolant intrusion at Cylinder 2. Vehicle is now inoperable due to manufacturing defect.

This is in relation to the coolant intrusion problem with all the Ford Ecoboost engines. The vehicle has 98,958 miles - all recommended services were done. Mechanic is recommending a full engine replacement to the tune of $19000. That is nearly 2/3 the value of the car when purchased. Ford not standing behind their products has gotten to a point of hilarity.

I suffered catastrophic engine misfires with a sudden loss of power and white smoke coming from the exhaust. This was due to a design flaw in the Ford ecoboost 1.5l engine which allowed coolant into the #3 cylinder.

The vehicle is experiencing ongoing coolant loss with no visible external leak. The coolant level drops consistently and requires frequent refilling. The issue began around mid‑mileage and has continued to worsen. The engine sometimes emits a coolant smell, and the temperature gauge rises more quickly than normal. Warning messages about high engine temperature have appeared during driving. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not find an external leak and stated the condition was normal, even though the coolant continues to disappear. No repairs have resolved the issue. Based on known problems with EcoBoost engines, an internal coolant leak or cylinder head defect is suspected, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. This creates a safety risk because sudden overheating can occur while driving, which may lead to engine failure, loss of power, or stalling in traffic. The issue is ongoing and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

The car was driving completely fine, then when starting to go at a stoplight it had trouble shifting out of the first gear. At the next stop, it would not go uphill and began slowly rolling backwards as I am trying to move forward. This was in downtown [XXX] traffic with nowhere for me to pull over. It was very close to hitting the car behind me. I had to turn the car off to rest it for a few minutes and was finally able to slowly get up the hill to pull into a parking lot. I ended up getting it towed to a Ford dealership and they said it needed a whole new transmission put in. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

21N12 Coolant Intrusion \ At dealership coolant in oil, coolant in firing cylinders possible explosion fire. Engine light popped on 2 weeks ago and they have my vehicle now and still do not know if they will fix it.

There have been several issues that cause safety concerns with my 2018 Ford Escape 1.5L Ecoboost. The two most concerning are the headlights and engine failure. Since I drove this vehicle off the lot in 2023 I have had to replace the headlights every 4 to 6 months. I recently learned it is do to an electrical issue and the most recent occurrence caused a small fire under the hood of my vehicle. Sometimes both lights would go out at once without warning. This issue has been reported by numerous consumers and Ford has done nothing. Regarding the engine failure, a coolant leak was reported by two mechanics but the source of the leak couldn't be identified. It was only discovered it was internal when my vehicle just stopped while pulling forward in a drive through. Luckily it wasn't on the highway but if it had been it could've caused an accident, at 70 mph, that likely would've resulted in minor injuries for not only me but other drivers. Ford has been made aware of this issue by owners of 2013-2019 Ford Escape Ecoboost vehicles but still hasn't issued a recall. Ford refuses to do anything about this and has instructed its customer support team to tell consumers they "can't" (won't) do anything outside of warranty. This issue often occurs outside of warranty. Ford still hasn't issued a recall despite numerous lawsuits for this exact problem. All customers can do is file a complaint. There are thousands of these vehicles on the road and if Ford continues to do nothing this could eventually lead to fatalities due to vehicle collisions. Someone needs to do something if Ford won't. Engine failure 10/20/26; electrical fire September 2026; lighting failure 2023-2026. The fact someone was fine selling this vehicle, despite consumer reports, is appalling.

Apparently my 2018 Ford Escape 1.5 liter Ecoboost engine has a known flaw of coolant intrusion into the cylinders. It can be inspected right now as it's at the Ford service center. This problem could have left me on the side of the freeway at night. Ford service has verified the problem and that it needs a new engine. I dont believe the parts have been inspected by anyone other than Ford service and my independent mechanic. There was a check engine light that came on back in April of this year. I brought it into Ford for basic minor service on April 29 and was told to check diagnostics I had to pay $298. I took it elsewhere and they told me it was a code that came up for the smog system. I didn't have any other issues at that time. In July a different light came on that was flashing so I took it to an independent mechanic and he found the misfire code of P0304 in cylinder #4. He proceeded to replace spark plugs and injector #4. Not until September did the sputtering start but no engine light came on. I took it back to my mechanic and he spent 2 weeks trying different things to figure out what was going on. He was unable to so I had to take it to the Ford service center and they verified the coolant intrusion problem. My car is only 8 years old and there was never a recall or service notice to advise me of this problem.

I have had a cylinder 2 misfire every 6 months for the past 3 years. After the 3rd misfire I replaced the entire engine that had less than 86,000 miles with another one that had only 32,000 miles on it. After another 6 months I had it happen again. I got the spark plugs and coil replaced and now I'm having it 6 months again happen and the read out says cylinder 2 had too many misfires within a predetermined period of time.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature increased, and the vehicle entered Limp mode. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. The failure mileage was 110,000.

I have a 2018 Escape that died on July 10, 2026, 39312 miles. Paid $300 for a diagnosis at a Ford dealer. A new engine was recommended. The dealer quote is $13,500 for replacement. Called Ford directly and was told, " Too bad you're not covered".

My daughter was driving our 2018 Ford Escape at highway speed when it suddenly began shaking and shuddering violently, with no advance warning. The check engine light came on for the first time as the shaking began. The vehicle lost propulsion, and the shaking impaired her ability to control it, creating an immediate safety emergency in moving highway traffic. She had to maneuver quickly out of traffic onto a narrow shoulder. It was dark, and the limited shoulder space made exiting safely difficult. She feared for her life due to the sudden failure and exposure to passing traffic. She reached the shoulder without a collision. The vehicle required an emergency tow through her insurance company, and she received transportation home. The vehicle had undergone a safety inspection in August before this incident. A Ford dealership confirmed an internal engine leak allowing coolant into a cylinder's combustion chamber. A borescope inspection found liquid on top of the piston, and a cooling-system pressure test confirmed coolant entering the combustion chamber. The spark plugs were severely carbon-fouled, causing a misfire. Replacing them temporarily improved the symptoms, but the misfire quickly returned. The dealership determined that the engine requires a rebuild or replacement. The diagnosis appears to correspond to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, dated June 9, 2022. We were not notified of this issue before the incident and found no corresponding safety recall for this vehicle in NHTSA's records. This sudden failure caused loss of propulsion and impaired control at highway speed, forcing an emergency maneuver onto a narrow shoulder after dark. The check engine light provided no advance warning. We request that NHTSA investigate this defect and determine whether a safety recall is warranted to prevent similar incidents and injuries.

On approximately September 28, 2026, the vehicle began sputtering when first turned on. It then progressed to running extremely rough. On September 30, 2026 the Engine Icon lit up first. A few days later, I received an Engine Fault Service Now message. I went to the Auto Zone on October 4, 2026 and they ran a diagnostic check. These are the codes that were found: Check Engine Fail Replace Ignition Coil and Spark Plug #3 P0303 Cylinder 3 misfire detected P0339 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent P0300 Random misfire detected Cylinder 3 On October 5, 2026, I took it to my mechanic and he began checking everything. He found oil on and inside the computer. He also found that there was antifreeze residue on the Cylinder and Spark Plugs. He did some research to find out what could cause this to happen. He found the following: 1,134–1,711 engine complaints depending on dataset. Failures typically occur between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. Main Engine Problems 1. Coolant Intrusion (1.5L EcoBoost – Most Common & Severe) Coolant leaks past the block/head sealing surface into cylinders. Not a head gasket failure—requires short-block or long-block replacement. Symptoms: Misfire codes (P0300–P0304) White exhaust smoke Unexplained coolant loss Rough idle, stalling, overheating. 2. Cracked Engine Block Often the end result of prolonged coolant intrusion. Leads to catastrophic engine failure requiring full replacement. On Friday, October 9, 2026, I drove my car to work, approximately 2.5 miles, after the Escape sitting for 3.5 hours, I started it. I immediately received the HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE STOP SAFELY, and the engine shut off. On the 3rd try, the Escape stayed running. I could only drive 11 mph. On my final turn onto a busy street, the Escape began sputtering and would not accelerate at all. I was stuck in the middle of the street, putting myself at risk of being hit. I finally made it to a parking lot but had to be pushed home by my son.

Engine light came on so took vehicle to auto repair shop. They diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine, and told me this is a known problem. Ford has issued technical service bulletin 22-2134, as well as other documentation on the problem. It is both a functional and safety hazard. There is a class action suit (Miller vs. Ford) on this matter currently. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealer and they said there is no program from Ford to cover this known problem. I have 73,000 miles on my car! Yes, it is 8 years old, but that should not degate action from Ford on this. They have never notified Ford customers, and yet this is a safety hazard (can cause enginer to seize and start a fire). I was quoted $15,000 cost to replace the enginer from the dealer. I cannot afford this, but am afraid to drive my car!

VIN:[XXX] Current Mileage: 110,900 I am experiencing coolant intrusion in the engine of my 2018 Ford Escape equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle is losing coolant with no external leak visible. This has led to engine misfires, rough idling, and concerns about potential engine damage or failure. This issue is identical to known coolant intrusion problems documented in other Ford EcoBoost engines of similar model years. Safety Concern: Coolant intrusion can cause sudden engine failure while driving, creating a hazardous situation—especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic. This poses a significant risk to my safety and the safety of others on the road. Requested Action: I am requesting NHTSA review this issue as a potential recurring safety defect affecting the 2018 Ford Escape. Many owners have reported similar coolant intrusion problems, and a recall or investigation may be warranted to prevent engine failure–related accidents. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Failed Component/System: The engine assembly/engine cooling system. The internal structural failure of the cylinder block (open-deck design defect) allowing engine coolant intrusion into combustion chambers, cylinders 2/3. Safety: The vehicle is experiencing severe engine stalling, immediate loss of motive power on active roadways, dense white smoke from exhaust which blinds trailing traffic. This causes immediate risk for rear-end collision, leaves others with the possibility to be stranded on dangerous traffic situations. The vehicle leaks hot fluids into the combustions system putting everyone at risk for under hood fires. Has the Problem been confirmed: Yes, my vehicle is currently at the Pennyrile Ford Dealership, they performed a cooling system pressure test and borescope inspection, and confirmed internal coolant intrusion requiring a total engine replacement. They have even confirmed and acknowledged that this is an on going issue! Dealer inspection: Yes Warning Lamps/Messages: Check engine soon light, raised engine levels, rapidly depleting coolant within days of refill, rough idling, cold start rumblings, sweet chemical smell and thick white smoke coming from tailpipe. Ford has already admitted this is an ongoing issue with these systems, I currently have a 2.0 engine but the recall is for the 1.0/1.5.

AT 56000 MILES HAVE HAD DEALER REPLACE TRANSMISSION NOW DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP EVEN THOUGH THE CODE READER SAYS PO0087 , A SENSOR THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. NOW THE DEALER SAYS HE WILL JUST PUT THE FUEL PUMP BACK IN NOT REPLACING IT. HELP !! THEY HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR FOR APPROXIMATLY 30 DAYS

For the second time I have a coolant intrusion on my engine. It was fixed by the manufacturer once before.

My liftgate will not open and there’s no emergency left to get it unlocked and this is a safety hazard

On September 4, 2026, at approximately 6:00 PM, I was driving my 2018 Ford Escape SE (1.5L EcoBoost) and executing a left-hand turn across an intersection. Mid-turn, the vehicle suddenly lost all power, an "Engine Fault" warning message illuminated on the dashboard, and the engine completely stalled out. Because the vehicle died directly in the path of oncoming traffic, I was forced to steer the coasting vehicle out of harm's way to avoid an imminent side-impact collision. This emergency maneuver caused the vehicle to scrape a curb—damaging the right tire rim—and collide with a utility pole. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. I managed to bring the vehicle to a stop on a side street. Once stopped, the vehicle exhibited a total "no crank, no start" condition and completely refused to turn over or restart. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair facility. Upon professional diagnostic inspection, the technician discovered extensive engine oil intrusion within the main engine wiring harness. Engine oil had dynamically wicked through the harness directly into the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), completely compromising and shorting out the primary computer. This electronic failure is what triggered the sudden, catastrophic engine shutdown mid-traffic. This vehicle has a chronic history of severe electrical, powertrain, and "no-start" defects at only 56,000 miles, despite being meticulously maintained with routine synthetic oil changes as required. This is the second time I have experienced a life-threatening loss of engine power while actively driving, and I am fortunate to have narrowly avoided a major, high-speed collision on both occasions. In July 2025, the throttle body failed and initiated a dangerous Limp Mode mid-traffic, forcing a tow for replacement. In July 2026, a starter failure resulted in another total "no crank, no start" condition during the holiday weekend, requiring an emergency mobile mechanic. Following this my car has sat for a month.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the head gasket of the engine cracked and the vehicle stalled. There was coolant leaking into the engine previously, and the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was leaking coolant. There was white smoke coming from the tailpipe with a sweet odor during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, where a case was opened. The contact was informed that there was no recall or manufacturer warranty on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the head gasket was cracked. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

Engine has been diagnosed with coolant intrusion (very common ford ecoboost engine problem) where due to a manufacturing defect the engine has grooves in cylinder that allow coolant to enter combustion chamber. This causes coolant loss, engine mis fires, lots of white smoke upon starting and extremely rough idle. car has 120000 miles and the cost to repair is over 10,000 dollars. The vehicle and remainder of loan is a total loss because the common problem has made the trade in value around $6000 even if repaired. With out use of vehicle and remainder of loan and repairs I will be around 16000 in the hole and have to sell as salvage. FORD needs to recall this 2.0 ecoboost engine.

Ford issued TSB 22-2229 (and earlier TSB 19-2208) specifically covering 2018 2.0L EcoBoost engines with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The Root Cause: Ford redesigned the engine block around mid-2019 because the original design allowed coolant to pool in small grooves between the cylinder bores, eventually degrading the head gasket or cracking the cylinder wall. Error code * P0316 — misfire detected during startup. Ford dealer estimate $12,700 for the Repair. A new engine block.. Ford customer care says there is no assistance available because the vehicle is out of warranty. It has 60,555 miles.

Cylinder cracked due to Coolant intrusion. A Customer Satisfaction Program was opened 21N12 however it closed last November. My vehicle is under the milage for the fix.

Engine just started shaking and stopped working engine light came on then the hot light came on and no longer works. This car had been constantly serviced appropriately has 105,000 miles on it

My vehicle has experienced a recurring cylinder 1 misfire (code P0301) over approximately two years. Ignition coils and spark plugs on cylinder 1 were replaced multiple times by different repair shops, but the misfire repeatedly returned, sometimes within months, sometimes within about a year. Wiring and injector testing was also performed and ruled out as the cause. A mechanic ultimately performed a leak-down/compression test and borescope inspection and found a compression leak located in the cylinder wall between cylinders 1 and 2, indicating internal engine damage. I was advised that this is not economically repairable and would require a full engine replacement. After researching this issue, I found this matches a widely-documented design flaw affecting 1.5L EcoBoost engines in this generation of Ford Escape, where coolant intrusion into the cylinders causes recurring, hard-to-diagnose misfires that are often initially misattributed to ignition coils, ultimately requiring engine block replacement. I am filing this complaint because this appears to be a known, unaddressed defect affecting this engine platform, causing significant repeated repair costs before the true cause was identified

Supplemental Information – NHTSA Complaint XXX– 2018 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost.Vehicle information: 2018 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L Turbocharged EcoBoost VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: 65,946 Since my previous communication, Ford instructed me to take the vehicle to a Ford dealership for evaluation and provide the dealership with my Ford case information. I delivered the Escape to Andy Mohr Ford in Plainfield, Indiana on XXX. On XXX, the dealership diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion and determined that a long-block engine replacement is required. The dealership's repair estimate is $13,315.32. I reported the diagnosis to Ford on XXX. Ford opened Case XXX. On XXX, I was advised that the case was being escalated for additional review and that Ford would contact the dealership before making a determination. On XXX, Ford advised me that the case remained pending. As of XXX, the vehicle remains at Andy Mohr Ford and I have not received a determination from Ford Corporate. I am submitting this update because the vehicle's condition is no longer based solely upon my description of the failure. A Ford dealership has now inspected the vehicle and documented coolant intrusion severe enough to require replacement of the long-block engine.I respectfully request that this information be added to Complaint XXX and considered as part of NHTSA's record concerning this vehicle and engine. I have retained the dealership repair estimate, my communications with Ford, Ford case numbers, registered-mail delivery documentation, and a detailed chronology of events. I am willing to provide any of these materials or make additional information available if it would assist NHTSA's review. I would also appreciate any guidance regarding whether NHTSA would like additional documentation concerning the dealership's diagnosis or the vehicle's current condition while it remains at Andy Mohr Ford. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated, and the message to "Pull Over Immediately" was displayed. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the long block, turbo charger, transaxle oil cooler, an unknown pump, and flushed and refilled the transmission fluid due to coolant intrusion into the transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was 64,054.

Radiator fluid ìs leaking into cylinder, requiring engine replacement. Every other model and year of escape has recalls for this issue

2018 Ford Escape Mileage 74,920. Catastrophic unrepairable engine failure due to coolant leaking into engine on 09/21/26. Ford Motor Company knew of this design flaw as early as 2010 but continued manufacturing and selling the cars with this flaw. Engine light came on but only after the engine was already compromised. Car was towed to Clay Cooley Ford Dealer in Arlington Texas on 09/23/26 who confirmed this diagnosis. My safety and safety of others was at risk because the car stopped running while I was in traffic with no warning, and it could have caused a fire.

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.

Coolant reservoir emptying due to design flaws. Rough idle,white smoke from exhaust. Engine light constantly on. No Coolant or wet spots on the ground. Coolant leaking into the cylinders. Not good.

I have a 2018 Ford Escape with a 1.5 liter engine. I am loosing coolant into my combustion chambers. I just learned that Ford knew about this problem but did not issue a recall. The only way to repair this is to replace the engine.

The engine began misfiring and causing the car to shake and causing an engine light on ignition, pulling an error code of P0304, pointing to an issue with the cylinders. Even after replacing all spark plugs and coils, the engine continued to misfire and cause the car to shake. When we brought it back to our independent mechanic, he diagnosed it as a coolant intrusion, which I've come to read is incredibly common on this type of engine from Ford. The engine has failed and will need a full replacement due to the coolant intrusion into the cylinders. With this issue occurring during a long drive, it put our safety at risk. The problem was confirmed by the independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer or police, just the mechanic. The warning signs that appeared were the shaking and engine light, though they did not point directly to the coolant intrusion, as those issues are often caused by things like spark plugs as well. The issue started occuring a week before it was finally diagnosed with the coolant intrusion.

As I was driving my 2018 Ford Escape SE 1.5 liter EcoBoost on the interstate at the posted 70 mph limit, my dash warning center display said Cross Traffic Fault, Hill Start Assist Not Available, Front Camera Fault, Collision Warning Not Available, Blindspot Left Sensor Fault, AWD Temporarily Unavailable, and Speed Control (radar?) not available. It then felt as if my AWD was switching on and off while making weird clicking noises. My engine then began missing and running very rough. After a very short period of time, it completely shut down and would not start and I wasn’t able to get the all the way to the right because of impatient drivers passing me on the right as my vehicle slowed. I’m [XXX] and had trouble pushing the car with the driver door open while steering it. The road was slightly uphill. Fortunately, two men stopped and helped me push it off the road. After several hours of waiting on the side of the road I was able to get it towed on a flatbed tow truck. I had it towed to Brondes Ford in Maumee, Ohio and they diagnosed that it has the coolant intrusion issue. They said it needed a new motor and the estimate was about $11,000. I contacted Ford Customer Support for help with the cost and was told there was no Customer Satisfaction program to help me. She said I would need to pay the entire amount myself. I asked for her to have a supervisor call me and the supervisor said there was nothing she could do as Ford had made no accommodations for owners of these 1.5-liter EcoBoost vehicles (“open deck” cooling grooves block design defect) Which have a known extremely high percentage of engine failure. My Escape is still sitting unrepaired in the Ford Dealer’s lot as I’m hoping that a Class Action Suit will prevail to help those customers, including myself, that Ford chose to turn their back on. This known by Ford engine failure probability was extremity dangerous for me and could easily have cost me my life. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

At approximately 64,500 miles, my Ford Escape was diagnosed by a Ford dealership with coolant intrusion into 3 of 4 cylinders. At the time of diagnosis, the vehicle was still driveable, but the diagnosis indicated a serious internal engine problem with the potential to cause sudden engine damage or failure. Prior to diagnosis, I noticed the coolant level repeatedly dropping for over one year without an obvious external leak, no other symptoms, and no check engine light. I first noticed the issue during an oil change, when a mechanic pointed out that my coolant reservoir was nearly empty and refilled and flushed the system. The coolant continued to drop afterward, and I monitored and refilled it as needed. Had I been informed of coolant intrusion and its risks, I would have been much more concerned. About a year later, my car began to shake a little. The very day the check engine light came on, I brought it to a mechanic where I spent over $2,000 on repairs related to engine symptoms, including replacement of the air oil separator/PCV-related components and spark plugs. One week after this repair, the engine light returned, and I brought the vehicle to Ford, where the underlying coolant intrusion issue was identified. I am concerned that coolant intrusion in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine may represent a safety defect because it can result in misfires, loss of power, engine malfunction, and potential engine failure while driving. This issue appears to affect multiple vehicles with this engine, and owners may not receive adequate warning before experiencing significant engine damage. In my case, the vehicle had relatively low mileage, was properly maintained, performed normally, and did not provide adequate warning that such a significant engine defect was developing. Although the vehicle was still operational when diagnosed, the recommended repair was financially impractical, and I ultimately had to sell the vehicle for scrap, resulting in a significant financial loss.

Went to get service for a misfire and found out about a well documented issue with these engines. Coolant intrusion into the cylinders leading to complete engine failure. Ford has known about this issue since 2010 and continued manufacturing with this known defect

Check Engine light turned on for misfire codes. Replaced spark plugs but noticed coolant in the cylinder. Found Ford TSB 22-2133 and TSB 22-2229. So i want to report another failure of these engines

My 2018 Ford Escape SEL with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine has only 12,770 miles. The vehicle experienced a misfire and coolant-related issue resulting in loss of engine power and a dashboard warning stating, “High Engine Temperature – Stop Safely.” Fortunately, this occurred as I was driving out of my driveway rather than at highway speed. The vehicle would not drive and had to be towed to my independent mechanic, where it remains. On May 22, 2026, the check engine light appeared. I brought the vehicle to my mechanic, but no problem was identified. When the light reappeared, I returned on July 9, 2026. The ignition coil and spark plugs were replaced. On July 27, 2026, the “High Engine Temperature – Stop Safely” warning appeared and the vehicle lost power. My mechanic subsequently identified a misfire and coolant-related issue. Importantly, on February 5, 2020, at only 4,259 miles, Levittown Ford performed Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 on this vehicle.(See attached) CSP 19B37 addressed the potential for coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores of certain vehicles equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine. I recently learned that Ford subsequently established CSP 21N12, “Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion,” for certain vehicles that previously received 19B37 and later experienced coolant intrusion. This expired in 2022. I am concerned that my vehicle, despite having only 12,770 miles and previously receiving CSP 19B37, is now experiencing a misfire, coolant-related problem, overheating warning, and loss of engine power. Had this occurred at highway speed rather than while leaving my driveway, it could have created a serious safety hazard.

My 2018 Ford Escape SE 1.5L EcoBoost is actively suffering from the manufacturer defect outlined in Ford TSB 19-2375 (coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders). The vehicle shakes violently on startup, emits heavy white smoke from the tailpipe, and displays an 'Engine Fault Service Now' warning. Because it is burning through coolant, this vehicle poses an immediate safety risk of sudden power loss, highway stalling, or catastrophic engine failure while driving. My job requires me to transport vulnerable medical patients, and this severe defect makes the vehicle entirely unsafe to operate on public roads.

The engine is having issues. There is coolant leaking into the engine. Causing for the engine to shake upon starting the car. Issues that can come from operating the vehicle are overheating, fire and explosion of engine. I took the car for diagnostics at a Ford dealership and they confirmed that it is a fault with the engine that Ford is aware about but issued no recall. The check engine light first appeared on Saturday 9/05/2026 and that same day upon igniting the engine that was the first time that the engine rattled when starting the vehicle.

IN 2022 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (DUE TO A FORD DEFEC CALLED COOLANT INTRUTION) THE MILAGE WAS 49000. THE MILAGE IS NOW 78825 AND THAT ENGINE IS FAILING DUE TO COOLANT INTRUCTION. AS A SINGLE GRANDPARENT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FORK OUT $11000 DOLLARS FOR A NEW ENGINE IF ITS STILL A FORD DEFECT

Error code p0016 came up and I started investigating and found coolant intrusion which was a known defect during manufacturing by ford. I was driving normally when the vehicle accelerated really slowly after a stop which could have caused a traffic accident if it happened while in traffic

My sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving. It made a very loud noise, at first I thought a tire blew, but the tire light didn't come on. I could hear like a whistling coming from the top of the car and thought it must be the sunroof. It only cracked at that point, but lots of cracks. We were able to finish driving to our destination, but then when going to drive back home, it began to break and pieces fell onto the cover and some blew away also. There were no signs of issues before this happened.

There is coolant intrusion into the engine. My car became overheated and undriveable while I was driving. Ford knows about this issue, but is no longer addressing the issue.

I have a 2018 Ford Escape with the 1.5L engine with 108k miles purchased new in 2018. Noticed the car recently stuttered at times upon vehicle start up and then would smooth out shortly after starting. Check engine light came on, checked the code and it indicated P0301 which is a misfire on cylinder 1. Since it would run I thought it was probably a spark plug misfire so I made an appointment with a dealer to change the plugs. While traveling to the dealer the car quickly overheated and issued a warning to turn the car off. Luckily I was only a half mile from home and not on the main highway yet so I did not have to deal with safety in traffic. Had the car towed to the dealer and they diagnosed coolant intrusion into cylinder 3 and that a new engine would be required to fix the car. Cost will be about $11k they quoted. I am recently retired so coming up with that amount of money is a big hit on our retirement savings. After consulting with my wife we decided we really did not have much choice but to replace the engine, given the cost of new vehicles and being on a fixed income to not create a car payment (this car was paid off two years ago). I did notice about a week before this incident happened that the car was low on coolant in the reservoir so I took it to the place I have the car serviced to top off the coolant. When they opened the reservoir the coolant returned to the bottle and showed full. I did not want to overfill it so I thought since it showed full, it must be normal on these newer engines. This had to be the beginning of the problem, wish Ford would have said something earlier so would have known what to watch out for. At any rate, I will be out of $11k to fix this problem that I am finding out Ford knew about. Ford should step up and take care of this since it apparently has been a problem for several years. We have been a Ford family for 40 years but not sure I can recommend them moving forward. Truly disappointed.

Ford has known about a flaw with this engine and coolant intrusion. I have owned the vehicle for 5 months and they are refusing to cover the cost of a new engine. I know there is a lawsuit going on right now with Ford (21N12) This was my daughters first purchase that she financed and now she is on the hook financially for a vehicle that is not running.

Coolant is going into the cylinder. Car was starting rough and exhaust smelled strange. No warning lights came on. Service center reproduced issue. It’s an issue Ford has been aware of but hasn’t issued a recall. Now I need a new engine on my vehicle that only has 41,000 miles on it. Estimate is $10,000.00

The vehicle experienced a severe engine failure caused by coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, which requires a complete engine short block replacement. The vehicle became entirely unsafe to drive, presenting a sudden mechanical failure that put the safety of the occupants and other drivers at risk on the road. Prior to this catastrophic failure, the timing belt and water pump were replaced. The failed components and the vehicle are currently preserved and available for inspection upon request.

Engine light and cylinder four misfire code happened on Easter Sunday 4/5/26 while warming up in the driveway shuddered and stalled. I did not drive had vehicle towed to my mechanic the following day. Had vehicle towed 8/27 to the dealership where it was purchased (brand new 4/5/2019) at the recommendation of our mechanic due to the coolant intrusion and known defect. Was informed by the dealer today that i will need a new engine block with only 35,000 miles driven.

Coolant intrusion the engine is ruined by a design flaw

My vehicle a 2018 Ford Escape has a 1.5 liter Eco-Boost engine is has been diagnosed with a coolant into cylinder leak and is in jeopardy of seizing and causing a catastrophic accident. No one should be driving these Ford vehicles due to a good possibility of serious enjury or death.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately but started after several attempts. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where diagnostic tests were performed, but no failure was found. While driving 10–15 minutes later at approximately 30–35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the independent mechanic, where a it was diagnosed that the canister purge valve had failed. The canister purge valve was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the under-hood canister purge valve and the EVAP canister were replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed that the failure was unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,618.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated. A certified mechanic was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with evaporative emission system purge flow performance failure. Additionally, the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The contact stated that on December 24 of 2025, the vehicle was repaired by the dealer due to a failure associated with the issue, and the evaporative canister purge control valve was replaced. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,131.

A warning light illuminated, so the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. The vehicle has a history of receiving routine maintenance and repairs at this dealership. The 2.0L EcoBoost engine is known to experience coolant intrusion associated with its open-deck engine-block design, which includes narrow, slotted cooling channels—or grooves—between the cylinder bores. After inspecting the vehicle, the dealership determined that the engine block should be replaced. The estimated out-of-pocket repair cost exceeds the vehicle’s current market value.

I purchased my vehicle [XXX] from Suburban Chevrolet Cadillac in Ann Arbor, MI. Less than two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, my vehicle information screen informed me that the engine was overheating. My mechanic was able to replicate the issue and informed me I was the victim of a common issue with the 1.5L Ford EcoBoost Ford Escape engine that caused a coolant intrusion. I learned that Ford extended the factory warranty on the vehicle because of this issue, so they are clearly aware of it, but my vehicle was not under warranty when I purchased it used. The dealership told me they were unable to help me because I did not buy an extended warranty from them. Continuing to drive without repairing this issue could have resulted in severe engine damage, stalling, or complete mechanical failure, potentially endangering lives if it occurred while on the road. Because Ford has not issued a recall for this issue, I had to pay I had to pay $5,765.39 to replace the engine short block, inclusive of parts and labor, on top of what I paid for the car. The work was completed 11/23/2023. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message was displayed to exit the vehicle immediately. The contact pulled over and called someone to add coolant to the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact was constantly adding coolant to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant was leaking into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.