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Recall Campaigns
4
Federal recall campaigns
Urgent Safety Directives
0
Zero urgent stop-drive alerts
Affected Subsystems
7
Air Bags & Restraints, Body & Structure
Authorized Remedy
100% Free
Mandated dealer repair by law
Federal Safety Campaign Analysis

Executive Recall Findings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 4 official safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Escape in AutoUtility's current federal dataset. The primary affected vehicle systems include Air Bags & Restraints, Body & Structure, Brakes & Traction Control.

VIN Specificity Notice: Safety recall campaigns apply to specific production date ranges and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or with an authorized dealer to verify whether a safety repair is open.
Campaign Status & Legal Rights
  • • Federal Authority: Recalls administered under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301.
  • • Free Dealer Remedy: Under federal law, safety defect repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers.
  • • Latest Campaign Filing: Recorded on January 15, 2026.
Federal Directives

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (4)

Complete safety campaign filings including defect descriptions, safety hazards, and free dealer remedies

NHTSA Campaign #26V011000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Filed: January 15, 2026

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety Risk / Consequence

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

NHTSA Campaign #22V413000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Filed: June 10, 2022

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Campaign #18V104000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Filed: February 12, 2018

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA Campaign #17V803000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Filed: December 18, 2017

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.

Safety Risk / Consequence

If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S44.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Subsystem Scope

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2018 Ford Escape

Distribution of official safety recall campaigns across automotive subsystem domains

01 1 CAMPAIGN

Air Bags & Restraints

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Air Bags & Restraints subsystem.

17 Consumer Complaints →
02 1 CAMPAIGN

Body & Structure

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Body & Structure subsystem.

25 Consumer Complaints →
03 1 CAMPAIGN

Brakes & Traction Control

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Brakes & Traction Control subsystem.

30 Consumer Complaints →
04 1 CAMPAIGN

Electrical System

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Electrical System subsystem.

53 Consumer Complaints →
05 1 CAMPAIGN

Engine & Cooling

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Engine & Cooling subsystem.

1368 Consumer Complaints →
06 1 CAMPAIGN

Powertrain & Transmission

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Powertrain & Transmission subsystem.

269 Consumer Complaints →
07 1 CAMPAIGN

Visibility, Wipers & Glass

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Visibility, Wipers & Glass subsystem.

13 Consumer Complaints →
Fleet History

Recall History for Ford Escape

Official safety recall campaign volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Recalls NHTSA Complaints Detailed Report
2015 Ford Escape 9 1075 View 2015 Recalls →
2016 Ford Escape 4 1097 View 2016 Recalls →
2017 Ford Escape 4 2662 View 2017 Recalls →
2018 Ford Escape Current Page 4 1771 Current
2019 Ford Escape 3 578 View 2019 Recalls →
2020 Ford Escape 24 1799 View 2020 Recalls →
2021 Ford Escape 20 355 View 2021 Recalls →
2022 Ford Escape 21 371 View 2022 Recalls →
2023 Ford Escape 13 128 View 2023 Recalls →
2024 Ford Escape 10 85 View 2024 Recalls →
2025 Ford Escape 10 25 View 2025 Recalls →
2026 Ford Escape 3 0 View 2026 Recalls →
Consumer Checklist

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

How to confirm whether an individual vehicle requires an authorized safety repair

Safety recall campaigns apply to specific vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and manufacturing date ranges. To verify if your individual vehicle has an uncompleted safety recall:

  • Locate your 17-character VIN on the driver's side door jamb or dashboard.
  • Enter the VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
  • Contact any franchised Ford dealership to schedule a free remedy appointment.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 711)
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2018 Ford Escape

Explore owner problem reports and crash safety ratings for this model year

← 2018 Ford Escape Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2018 Ford Escape Owner Complaints (1771) →

NHTSA defect complaints breakdown across all vehicle subsystems and recurring symptoms.

2018 Ford Escape Safety & Crash Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover ratings.

2018 Ford Escape MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2018 Ford Escape

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 Ford Escape

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2018 Ford Escape?

The 2018 Ford Escape is associated with 4 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns, affecting systems including Air Bags & Restraints, Body & Structure, Brakes & Traction Control.

A recall campaign listing indicates that a safety defect or noncompliance standard was determined for specific production runs of this vehicle model year.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' directives for the 2018 Ford Escape?

No official 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' safety advisories are associated with recall records for the 2018 Ford Escape in AutoUtility's current dataset.

Urgent directives apply to critical safety risks; standard recall campaigns require timely inspection and remedy at an authorized dealer.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database

Are recall repairs free for the 2018 Ford Escape?

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) requires manufacturers and franchised dealers to provide authorized safety recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. Because campaigns apply to specific production runs and option packages, vehicle owners must verify their 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm individual applicability.

Source: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301)

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2018 Ford Escape?

Not necessarily. Model-year recall campaigns typically apply to specific vehicle production date ranges, assembly plants, or optional equipment packages.

AutoUtility's model-year records describe campaign scope; owners must check their individual 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm if an open recall applies to their specific vehicle.

Source: NHTSA VIN Lookup Service
Official US Government Data Provenance

Recall records published on this page are retrieved directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recalls Database under 49 U.S.C. 30118.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.