2018 Ford Escape: What to check before buying

Coolant leaks into the cylinders, causing misfires, rough running, white exhaust smoke, overheating, and finally an engine that needs a replacement long block. A check engine light and misfire codes for cylinder 2 or 3 often come first, and shops sometimes replace spark plugs before they find the leak. Reported failures range from 22,000 to 121,000 miles. Some engines lose power or die at highway speed, and three reports involve fire, including flames under the hood. Owners past Ford's extended coverage report paying $7300 to $9100 for a new engine.

Coolant getting into the cylinders makes up most of these reports, often diagnosed as a blown head gasket. Symptoms include a check engine light, cylinder misfires, shaking at startup, a temperature gauge climbing to hot, limp mode, and stalling. Dealers usually call for a new short block or long block. Failures show up from about 24,500 to 150,000 miles, with many near 100,000. Several owners say they were just past Ford's mileage limit for coverage and got no help.

The car moves on its own after being shifted into park. It rolls away or backs into homes and garages, and in some cases runs over the driver. Other reports describe sudden acceleration while pulling into a parking space with the brake pressed. The category has 4 crash-related reports and 6 injuries. Several owners with a recall notice say the repair was held up because parts were unavailable. Transmission failures also appear, with lagging, slipping, or loss of drive between about 58,847 and 145,000 miles.

The SYNC module (APIM) fails and takes out the touch screen, radio, navigation, Bluetooth, USB charging, and rear camera. Reports put this at around 55,000 to 65,000 miles. Other complaints describe the engine shutting off in traffic, dash lights and gauges going dark, a string of warning messages at once, and repeated battery replacements. Stalling after refueling is also reported, in one case fixed by replacing the purge valve. A low-beam headlight connector that melts and burns out the bulb also comes up.

Power steering assist cuts out without warning, often with a "Steering Assist Fault" or "Power Steering Loss" message, and the wheel becomes very heavy. It can happen at startup or while driving. Shops usually find a failed electric steering rack. One dealer repair cost $3,171.45, and some owners waited on back-ordered parts. Failures mostly fall between about 15,108 and 69,470 miles. Other reports describe the wheel pulling right on its own. The category has 3 crash-related reports, including a rollover after the steering went stiff.

Lug nuts swell and deform, so the factory lug wrench no longer fits and shops will not rotate the tires until the nuts are replaced. Most owners find out during a routine oil change or tire rotation, at about 34,250 to 95,000 miles. A flat tire can turn into a tow because the nuts will not come off. Replacing a set of 17 can cost several hundred dollars. One report describes a rear rim failing at highway speed.

The brake pedal sinks to the floor and the car does not stop. This happens at low speed right after startup and also in traffic. In one case it was traced to a faulty master cylinder at about 23,000 miles. Two reports involve crashes. Rear pads and rotors also wear out early, with uneven wear and deep scoring reported at 13,967 and 32,000 miles. Higher-mileage cars show parking brake faults, including one that engaged by itself at 20 mph.

Water leaks into the cabin and spare tire well through failed roof seam sealer, a rear quarter panel, or the area near the rearview mirror. White paint around the windshield and pillars bubbles, cracks, and peels. Other complaints cover doors that will not latch, a driver's door hinge that pops loudly, a dashboard lifting near the glove box, a belly shield that falls off, and a liftgate that opened while driving and then closed on a person's head. Two reports involve injuries.

In serious crashes, the bags fail to deploy. Reports include head-on collisions, a guardrail impact, and rear-end crashes at highway speed that left cars totaled. Seven of the 8 complaints are crash-related, and together they report 7 injuries. Some drivers say they hit the steering wheel or dashboard. The one remaining complaint concerns a recall notice where the dealer did not have the parts to do the repair.