YearToAvoid

2018 Ford Escape Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 26 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Ford Escape, about 1% of its 1,797 total complaints for the year. There are no related recalls listed. Median mileage at failure was 30,500 miles, with 2 crashes and 5 injuries reported across the complaint set.

Structure & Body complaints
26
1% of 1,797
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
30,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Rear power liftgate fails to latch or open properly, in one case starting to close on an owner's head after retrieving an item that fell out while the gate was open during driving.
  • Owners report premature rust on spindles, driveshaft, and CV axles on nearly-new vehicles, which dealers described as normal.
  • Door latches on driver and passenger doors fail to catch, sometimes triggering a warning light or requiring latch motor replacement.
  • Interior door panels and armrests sink inward over time with no clear cause identified by dealers.
  • Water leaks from the roof near the rear-view mirror let rain saturate the interior and console while the vehicle was parked.
  • Unexplained body rattles near the rear passenger door that repair shops could not trace to a source.

When 2018 Ford Escape body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 18, 2018, latest Aug 18, 2026.

2018 Ford Escape structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month1Apr 2018Dec 2019Sep 2022Apr 2023Jun 2024Mar 2025May 2026
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2018 (1).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201094 (5%)
  2. 201152 (4%)
  3. 201276 (13%)
  4. 2013152 (6%)
  5. 2014152 (7%)
  6. 201568 (6%)
  7. 201623 (2%)
  8. 201773 (3%)
  9. 201826 (1%)
  10. 201913 (2%)
  11. 2020719 (45%)
  12. 202192 (27%)
  13. 202225 (11%)
  14. 20237 (7%)
  15. 20242 (3%)
  16. 20252 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Ford Escape have?
NHTSA lists 26 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Escape, which is about 1% of the 1,797 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford Escape's body or structure?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to Structure & Body complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure across these complaints is 30,500 miles.
Did any of these body issues lead to crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data tied to this complaint area includes 2 crashes and 5 injuries, with no fires reported.
What kind of body problems do 2018 Escape owners report most?
Owners most often describe rear liftgate latching failures, door latch problems, early rust on suspension components, and interior water leaks.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.