2018 Ford Escape: Coolant getting into the 3 cylinder
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Escape report: coolant getting into the 3 cylinder. CarComplaints.com lists 11 owner complaints, average mileage 80,200 miles.
NHTSA has 1444 owner complaints for the 2018 Escape in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771893 (filed 10/18/2026): “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 s…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771394 (filed 10/15/2026): “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".…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: engine replacement (8 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $6,400 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Coolant getting into the 3 cylinder (2018 Escape)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2018 Escape
Page last updated .