RoadVitals

2018 Ford Escape Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 8, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,765 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed May 8, 2026

The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 mph, the ball joint detached from the vehicle without any prior signs or issues. This caused an issue with the break line, with brake fluid leaking, the vehicle tilting and messed up the front of the vehicle had caved in on one side. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a ball joint failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11736549
Incident
May 6, 2026
Mileage
50,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel detached. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ID
11623459
Incident
Oct 10, 2023
Mileage
49,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2024

I have purchased replacement lower control from Detoit Axle. On 8/13/2024. On 10/18/2024 car had to be take to repair shop because replaced control arm failed. Lower ball joint came out of socket.

NHTSA ID
11621302
Incident
Oct 22, 2024
Suspension
Filed Jul 20, 2022

CONSTITUENT WRITES IN REGARD TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE IN ORDER TO PERFORM SAFETY RELATED RECALLS ON THEIR 2018 FORD ESCAPE.

NHTSA ID
11474868
Incident
Jul 20, 2022
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jul 9, 2022

6 Speed Powershift transmission burnt up without giving any codes or warning lights. Vehicle had started making a low whine noise at 10,000 miles which Dealership technicians claimed not to hear. At 50,000 miles took vehicle into Dealership because noise became very loud and popping noise from front end, report was transmission had failed and burnt up. Dealership did a rebuild on transmission had vehicle almost 3 months, pick up vehicle still transmission whine, returned to Dealership they claimed air in transmission lines was flushed, transmission still had whine. Reman transmission ordered, installed and still has noise from transmission and no warning lights, still shift issues, jerking, pulling , etc.

NHTSA ID
11473014
Incident
Jan 17, 2022
Suspension
Filed Dec 15, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle felt like it had a flat tire or low tire pressure. Upon inspection, the contact noticed the rear passenger's side strut had detached and was sticking up inside of the trunk. The vehicle was taken to three independent mechanics and diagnosed that the rear passenger's side strut was faulty, or the vehicle might have been previously totaled in a collision. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN and that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ID
11443930
Incident
Dec 15, 2021
Mileage
85,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 11, 2021

Was given inspection sheet on car after brought into Auto Fair Ford for Oil Change and they were suppose to do a front end alignment. Person came to me hand paper work work to me and said I was all set. Left to go on a trip with car and did not look at paper work until a week later. On from it talked about replacing rear trailing arm bushings and dog bone control arms the car only has about 39,000 miles on it. In look up on sites had noticed on past escapes that they had a recall on this same items. My car is a 2018 Ford Escape. First of all the Ford place I brought the car to should have told me about the problem right away verbally. The trailing arm needs to be looked at on these cars

NHTSA ID
11432580
Incident
Aug 31, 2021
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 6, 2021

You may want to investigate this. I own a 2018 Ford Escape which I purchased new. Two week ago the left rear passenger window was broken out. As I was in Idaho at the time, and had to drive back to Washington State, I drove the car down the highway at 55 MPH with the sunroof open and all other windows closed. No problem. I then closed the sunroof and the car shook violently to the point I thought the back door might be ripped off. We seldom open the back windows so I never experienced this before but it could cause an accident.

NHTSA ID
11423598
Incident
Jun 27, 2021
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Apr 23, 2021

WHEEL BEARING FAILURE

NHTSA ID
11413486
Incident
Apr 12, 2021
Mileage
41,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed May 24, 2019

ON LATE EVENING OF MAY13, 2019 I WAS DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE (ODOMETER IS AT 1368 MILES) ON EXCELLENT ROAD CONDITIONS ALONG SIDE ONE VEHICLE WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC. WE JUST PASSED UNDER TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH ESTIMATED SPEED AT 10-15MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER THE FRAME. THE SOUND WAS FRIGHTENING AND SO LOUD THAT THE DRIVER NEXT TO ME HEARD THE INCIDENT AND TURNED AROUND AT THE NEXT LIGHT TO COME BACK AND CHECK ON ME. I SKIDDED IN MY TRAVEL LANE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15FEET.THERE WAS NO COLLISION, NOR IMPACT WITH ROAD MEDIAN NOR DID I COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY DEBRIS / POTHOLES ON ROAD. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHICH IS ONE OF THE WONDERFUL SAFETY FEATURES WHICH HELPED BASE MY DECISION ON PURCHASING OF MY ESCAPE. THE DAMAGE CAUSED DIFFICULTY TO OPEN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR,THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM RIM IN ADDITION TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE DAMAGE. I FOUND SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON THE FORD RECALL SITE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED , YET I HAVE A CLAIM IN WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY.$500 DEDUCTIBLE UNPLANNED EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID
11209811
Incident
May 13, 2019
Mileage
1,368 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 10, 2018
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING HOME 11-28-18 5:40PM PST WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED HARD TO THE RIGHT; I HAD NO CONTROL, & IT CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED UNOCCUPIED CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAD NOT HIT ANY OBJECT NOR POTHOLE. VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. SUSPENSION GAVE WAY. PARTS OF SUSPENSION WERE LAYING ON THE STREET. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILING. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH. I HAVE PHOTOS; 2 ARE ATTACHED TO THIS FORM. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH THAT DOCUMENT. NO POLICE REPORT.

NHTSA ID
11160538
Incident
Nov 28, 2018
Mileage
1,100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .