2018 Ford Escape (3rd gen) · Known Issue
2018 Ford Escape Coolant Intrusion (1.5 and 2.0 EcoBoost): Short Block or Long Block, and Is It Worth Fixing?
Quick answer: On the 1.5 EcoBoost, Ford's fix is a new short block and head gasket after a pressure test and a borescope confirm coolant in the cylinders; on the 2.0 it is a long block. Ford's program 19B37 paid for the 1.5 repair once within 7 years or 84,000 miles of the warranty start date, so a 2018 that went into service in 2018 has aged out of it. Out of pocket, expect about $4,000 to $7,000 at an independent shop. There was no safety recall for this problem, so have a Ford dealer check the VIN before paying.
Applies to: 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost only. Other versions of the 2018 Ford Escape do not have this problem.
What the Issue Is
The 1.5-liter EcoBoost that replaced the 1.6 in 2017 to 2019 Escapes has a documented defect: coolant finds its way into the cylinders. The path is internal, so the presentation is a slowly dropping reservoir with no puddle, a cold-start misfire concentrated in one cylinder, white sweet-smelling exhaust that outlasts normal condensation, and a rough first minute that smooths as the engine warms. Ford's bulletins describe the same picture: low coolant, white exhaust smoke or rough running, with or without a warning light, caused by coolant entering a cylinder bore. The 2.0 EcoBoost sold alongside it has its own coolant-intrusion bulletin, TSB 19-2346, which covers the 2017 to 2019 Escape (and the 2015 to 2018 Edge and 2017 to 2019 Fusion, MKC and MKZ) and calls for a long block.
Ford's fix for the 1.5 is specific. TSB 19-2139 (November 2019) and the bulletins that replaced it (19-2375, 20-2100, 22-2134 and 22-2322) call for a cooling-system pressure test held for five hours, then a borescope look through the spark plug holes, and, when intrusion is confirmed, a new short block and head gasket; the current bulletin limits the Escape to builds on or before April 8, 2019. Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 paid for that repair once, at no cost, within 7 years or 84,000 miles of the warranty start date, and a 2020 update added a powertrain calibration that runs the external coolant pump after shutdown to reduce the risk. A 2018 Escape that went into service in 2018 has aged out of that coverage; a dealer VIN check shows whether the work was done. Separately, proposed class actions consolidated in federal court in California in 2021 allege coolant intrusion in the EcoBoost engines of 2013 to 2019 Escapes; those are allegations, not findings.
Buyer math is blunt because the repair can rival the car's value: independent-shop estimates for the short block job run about $4,000 to $7,000, and Ford Authority puts a long block replacement at $6,000 to $8,000. Screening, mercifully, is cheap and specific: reservoir level and history, a witnessed cold start, a misfire-history scan, and a combustion-gas or pressure test for anything doubtful. The naturally aspirated 2.5, sold alongside, is outside these bulletins.
Symptoms to Watch For
- 1.Coolant reservoir dropping steadily with no visible leak
- 2.White, sweet-smelling exhaust at cold start that lingers
- 3.Cold-start misfire on one cylinder (P0301 to P0304), smoothing when warm
- 4.Rough idle for the first minute of the day
- 5.Long cranking after sitting overnight (coolant pooled in a cylinder)
Real Repair Costs
Ford's repair for the 1.5 replaces the short block along with the head gasket, not the gasket alone, after a pressure test and a borescope confirm intrusion; the 2.0 gets a long block under TSB 19-2346. Program 19B37 covered the 1.5 repair once within 7 years or 84,000 miles of the warranty start date. Ford Authority puts a long block replacement at $6,000 to $8,000.
| Repair | Typical Cost (installed) |
|---|---|
| Pressure test + borescope inspection (diagnosis) | $100-$250 |
| Used engine, installedunknown history; check its source | $3,800-$5,200 |
| New short block + head gasket, installed (Ford's repair) | $4,000-$7,000 |
Major issue: budget for it. Ranges are US independent-shop estimates with quality parts. Use them as negotiation grounding, not a quote.
Mechanic's Tip: Spot It Before You Buy
Insist on a stone-cold start and arrive early enough to check the reservoir first: level below MIN, crusty residue at the cap, or a jug of coolant in the cargo area are exhibits one through three. Start it yourself, stand at the tailpipe, and watch whether the white cloud thins within a minute or keeps coming while the idle stumbles, then plug in a code reader for misfire history and pending codes, because cold-start misfires log even when the light stays off. Ask the seller "when did you last add coolant?" and whether a dealer ever replaced the short block under program 19B37. Any answer other than "never" to the first question moves the conversation to a pressure test or a different Escape.
The Bigger Ownership Picture
Beyond this specific issue, budget roughly $800-$1,200 per year for scheduled maintenance and repairs on a 2018 Ford Escape. That is a typical US range from Avturo's ownership-cost table, an estimate rather than a quote, and it excludes insurance, fuel, and financing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Ford Escape losing coolant with no visible leak?▼
On 2017 to 2019 Escapes with the 1.5 or 2.0 EcoBoost, the documented cause is coolant intrusion: coolant seeps internally into a cylinder and leaves through the exhaust as white vapor, so there is no puddle to find. The companion evidence is a cold-start misfire in one cylinder and a rough first minute of idle. Ford's bulletins confirm it with a cooling-system pressure test followed by a borescope look into the cylinders.
What does the 1.5 EcoBoost coolant intrusion repair cost?▼
Diagnosis runs $100 to $250. Ford's repair is a new short block and head gasket, about $4,000 to $7,000 at independent shops; a used engine installed runs about $3,800 to $5,200, and Ford Authority puts a long block replacement at $6,000 to $8,000. On a crossover of this age an established case can be total-loss math, which is exactly why pre-purchase screening matters.
Was there a recall for the Escape coolant problem?▼
Not a safety recall. For the 2017 to 2019 1.5, Ford used service bulletins (TSB 19-2139 and its successors) and Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37, which paid for one short block repair within 7 years or 84,000 miles of the warranty start date; the 2.0 has TSB 19-2346. The recalls people remember belong to the earlier 1.6 EcoBoost (overheating and fire risk, including recall 17V-209) and to the 2020 and later Escape's 1.5 three-cylinder, recalled in 2022 over an oil separator fire risk. A dealer VIN check settles what applied to a specific car.
Which 2017 to 2019 Escape engine should I buy?▼
The naturally aspirated 2.5 four is the low-drama pick: it sits outside the coolant-intrusion bulletins entirely and gives up only refinement and pace. A 1.5 or 2.0 that passes a real screening (stable reservoir, clean cold start, empty misfire history, negative combustion-gas test) can serve honestly, and a 1.5 with dealer paperwork for a new short block is the fixed version. Whatever the engine, a seller's coolant top-off habit outranks every other data point.
Sources
The facts on this page were last checked against these documents on October 10, 2026. Programs and their coverage end; check the car's VIN with a dealer for what still applies.
- Service bulletin: Ford TSB 19-2139: 1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion, short block and head gasket (NHTSA file MC-10168739) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Service bulletin: Ford TSB 19-2375: 1.5L coolant intrusion, revised build dates (CarComplaints copy) (m.carcomplaints.com)
- Service bulletin: Ford 2022 bulletin: 2017-2019 Escape and Fusion 1.5L short block after coolant intrusion (NHTSA file MC-10213732) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Service bulletin: Ford TSB 19-2346: 2.0L EcoBoost coolant intrusion, long block (CarComplaints copy) (m.carcomplaints.com)
- Warranty program: Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37, Supplement 4 (CarComplaints copy) (m.carcomplaints.com)
- Court or settlement record: Lieff Cabraser: Ford EcoBoost coolant-intrusion lawsuits consolidated in California (2021) (lieffcabraser.com)
- Recall record: NHTSA recall 17V-209 (Part 573 report): 1.6L GTDI coolant level sensor (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Recall record: Ford Authority: 2022 recall of Escape and Bronco Sport 1.5L three-cylinder over fire risk (fordauthority.com)
- Repair cost estimate: Go-Parts: P0302 on the 2013-2019 Escape 1.5L EcoBoost, coolant intrusion repair estimate (go-parts.com)
- Repair cost estimate: Ford Authority: 2017 Escape 1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion and repair costs (January 2026) (fordauthority.com)
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What a 2018 Ford Escape is asking right now
- under 80,000 miles: most listings ask $10,978 to $14,611, middle $12,623, from 36 listings checked November 4, 2026.
- 80,000 miles and up: most listings ask $9,618 to $13,224, middle $11,637, from 34 listings checked November 4, 2026.
Asking prices from live listings, not sale prices. Middle is the median; the range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
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