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Ford EdgeModel year report

2018 Ford Edge Problems

Compared with other Ford Edge years

Typical for this model

45/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Open NHTSA investigationLoss of Motive Power

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019, 2021

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
849filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,000miles, 355 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford Edge (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

The dominant theme among owners of this model year is engine trouble tied to coolant finding its way into the cylinders, usually after the vehicle has covered tens of thousands of miles. Complaints describe a check engine light, low or vanishing coolant, white exhaust smoke, rough running and, in many cases, a dealer recommendation to replace the engine or long block. A smaller group of reports covers transmission and torque converter behavior, rear camera faults, and assorted electrical and trim issues.

  1. Engine

    Coolant leaking into cylinders / engine failure

    • 605 complaints (71%)
    • median 74,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (244 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $8,000 (median of 98 quotes)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners describe the check engine light coming on, the coolant reservoir running low or empty, white smoke from the exhaust, rough idling, misfires and shuddering. In many complaints a dealer diagnoses coolant intrusion into a specific cylinder (often #2, #3 or #4), sometimes finding a failed head gasket or a cracked block, and says the engine or long block must be replaced. Several owners report the work was not done because the vehicle was out of warranty or not covered by a program, and some say they were referred to the NHTSA hotline when they contacted the manufacturer. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 140,000 miles, with a number of cases in the 60,000-80,000 mile range.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Before buying, check the coolant level and look for a sweet smell or white residue around the reservoir, and ask for service records showing whether coolant intrusion was ever diagnosed or a long block replaced. A coolant-system pressure test and a scan for stored misfire codes are worth doing.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who observed a misfire in cylinder #2, due to coolant intrusion, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11602900, filed 2024-07, 101,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to overheat. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that coolant was added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an intendent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11548473, filed 2023-10, 47,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission shudder, bucking and torque converter noise

    • 113 complaints (13%)
    • median 72,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (53 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $6,178 (median of 19 quotes)
    • filed 2018–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle bucking or shuddering when accelerating from a stop or at low speed, delayed or weak response to the accelerator, and occasional jerking while driving. Some owners were first told to try fuel cleaner and had the problem return; others had the torque converter identified as the faulty part. A separate group reports a rattling or abnormal noise from the engine/transmission area at start-up, diagnosed as a flexplate, flywheel or transmission pump concern. Typically reported between about 70,000 and 140,000 miles.

    Recall 22V413000Recall 18V3900004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive at low speed and from a standing start, feeling for shudder or hesitation, and listen for a rattle near the bellhousing at idle. Ask whether the shifter cable bushing recall and any flexplate or torque converter work have been completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle began to buck when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was slow to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact to add two bottles of fuel cleaner to the fuel. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11580629, filed 2024-04, 75,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated that at start-up, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the flex plate, flywheel, and transmission pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11682163, filed 2025-08, 140,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the cooling system and on evidence of past coolant intrusion, since that is the concern behind most reports here, along with a low-speed test drive for transmission shudder. Confirm that the open recalls for brake hoses, door strikers, shifter cable bushing and rear camera have been performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 849 consumer complaints for the 2018 Ford Edge. 355 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. Of all complaints, 17 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 24 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 143 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 14 Ford Edge model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 45 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (16), Seat belts (14), Air bags (12), Steering (12), Wheels (9), Forward collision avoidance (4), Seats (4), Suspension (3), Tires (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Lane departure (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2).

Example complaints

Engine: “My 2018 Ford EDGE had the check engine light illuminate recently one morning when I started the engine. The engine had a rough idle/chugging and white smoke from the exhaust that also occurred when the engine light illuminated. I shut the engine down, and restarted the engine to see if the issue would replicate, which it did, but not as extreme. …”

NHTSA complaint #11414464, filed 2021-04, 94,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Repeated 'misfire in cylinder 2' error code - from what i've seen online, this may mean that coolant is leaking into the engine block and can cause total engine failure. about 77,000 miles currently. Will be taking to dealership in a couple days, as it's a repeated issue and the dealership staff member we talked to said i shouldn't be driving the car, which we just bought in March 2021 from a used car Ford dealership.”

NHTSA complaint #11422448, filed 2021-06

Transmission and drivetrain: “Loss of transmission power, like as if the transmission cant decide which gear to be in, then when it selects the gear it slams into gear so hard that it feels like you have been hit from behind by a truck. This has happened while driving in stop and go traffic, when driving thru a dip in the road,and most disturbingly while driving up a long steep hill.”

NHTSA complaint #11209954, filed 2019-05, 9,000 miles

Other or unknown: “The moonroof in the Ford EDGE will explode when driving more than 65mph down the highway. I have only had this car for 6 months and my roof exploded on me on the way home and of course it's not covered under any warranty. I can't imagine if there was kids in the car and the moonroof was open. I'm not the first person this has happen too. This roof needs to be recalled.”

NHTSA complaint #11297528, filed 2020-01, 7,300 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 355 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 49,000 and 92,000 miles.

8%0–105%10–2513%25–5032%50–7524%75–10017%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (355 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

201820192020202120222023202422920252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Ford Edge. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Edge · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 15.5% risk
Edge · SUV FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 15.4% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Ford Edge version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Edge AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202723$2,900
Edge AWD2.7L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172420$3,350
Edge AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172319$3,550
Edge FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202924$2,800
Edge FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic212924$2,800
Edge FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172620$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2018 Ford Edge → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 143 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 143 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Edge

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024445,0002523Too new to compareToo new
2023239,7004523—Too new
202213359,00055234 · FewerRising
202111441,00075242 · FewerRising
202032668,200452424 · FewerRising
201977360,223352527 · FewerRising
201884970,000752445 · TypicalRising
20171,37770,000852459 · TypicalRising
201692660,000752464 · TypicalRising
201573145,814752461 · TypicalStable
201438354,63234222 · FewerStable
20132,44754,000242280 · MoreStable
20121,13451,000342261 · TypicalFalling
20111,80358,000342168 · MoreFalling
201067385,0006—2050 · TypicalFalling
200926195,7396—191 · FewerFalling
20081,12085,6386—1950 · TypicalFalling
200798990,0005—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Ford Edge model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Edge?

The dominant theme among owners of this model year is engine trouble tied to coolant finding its way into the cylinders, usually after the vehicle has covered tens of thousands of miles. The issues reported most often: Coolant leaking into cylinders / engine failure; Transmission shudder, bucking and torque converter noise.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Ford Edge have?

NHTSA recorded 849 consumer complaints for the 2018 Ford Edge as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Ford Edge is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 471 complaints (55% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 179.

Has the 2018 Ford Edge been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Ford Edge do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Ford Edge 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Edge get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Ford Edge (Edge FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 20 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Ford Edge reported?

Among the 355 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 49,000 and 92,000 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.