Recall 18V312 affects 273 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles with incorrect brake fluid cap labels and manuals. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 273 2018 Ecosport vehicles sold in U.S. federal territories because the brake fluid cap label and owner's manual use the wrong European wording. The wrong label can lead an owner to use the wrong brake fluid, affecting brake performance and increasing crash risk; Ford dealers will replace the label and manual kit free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The brake fluid reservoir cap on the 2018 Ford Ecosport closes the small tank that stores brake fluid for the hydraulic brake system. That fluid feeds pressure through the brake lines when you press the pedal, so the cap and its label are part of the information an owner or technician uses when checking or servicing the brakes. The owner's manual kit is the printed guide that explains the vehicle's controls, warnings, and required service information.
On affected Ecosport vehicles, Ford installed a European brake reservoir pictogram cap and a European English owner's manual kit on vehicles built for U.S. Federal Territories. The brake hardware is not described as defective in the recall. The problem is that the cap label and manual kit do not match the required U.S. compliance parts, so Ford is replacing both with compliant parts.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners are not expected to feel a brake change from this labeling and manual-kit issue.
Who's affected?
It involves both the brake system and the vehicle label for the same SUV.
| 2018 Ford Ecosport | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Ecosport | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 273 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
The risk is confusion during brake service: the brake fluid cap has the wrong label, and using the wrong fluid can affect brake performance and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before the mistake, so have the cap and owner's manual kit corrected before adding brake fluid. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Ford Ecosport is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free brake-fluid-cap and owner's manual kit replacement that corrects the brake-fluid label and instructions.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V312 when you call.
- Use only the brake fluid specified by Ford until the corrected cap and owner's manual kit are installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the European brake fluid reservoir cap with the correct cap label and replaces the owner's manual kit with the U.S. version required for the vehicle. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Ford is not offering a separate reimbursement program because the original warranty program provides a free repair for this concern. If you already have paperwork for a related brake fluid cap or manual kit correction, ask the Ford service desk how the original warranty coverage applies.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| May 14, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 15, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| May 15, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 18, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 18, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 21, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V312?
Recall 18V312 covers 273 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in United States Federal Territories with the wrong brake fluid cap label and European English owner's manual kit. The incorrect brake fluid label can lead to the wrong fluid being added, affecting brake performance and increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2018 Ford Ecosport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V312. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 18V312 or Ford recall number 18C04. The dealer will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Ford to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford's remedy says dealers will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit free of charge. Use a franchised Ford dealer for the recall repair.
What is the safety risk for this Ford Ecosport recall?
The risk is brake fluid confusion. The vehicle has the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label, and an owner can add the wrong brake fluid after reading the incorrect label. The wrong fluid can affect brake performance and increase crash risk.
When did the Ford Ecosport recall repair start?
Ford began this recall repair on June 21, 2018. The remedy is available now, so an included 2018 Ford Ecosport can be taken to a franchised Ford dealer for the free brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V312000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V312 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V312000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →