CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013 Ford Escape has been in the news quite a bit and for all the wrong reasons. Within a few months of its release the SUV was recalled three times, twice because of engine fires.
In July 2012, due to a fuel line that could split and leak, Ford told owners to park their cars because even driving to the dealership for repairs was deemed too dangerous. Instead, in a somewhat unprecedented move, Ford sent tow trucks to pick up the affected vehicles and handed out rental cars while the owners waited for repairs.
A few months later the Escape was recalled again because antifreeze could leak out onto the engine due to a freeze plug becoming dislodged. As the coolant hit the hot engine there was, once again, a threat for fire.
The 2013 is the first model year of the Escape's 3rd generation and proves once again that you want to avoid the first model year when at all possible.
The auxillary cover broke off after just a year. It appears to be very cheaply made. It is a special order part so you will have to wait for it to come in and make an appointment for service.
Rear passenger interior quarter panel came lose, jamming against interior body of vehicle. It resulted in an inability to open the door. This presented a particularly nasty problem as this is where my infants car seat was located. I was forced to use the opposite (drivers) side to load and unload my daughter. I brought it in for repair and the service center informed me the it was in fact the door latch that was catching. They greased the mechanism and sent me on my way.
The following day the rear passenger door again stuck, I could clearly see the loose quarter panel inside jamming against the door well. My husband pulled firmly on the door until it opened and the panel fell right off. I returned to the dealership less then 48 he's after leaving last time and handed the quarter panel to the service manager, he sat behind his desk with an apologetic look on his face and told me he would order a new one.
While on vacation with the family the trunk closing handle came right off. My husband was pulling the trunk lid closed when the handle ripped clear out of its mounts. I spent the remainder of our vacation hopping up to grab the exterior lip of the trunk itself in order to pull it closed.
After 2 recalls (in the first 3 months of ownership) and horrid fuel mileage, and 2 separate pieces off the interior falling off, this is the last Ford I'll buy. The quality is just not apparent in this model. Save your money and hassel don't buy this vehicle.
For a brand new $30k+ vehicle, the creaks and rattles shouldn't be happening. It seems to be coming from the trim around the Sony myFord Touch console (plastic surround). Will be having it looked at by the dealer in the near future.
I read somewhere that the 2013 Ford Escape was going to be the "king of small SUVs". Well, there's some tarnish on this "king's" crown and it starts with the cheap materials used on the inside of the vehicle. The levers and knobs all feel like they're made of very cheap plastic and I'm worried the paint is going to chip off each time I use them.
I'd expect much, much more from a new car. Especially a "king".
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The auxillary cover broke off after just a year. It appears to be very cheaply made. It is a special order part so you will have to wait for it to come in and make an appointment for service.
- escape13, Fort Myers, FL, US