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. Read more »
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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,644 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
For the last 2 years our Escape will stall out while driving when the weather is cold but after the car has been in motion for more than 20 minutes, this has been terrifying with my child in the car we have almost been in several accidents due to the car just stalling out while driving in traffic, we have taken it to the dealer and other mechanics and nobody can figure it out we have repaired the turbo and catalytic converter among other various repairs that have cost us thousands of dollars and nothing has fixed this issue. This is a safety issue! I've almost been hit by a semi on the freeway because my car stalled out while driving it! it happened again today.
Frequently and usually right after I turn the car on, the ABS light will come on, the traction control light will come on, and then my car will stall. I can usually crawl into a parking space/off the side of the road. Occasionally the hill start assist light will come on and occasionally the 4WD disabled light will come on. The ABS and traction control have come on on the interstate and highways before, but they have only caused my car to stall (luckily) right after I turn it on and begin to move. The hill start assist will usually only come on if I come to a full stop while driving, whether I am on a hill or not. This happened once when we first got the car (4.5 years ago). It did not happen again until about 6 months ago. It now has started happening very frequently at multiple times a day for the past 2 weeks or so.
While driving the car has stalled several times. It also will leak coolant sometimes im able to see the puddle under the car parked but sometimes no puddle which means its leaking into the engine. The instrument cluster also will go haywire and shut down while driving the needles will fall to the bottom shoot to the top and it will have an engine warming and sometimes just shuts off all together even though the car is still mechanically on and running. There are several recalls that all cover these issues im having however my vehicle is not listed in the effected vehicles. These issues happen while driving in any capacity or parked. It has happened on the highway the freeway the side streets while parked while moving slowly. It has become an issue that im worried to deal with because I dont have the funds to fix the car but the car is so unsafe im afraid to drive it. I do have a video of the instrument panel messing up if its needed.
While driving on a back road with many curves.warning lights came on abruptly concerning power steering. Wheel locks was unable to do anything while on the road this was replaced in March 2020. Once again is has done the same things again while reversing from a parking space
I have had my car for a few years now and bought used from a dealership scott Ford. My car had low miles and it was in my budget, plus good on gas and from what I was told farley safe. This car has given me so many problems since purchasing it and has left me out of hundreds of dollars. My latest issue is a huge one and I believe that there should be a recall on this car after doing my research as so many other people have sadly had to deal with the same issue. I pick my young children up from a carline at their school, and one day when I was there my car started to rev up slightly then it stalled on me completely. I was able to get it started the second time with slight hesitation on the engines part. Long story short my car stalled on me a total of 5 times. The third time I was able to drive away from car line and parked across 3 parking spaces as it stalled on me again. I popped my hood and my engine seemed to be extremely hot, then I sat there with my 2 young children, thankfully on a decently nice day outside for a half hour. I was able to start it again and went to leave to head home, and just as I was about to get into the turning lane it stalled right across on coming traffic. I had to roll my windo down and motion people to stop as I frantically tried to start my car again. After 2 tries I was able to start it and went into reverse and parked in the schools parking lot, since this incident my car has stalled a total of 11 times, and just again once this afternoon when I was leaving the grocery store reversing out of my parking spot. I feel this is extremely unfair because I am still like so many people making payments on this vehicle. I shouldn't have to worry about my children's safety and others because my vehicle is a pos. I am very upset by this I paid good money for this vehicle and all the dealership will do is charge me outrageously and not care
- Davisburg, MI, USA
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Veh: 2013 Ford Escape, sel 1.6 liter engine, front wheel drive. I intermittently have no power steering when starting the vehicle. Vehicle is stationary at the times I've experienced the problem. If this happens during driving I would be unable to steer the vehicle. Diagnostic code: U3000-49.
My Ford Escape 2013 said it was over heating and it left me on the side of the freeway. Took it to the mechanic and the code turned out to be the temperature sensor misfiring. Sensor was changed, two days later I drove my car and it left me on the side of the freeway due to the same issue again, stated it was the same isssue. Paid for a diagnostic report at Ford and they said nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Ive had the sensor replaced, both thermostats, water pump has been changed, but car keeps saying is the temperature sensor. I did read there was a recal on the Ford Escape 2013 due to the same issue and a system update needs to be done, however Ford does not have any knowledge of it.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle idled roughly in drive and shuddered while at a stand still. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the map sensor and PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V495000 (electrical system) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that at start-up, the service engine immediately message appeared on the instrument panel. On the way to toycen Ford, Inc. (1000 chippewa crossing blvd, chippewa falls, wi 54729) the vehicle constantly jerked while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the vehicle shut-off while depressing the brake pedal. While at the dealer, he was informed that a defective wiring harness needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle and therefore had to pay out of pocket for repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 63,312.
The "engine fault: Service now " error message just popped up on my dashboard while driving. It felt like my car is going to stop anytime. If you have to stop on a signal then it feels like car will not move again, no matter how much acceleration you do.
Coolant constantly into engine. I have had it repaired numerous with same problems. Truck power constantly flickers and it's shakes and sometimes cuts off will I'm driving
Transmission began failing approximately September/October 2018, just over 75,000 miles and after the expiration of the warranty. The transmission was rebuilt in January 2019 @ a cost of $3300. The electrical controls (radio & HVAC) on console and dashboard have a shortage and go out regularly. I pointed this shortage out when the vehicle was purchased and I was told it was fixed when I came to pick it up.. there are also issues with the battery. I replaced the battery in November 2018 with a Ford battery. 4 months later, in February 2019 it failed to start due to excessive leakage with corrosive exposure. Ford crossroads replaced it at that time (2019) with another new Ford battery and on September 10, 2020 the battery failed again. Mechanic had to clean up the irregular corrosion on the battery and the posts. Documentation is not available at the time of this post but can be retrieved if requested.
All the symptoms outlined in a previous recall #14S17-S1 displayed by vehicle. Loss of power, poor acceleration, sputtering and stalling at speed. Contacted Ford and they say the work was completed on this vehicle on 2/27/14. Recall wasn't active till 1/3/2016. Took to a mechanic and they said work still needs to be done. Contacted Ford dealership in area and was told the recall had expired and they won't do the work. Just purchased this vehicle 3 months ago. 1 prior owner. 1 service center used to service vehicle. Car is unsafe to drive. Obviously Ford solution to the issues was only temporary or work was not done properly as it has failed again.
Rear passenger door latch failure (recall); front driver wheel bearing failure wheel locked up while driving (2X) reverse camera image, sputtering, stalling, electrical failure after re-fueling ecoboost engine
The vehicle turns off with no warning while I am driving. I will be doing 45 miles per hour and the car will turn off. Turning into traffic it will stall too.
Vehicle will stall while driving, bucks, jerks and shakes while accelerating. Rpms randomly accelerating, not producing enough power to allow vehicle to get up hill. Engine overheating, engine service soon light frequently coming on, especially after sitting out in hot/cold weather for a while. My radio has completely just stopped working, no sound whatsoever. I had hit a deer back in March of 2020, took it to my dealer for repair. When I picked up my vehicle I asked if it was still 'shifting hard.' I assumed since my computer to my car was just dangling after the accident I thought there was something wrong there. But apparently there has been other complaints as far back as 2018. Now, here I am months later and am terrified to drive my car. Will not have my daughter in it, which makes it hard being a single mom. Took it to multiple dealers explaining the situation. Everyone made me seem crazy, it magically didn't do it for them. Now I see I am not the only one!
Ford Escape 2013 was idoling at bank drive threw was in park put in drive roughly less then 10mins idoling push the gas and Ford Escape gallop 3-4 times dies put in park turn key start up throw in drive push gas car feels sluggish still in bank parking lot heading to main busy heavy flow of cars Ford Escape again gallop dies do the same restart back up not an issue car has no momentum trouble shifting gears got to a near by family house to let the car rest since it gave me no indication prior to the malfunctioning 3nd time Ford Escape was idoling at a fast food drive threw there was more then 6 cars ahead of me hot summer afternoon lunch time idoling radio off no A/C running in line longer then. A typical food line wait period the symptoms happened when I reached the order microphone dies then I restarted get to window dies 2 times before I can safely pull away
Unsafe almost hit by huge truck on heavily trafficked area. Vehicle was driving normal and suddenly the car lunged, sputtered, stalled drove 5-8 mph the screen displayed engine fault service now. I saw twice this has been a recall. My young child and I were in the car going 45mph before the occurrence scaring us both. After shutting off vehicle called and was told to restart car to check code no screen error displayed and car had no issue for mechanic looking at it. Still very concerned as I travel everyday with my child and go out of town to cancer clinic to take patients to appointments I can not have that issue taking them.
I have had many issues with my 2013 Ford Escape and it seems everything that keeps happening is a recall but for some reason never applies to my vehicle. My Ford stalled for the first time a few months ago. I was at an event that I made it to with no issues. It sat in the parking lot for about 45 minutes. When I tried to leave, it wouldn't turn on. I sat in the vehicle for about 10 minutes until it finally started and was able to drive away. Ever since this, it has been stalling every once in a while. Sometimes it will start and I can drive a few yards away before it stalls and I am forced to turn the key off and try again. It would do this a few times then I would be able to drive again. Another issue I've had is sometimes while I am driving, everything will shut off but the vehicle will keep driving. Everything meaning: Air conditioning, all lights, radio, touch screen.. anything that is on while I'm driving will shut off for around five minutes or so. I keep going without touching any of these things, then they will all turn back on, on their own. This happens very rarely. I have taken my Ford in to get these issues looked at. They told me these were recalls, printed the recall paperwork out, and told me to go to a dealership to get it fixed. When I took it in, I was told these issues were indeed recalls for 2013 Ford Escapes but "did not apply to my vehicle" and was sent away. Now, my Ford randomly started leaking gas last week after only just turning it on while sitting in my home driveway (didn't drive anywhere). I looked up "gas leaks in 2013 Ford Escape" and its a recall for 1.6-liter engine, which is what I have but when I put the VIN in the recall website it says "0 unrepaired recalls". why do I keep having the same exact problems that are described in recall details for 2013 Ford Escape but keep getting told its not for my 2013 Ford Escape?
Vehicle hesitates after being started, when I attempt to drive vehicle stalls and is unable to move. Vehicle stalled while in motion on highway twice, was able to get to break down lane before any accident could occur. This also happened when driving on secondary roads. I have also had the this issue happen in my driveway, I started vehicle and put into drive and it puttered then stalled this has happened at least 30 different times in the past 2 months. I also have been experiencing the loss of coolant but not finding a leak. This has been happening for 6 months, I am having to add coolant every other week. Warning lights for low coolant do not display nor does the check engine light.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hesperia, CA, USA