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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 61
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,047 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.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the coolant warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of road and added coolant, but the warning indicator remained illuminated. The contact also stated that an independent mechanic replaced the water pump. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact also mentioned that the low coolant indicator illuminated as the message center displayed 'vehicle over heating will turn off' and the vehicle stalled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was taken again to an independent mechanic whom could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle hesitated, lost acceleration, and eventually stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle and it stalled again. On the third attempt, the vehicle restarted and was driven to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the failure occurred at least once a week since July of 2017. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (ramey Ford in princeton, West Virginia), but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and provided case number: Cas14424184. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Purchased my 2013 Escape del on 4/2014, it's been back to dealership for a total of 32 days since I've owned it. They had to replace at no cost due to recall 13S12 the water pump, long block 1.6ltr engine, engine indicator asy-oil level, battery, vacuum pump, therm.assy, staring angle sensor, coolant bypass solenoid, lower standpipe hose. Reprogrammed apim, PCM, icp, rcm. Ford discontinued the 1.6 engine back 2015 and the sex model. I continually have system issues even after they replaced my engine. I want a different Escape.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. On several occasions, while driving, the contact heard a beeping noise and the engine warning indicator illuminated, indicating that the engine was overheating. Afterwards, the vehicle seized. On several occasions, the vehicle was towed to gwinnett place Ford (3230 satellite blvd, duluth, ga 30096, (404) 418-6877) where it was diagnosed that the coolant system leaked and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the engine would need to be taken apart. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Ford dealer. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Coolant leaked into the engine and cracked the engine blocks back in July of 2017. The engine was replaced. March 5th 2018 the check engine light came on again. This time, the code is for a coolant bypass valve that they're not covering under warranty. We missed the recall by 10 days production date. This part was recalled for a reason and our car should be incorporated into that recall despite the production date.
- Darlington, PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the engine warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the vehicle started to overheat. The contact coasted to the side of the road, powered off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and was able to continue driving. The failure recurred a few times. The vehicle was taken to glenn Ford Lincoln (4080 lexington rd, nicholasville, ky 40356, (859) 587-9020) where it was diagnosed that the coolant was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. No further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact observed fluid leaking from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (Ford fairfield, 3050 auto mall ct, fairfield, ca 94534) where it was diagnosed that the engine coolant valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic where the coolant was topped off. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The failure mileage was 85,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact took the vehicle to avis Ford (29200 telegraph rd, southfield, mi 48034, (248) 355-7500) for routine service. The technician noticed oil leaking into the coolant system. The technician informed the contact that the gasket became loose and caused oil to leak into the coolant system. The gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the oil warning indicator illuminated before the vehicle was taken in for service. The manufacturer was contacted and opened case number: Cas-14212661. The approximate failure mileage was 129,096.
Was driving down road and low coolent light came on.car went into safety mode it would not go over 5 miles per hour.got it to auto store added small amount of coolent and it started back up with the check engine light on took it to dealer.January 5 got the car back after need hoses, valve, drove for one day and low coolent light came back on.haven't received the vehicle back yet, called Ford called dealer but still with out vehicle millage is 89000
The vehicle is having engine cooling problems. First, the engine coolant dropped so low the air conditioner stopped working while on vacation (summer 2017). Got the coolant refilled and then the level started dropping again. Took it to the dealership and water pump was replaced (fall 2017). Now the engine coolant light is on again; they say it has to do with hoses connecting the cooling system to the engine. They believe the car is not safe to drive but it will be 4-6 weeks before they can replace the hoses. They will let me rent a car from them (winter 2018).
I have had this vehicle for 3 years with no issues until this month. It first started with the car leaking coolant. Come to find out, the entire water pump needed to be replaced due to a crack. Once that was replaced, there was still a leak in one of the hoses; that was replaced. Then the car is stalling. After a couple of hours of diagnostic testing, a sensor had burnt because of the overheating from the coolant issues previous to the car stalling. The sensor was fixed and I had the car back a week, and the car started stalling again, hesitating to accelerate on the highway, and has a very rough idle where the car shakes. I took it back and no engine code or failures showed up on the computer when the car would stall out. This car stalls if it is sitting for an extended period of time running, or when it is started and I go to accelerate and leave a parking spot or driveway. The battery is brand new, the alternator is providing enough electrical current to power the vehicle, there is currently no explanation to why this car is stalling out. I called Ford customer service because there are recalls out for this make, model and engine type, but they told me that because my VIN comes back clean, there is nothing they can do. Further into my research, there are recalls out for the date my car was manufactured and the plant it was manufactured at but Ford is not willing to listen to my concerns/complaints.
Vehicles low coolant light came on the vehicle 12/26/17. Vehicle was taken to an a non-Ford mechanic and on 12/27 the water pump, coolant bypass valves, and gaskets and seals were replaced due to a leak. One month later, while driving, the vehicle had the warning come on for overheating and the vehicle began to reduce speed. We were able to get the vehicle home, checked the coolant reservoir and it was low. I filled the vehicle with coolant and returned to the mechanic. This time they found a leak in a heater core hose and that was replaced. On 2/10/18, the warning light for low coolant came on again. The coolant level was below the minimum line. Vehicle was returned to the mechanic and they could find no visible leaks. They let the car run for 15 minutes and found that the freeze out plugs on the heads were damp; no repairs were made and they said to contact Ford. I called Ford on 2/13/18 about the issues, since numerous other 2013 Escapes were involved in recalls and they said your vehicle isn't apart of that recall and it's out of warranty, to bad. The issue hasn't been resolved. In the past 2 months I've been filling the coolant every other week. The vehicle only had 61,960 miles when this started to occur.
Ford has issued a safety recall for these types of cars but have not gone far enough. I have taken mine to two auto repair shops for engine coolant leak and both could not find where it leaking yet I have to every month add coolant it has the 1.6 ecoboost engine which is recalled in several vehicles but when I call Ford Motor Company they say mine is not on the recall list even though it is doing the same thing that all the others have been recall for. I have call called two Ford dealerships and they just say sorry yours is not included. This is a default in these engines that Ford is not wanting to make good they are just trying to do as little as they can to get by. They should inspect these cars and fix them as well they should expand the recall include all of these vehicles. I have read on the internet that I am not the only one being told that ours is not on the list I hope all of these driver also contact you. A good vehicle should not leak antifreeze Ford knows that there is a problem and should make them all good not just a few of them on the date it happened I am putting when I put antifreeze the first time
Car battery or alternator light came on red light in bottom right of console, then immediately exclamation point came on with message engine overheating stop safely. When I had only driven 1 1/2 on a city street. The message came on when I slowed down to stop at a stop light. I pulled into a parking lot and as soon as I slowed down to stop steering wheel locked and it turned off. Even 3 hours of sitting when I turn the key to accessory overheat light and message appeared as well as when the tow truck dropped it off at the Ford dealership. There is a recall on 2013 Ford Escape 1.6 SE for this problem but they tell me mine isn't part of the recall.
Car says engine overheating and completely disables the cars engine to where it will stop you mid driving. I was going 70 mph got the warning and immediately the car dropped my speed to 5mph in the middle of the highway and would no longer accelerate. Had to Dodge and weave to get to the side of the road and still was mid way in the middle of the emergency and right lane of the highway.
1. engine standpipe faulty, which causes the Ford Escape sel to go into crawl mode and then you have to stop and leaves you stranded. The dashboard engine thermometer reads fully hot. This happened in motion on my way to work during winter in erie pa, the snow headquarters. 2. battery goes dead intermittently and leaves you stranded.
Takata recall. The computer system has run irregularly since purchase. The vehicle stalls when being driven after the first 10 miles or so on city streets. Have to pull to the side of the road, turn key off, restart engine... may require several times before the vehicle can proceed.
The water heater hose on my 2013 Ford Escape has a leak in it. I cannot drive the car unless I fill up the water constantly which is not possible with how far I drive daily. It is part number cv6Z-18472-S I took my car in on January 29, 2018 and was told there were 162 on back order and I would receive it by January 27, 2018. Today is Feb 1 and I was told the part won't be ready till March 7, 2018 and I have to just wait. Now there are about 3200 of this part back ordered. Why can I not drive my car for a month and a half" if there are over 3K back-ordered why is there not a recall"
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the coolant indicator kept illuminating and the vehicle stalled several times. Two dealers (burdick Ford, 3004 East ave, central square, NY 13036, (315) 668-7102 and romano Ford, 5431 N burdick St, fayetteville, NY 13066, (315) 637-4491) were unable to replicate and diagnose the failure more than once. The failure continued to progress. The vehicle was taken to a third dealer (beach Ford, 2717 Virginia beach blvd, Virginia beach, va 23452, (757) 486-2717) for further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was included in a warranty campaign, but the statute had expired; therefore, they provided no solution other than the contact repairing the vehicle. The failure mileage was not available.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Macom, GA, USA