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. While driving 45 mph, the engine stalled and the low coolant warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact replaced the coolant in the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.
I WENT TO A USED CAR DEALERSHIP ON 05/20/2017, SAW THE 2013 FORD ESCAPE AND WAS VERY INTERESTED. I TEST DROVE THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES, CHECKED FOR EVERYTHING I KNEW TO CHECK FOR AND DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. ON MY DRIVE HOME ( 2 HOUR DRIVE) BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS SHOPPED THROUGH THE SAME DEALER, AND HALFWAY HOME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP YESTERDAY 05/23/2017 AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TURBOCHARGER ENGINE WAS NOT WORKING, I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THIS CAR HAD A TURBO CHARGER ENGINE.. KIND OF SURPRISED FORD WOULD PUT A TURBOCHARGE ENGINE IN A SUV. ANYWAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WOULDN'T CAUSE IMMEDIATE DAMAGE, BUT EVENTUALLY THE TURBO ENGINE WOULD START FALLING APART AND WOULD CAUSE METAL DEBRIS TO SHOOT INTO MY EXHAUST, CAUSING A WHOLE WORLD OF OTHER ISSUES. THE PART TO HAVE REPLACED IS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL AUGUST BECAUSE APPARENTLY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. ITS GOING TO COST ME $1400 TO FIX THIS ISSUES BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS". NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN NEED A TURBOCHARGER ENGINE, BUT SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN, ITS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO KEEP, YOU CANT JUST GET RID OF IT. AND APPROXIMATELY EVERY 50K MILES, ITS GOING TO NEED REPLACED AGAIN!!! I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF ANY OF THIS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, AND AM NOW STUCK PAYING 11K FOR A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH ANYTHING TO ANYONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THE MAJOR ISSUES IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE. NOT TO MENTION THE LIST OF INSANE RECALLS. I FEEL LIKE I WAS LIED TO, MISLEAD ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE CAR BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. ANYONE CAN CONTACT ME WITH SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS THROUGH MY PERSONAL EMAIL : [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle overheated and stalled and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Intermittent check engine light (happens when in park or when driving). Hooked up to code reader and got P026B7; found online that the the engine coolant bypass valve is defective, but not recalled (tsb 13-02-15). Dealer confirms code and that engine coolant bypass valve is defective and should be replaced but referenced tsb 16-0052. Despite the part being so defective it has been discontinued, redesigned, and replaced the dealer claims it isn't covered under any form of warranty.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to a dealer. On different occasions, the contact smelled an abnormal fuel odor coming from the ventilation. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, but noticed that coolant was missing. The contact continued to refill the coolant in the vehicle, but it continued to deplete. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened case number: Cas12347863. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
- Scranton, PA, USA
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My 2013 Escape is having all of the issues that are talked about in the recall of 2014 Escapes regarding low engine coolant causing engine fires. The water pump has already needed to be replaced and now the "low engine coolant" warning comes on repeatedly. Why are 2013 Escapes not included in the recall announced in March?
Our Escape developed a cracked cylinder head that is allowing coolant to leak into the engine. We purchased it used less than two years ago. At the time it had 55K miles and no active recalls. Currently there is 65K miles on the Escape. Multiple recalls for this engine has been issued many have which resulted in a similar engine problem. Supposedly Ford has performed the recall work this our car, but this problem has come up. They want us to pay for the repair work even though it seems likely that it's related to recall repairs that were not correctly completed. The recalls associated with this engine are #13V583000, 12V551000, 12V431000. The first involves a cracked head and the other two involve leaking coolant (we've lost an entire reserve tank in a short period of time). When we took it in the first time to have it checked they performed a pressure test and could not locate any coolant leaks and told us to continue driving it until it registered with low coolant again. This second time was when we brought it in and they told us about the cracked cylinder head.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving unknown speeds, a fuel odor entered the vehicle and the engine seized without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel line was ruptured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
I was driving on highway 70 into Kansas City with my two young children. I noticed the vehicle smoking and pulled over onto an off ramp. I popped the hood and before I could completely open it, more smoke came billowing out. I quickly grabbed my children out of the vehicle and within 30 seconds the engine was engulfed in flames.
My car will not hold coolant. Has been to shop many times.overheats. Shuts down. A huge recall on this however Ford won't fix mine because it was already recalled for same reason in 2014 and supposedly fixed. It's dangerous and Ford won't work w me at all. Engines have been reported engine fires due to this. Has happened about 20 times in a year and a half. They won't fix it.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving, smoke emitted from the front end of the vehicle and the temperature gauge displayed that the vehicle overheated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine cylinder and caused the engine to fail. As a result, the technician stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V209000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 67,000.
After short drives and usually a 15 minute to 30 minute rest, the car starts up but after short drives the car begins to stall out like fuel is cut off and dies after driving a very short distance. Putting the car in neutral and giving it gas does not stabilize the car and it dies. Does do this all the time but it has happened 7 or 8 times over a 2 month period.. the mechanic finds nothing wrong and no service info from Ford
Car has been losing coolant during the past year. I have added coolant whenever low-level alarm came on, and taken to mechanic multiple times without any leak being discovered. Coolant needs to be added at least once a month. I noticed a recall on 2014 1.6L Ford Escapes for this issue, but the same problem exists with my 2013 1.6L.
Coolant light came on and after coolant was added the check engine light came on and what not go out. Also every time I added fuel my vehicle would not start. Each time I would add fuel it took several tries to start the engine. Every other day I would not be able to start the engine for hours. I took the car in to a Ford dealership for inspection I had several codes come up. A failed coolant bypass valve was replaced as well as a fuel pressure sensor. Codes (P 0087) (P 018 C) (P 26 B 7) (P 1450) the restraints module control replacement and did a coolant system flush. After extensive work and over almost $2,000 spent my vehicle engine light keeps coming on and I continue to have trouble starting my vehicle after adding fuel every single time. The fuel issue really worries me because whenever I get out of my vehicle I smell gas and don't think that is normal. I really hope I can get this resolved soon because I cannot go without driving but I am loosing sleep as well as being very nervous when I have to refuel. Please help me resolve this issue as soon as possible because I am starting to regret choosing a Ford!!!!!!
Coolant leak that could cause possible fire, 12V551000 still not resolved for my car. Smell of vaporizing coolant every time I accelerate, coolant depletes way faster than a normal car. Mechanics don't find leaks in hoses or lines.
Since the recall on the coolant system, the coolant low warning has come on several times. I have been told by Ford service managers several times that the closed system has an air bubble in it. However, the coolant level is low and does require additional fluid. The low coolant warning comes on at start up (ignition). Once it goes on, it may stay on or go off and on over several days. There has never been evidence of a leak identified by a service technician or in fluid left after parking (puddling). The engine routinely smells hot after driving 10 minutes or more.
We own an Escape 2013, and the car overheated at 40mph. The coolant level was low despite we service and replenish its fluids levels every 3000 to 4000 miles. I called our local dealer in augusta ga and they stated they only see one door latch recall for our vehicle and since our car warranty has expired they will not fix the problem.
My vehicle is telling me my coolant is low but it is not its also telling me im due for an oil change and has been coming off and on for the past 10 months ive had it serviced numberous(8) times had my coolant flushed and sensors checked. Had it serviced at the place I bought it and at airport Ford. Even had my motor replaced 5 months ago. This issue is keeping me from driving my vehicle because once its (hot) it will shut the vehicle down..I can get in it start it after not driving it for hrs and pull out of my driveway and it says its over-heating. And will say stop safely. And the vehicle will shut down. Ive been stranded 3 times from this happening. I check the coolant and its not low or over full. I really hope nothing happens while im driving or when I have my 3 yr old daughter in the car with me. Thank god its only been on my way home from work.the place were I bought the vehicle has my paperwork for the replacement of the motor. And the cost.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Newport News, VA, USA