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.
I was driving and as I was approaching the red light my car stalled. I turned it off and on three times until I finally was able to move it. My main concern is safety should it stall when im driving. I have a 1.6L but it is not covered under the recall 14S17, should that be the issue. The symptoms seem to match, and the issue is extremely frustrating.
I purchased my 2013 Ford Escape July 2015 and for the year I had it I was fairly pleased. I had heard the horror stories about these cars catching fire and was aware of the recalls. I had been to a Ford dealership back in June for a tune-up and assured all recalls had been done on the vehicle, I had bought it used but Ford was able to search the information from the VIN, or so they said. Friday September 23rd I was on my way to work, on the I-5 North fast lane, when the car had a warning light saying something about my 4wheel drive. The car began to lurch and smoke began to come up from right underneath the windshield wipers. By the time I was able to make it over to the shoulder, thankfully without causing an accident, I could see the smoke replaced with flames and all warning lights were lit on the dash. I grabbed what I could and my dog and called 911. By the time the fire department was able to get to us the car was completely engulfed in flames. Although personal items, and my first car I purchased on my own, was lost my dog and I made it out alive. As the process of dealing with insurance began I have been trying to get Ford attention in this matter. I am now the 14th person this has happened to. After more digging and numerous phone calls to different Ford dealerships only a handful of them told me to get the car in immediately to a shop because of fire risk. I was also informed that the recalls had not been done to the vehicle, and one dealership even gave me a shop name that the recalls had supposedly been done at. I called and the shop had no records of even seeing the vehicle. I am awaiting a letter from Ford legal department but this issue really needs to be put out there. I walk buy the vehicles everyday, some with baby seats in the back, and it horrifies me. **also trying to upload pictures but it's not allowing me.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled but was able to restart. The low coolant warning indicator also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 13V583000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 61,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle began to decrease in speed and was unable to accelerate. The dealer diagnosed that the engine, alternator, and wiring failed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 58,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was repaired, but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.
- Scranton, PA, USA
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The same thing described in 13V583000 happened to me on the highway. Ford is hiding behind the VIN and says because it is out of warranty and the VIN is not effected by 13V583000 that they cannot repair it. I owe 16000 on this car.
Engine fault service now light comes on frequently. Dealership replace map sensor. Worked for one week. Continues to happen which causes car to hesitate and stall. Garage says I have to drive it there when message comes on without shutting it off as the code clears upon shut down. Impossible to continue to drive a stalling car on the freeway to the garage. Now the computer screen above the steeing wheel went out. Less than 40,000 miles on the car. Fault message occurs when starting the car. Continues to happen.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle would overheat while driving, causing the vehicle to stall with the engine coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
Exactly two weeks after purchasing this used Ford, I start it up to leave in the morning for work and my check engine light came on. I took it up to the shop to get looked at and the code coming on the code reader is P26B7 replace coolant bypass valve. Hmm common problem in several 2013 Escapes there was actually a recall on many of them except mine??
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving, the message "vehicle over heating" was displayed before the engine suddenly stalled. The contact also indicated that smoke was present coming from under the hood due to oil leaking unto the engine. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
My car started leaking coolant, was using about 1 gallon a month, took to dealer 3 times before they determined it was leaking coolant around the 3rd cylinder head. Motor determined to be bad. Likely cracked head or bad head gasket. Options were to tear down the motor, find and fix issue at $7500, or just replace motor for $5500. Opting to get new motor despite car only being 4 years old.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 60 mph, smoke appeared under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and placed oil into the engine, which caused the failure to subside. It was diagnosed that oil leaked into the engine of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired, but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 90,599.
A warning indicator will appear on the dash stating "engine malfunction service now". the car shudders, jerks, hesitates and can stall when the throttle is pushed. Pulling over, powering the car down, and turning it back on seems to temporarily resolve it. Issue may be associated with high temperatures since this was serviced in August of 2016. After 5 trips to the dealer with repairs related to the wiring harness, I was told it was resolved. The problem has recurred starting in June of this year. Went to the Ford dealer again and they failed to diagnose. Drove it to the dealer in failure mode with warning displayed to prove there is an issue. This happens when in motion. I have video of the error display.
This engine has been stalling. It seems to stall when slowing for a turn or an intersection. I seen there was a recall issued for some Escapes with the same year as mine. Why were not all Escapes recalled for this condition?
The car would occasionally loose power. It would stall out soon after starting the car and putting the car in drive. I thought perhaps I was accelerating too soon after starting the car. I would start the car then wait a few seconds. The car still stalled while in motion. Several times I had to steer to the side of the road to restart the car. I'm lucky no one was close behind me. The last time it stalled, I was on a busy city street. I had just picked my son up from summer camp. The car stalled as I merged into traffic after leaving the parking lot. The car stopped running with no warning. The engine light came on and stayed on. The dealership says its the scensor that is not covered under warranty. My car has been in the shop for 8 days now and I still don't have it back. It seems like more than just a scensor issue to have it that long. I am in a rental vehicle until repairs are complete. This has been costly even though I was given a discount by the dealership on car rental. I had no choice to rent a car. I was attending a family reunion out of town June 23rd thru June 26th. I couldn't risk driving my car putting my family and myself in danger on the highway..
Car continually stalls. Error message says engine fault service now. It can happen coming out of the drive way or driving at 50 miles an hour. Dealer says nothing is wrong! this is dangerous! it's been happening for over a year now
Purchased used 2013 Ford Escape vehicle with approximately 33K miles in October of 2014. Purchased extended warranty as warranty was due to expire at 36K miles. A week or two after purchase, car stalled. In the shop it went. Several months later check engine light came on. In the shop it went again. Multiple times later car has been in the shop again for same "check engine light" for 2-3 weeks at a time; transmission replaced twice. The car was back in shop again last week for same issue check engine light this time dealer claims purge valve issue.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut off without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and restarted it, but the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall; however, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts). The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle overheated and lost power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wires in the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V813000 (electrical system) and 14V495000 (electrical system), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wakefield Ma, MA, USA