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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:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,000 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.

2013 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #150

Jul 172024

Escape

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle and raising the hood, the engine was very hot. The contact stated that the coolant level was not checked. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #149

Nov 012024

Escape

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was no coolant leak found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

- Gwynn Oak, MD, USA

problem #148

Mar 062022

Escape

  • 146,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine temperature gauge went to HOT, the vehicle decelerated, and the engine went into LIMP Mode. The engine overheated warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the water pump failed and needed to be replaced. The water pump was replaced, and coolant was added. The coolant level was low immediately. The failure persisted and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into cylinders #2 and #3. The contact was informed that the long block assembly and manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.

- Essex Junction, VT, USA

problem #147

Jan 152025

Escape

  • 151,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal coolant odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that her husband was adding coolant to the coolant reservoir weekly. The low coolant message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the freeze plug had failed, and that coolant was leaking into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V431000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

- Tustin, MI, USA

problem #146

Feb 252025

Escape

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to overheat with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was hot(H). The contact stated that the engine shut off with the "Engine Temperature High, Stop Safely" message was displayed. The contact later discovered that upon inspection of the vehicle, that coolant was leaking from the valve cover. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); which the contact related to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact called the manufacturer who informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 128,000.

- Carriere, MS, USA

problem #145

Nov 012024

Escape

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the temperature gauge suddenly indicated that the engine was hot(H), before the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle eventually shut off in the middle of the highway, and the contact was forced to manually push the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence where it remained. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #144

Dec 152024

Escape

  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an abnormal amount of coolant. Additionally, the contact stated there was an abnormal burning odor coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed previously for an engine coolant leak. The vehicle was left parked at a gas station where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the coolant reservoir was low. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unidentified recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Barnegat, NJ, USA

problem #143

Dec 102023

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant level warning light illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- Pacific Grove, CA, USA

problem #142

Jun 272024

Escape

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and refilling the coolant reservoir, the coolant leaked onto the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The heater hose was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. In addition, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. The coolant reservoir was refilled and leaked out unto the ground. The contact stated that the message -??Vehicle in Protection Mode-?? was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

problem #141

Oct 212024

Escape

  • 104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was coolant leaking on the driveway. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V431000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #140

Mar 152024

Escape

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon inspection, the contact became aware that the coolant level was being consumed very quickly. In addition, the contact became aware of an unusual burning odor and saw white smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the coolant had leaked into the engine and that the long block needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Jackson Township, NJ, USA

problem #139

Oct 012023

Escape

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine was overheating. The temperature gauge increased to high(H). The engine overheating warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

- Aptos, CA, USA

problem #138

Sep 272024

Escape

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and the engine overheated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the enjoy had overheated and the plastic cooling line was leaking. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.

- Mansfield, TX, USA

problem #137

Aug 262024

Escape

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the message "Low Engine Coolant" was displayed, and the vehicle started driving rough. The vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant had leaked into the cylinders and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 96,000. The VIN was not available.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #136

Jul 062024

Escape

  • 108,206 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the Emission failure message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle lost motive power and then stalled. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal continuously to regain normal acceleration. The failure occurred four times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a fracture on the canister purge valve resulting in the fuel failing to power the engine correctly. The contact was informed that the canister purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report a failure. The failure mileage was 108,206.

- Leesville, SC, USA

problem #135

Jul 302024

Escape

  • 148,900 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine was extremely hot; however, the engine did not overheat. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact's brother, who is an independent mechanic, performed diagnostic test and retrieved DTC code: P26B7. The contact stated that the code indicated that the failure was due to an engine coolant bypass valve failure. The contact was informed that the engine coolant bypass valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,900.

- Hopedale, OH, USA

problem #134

Jul 022024

Escape

  • 189,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle sputtered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

- Catonsville, MD, USA

problem #133

Feb 152024

Escape

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine started overheating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Vale, NC, USA

problem #132

May 282024

Escape

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the engine. The mechanics determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

- Finleyville, PA, USA

problem #131

Jun 102024

Escape

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired while the vehicle was being driven on a hill. In addition, the check engine and low coolant warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant leak into the cylinder. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Barnesville, PA, USA

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