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.
Ok, we bought this 2013 Ford Escape for 5K and it has been overheating since. We changed out the bypass valves and the hose only to have the engine stall, overheat, extreme smoke came out of the exhaust and all the fluids ran out the tail pipe at mile 60.8 on I-275 near Milford, Ohio. Fluids were all over the road and refilling them did nothing but watch them come out the exhaust. According to the mechanic, the head gasket is shot and the piston broke the spark plug which were recently changed and the engine is completely junk. We are currently investing into another engine with a 3 year warranty in hopes that the new engine will fix the issue at the cost of approx. 2 grand. The only good thing is that we bought the car cheap but it is turning into a money pit fast.
So, we bought our car in Minot ND in May of 2017. We are currently living in OK, my husband is military. We are having issues with the engine. A coolant leak going in to the exhaust causing it to overheat. When we looked into the history of it at a Ford service place, the girl found some info we were never told about. Apparently it was fixed a month before we bought it (April). With us having the same issue, so it seems, we have called Ford and have told them about the issue we are having. They have told us that it doesn't qualify because the recall has been closed. The dealership in ND has said something about it being over the mileage for the warranty. We have yet to take it in to a shop but when we do to make sure it is the same issue. I'm just a confused wife looking for answers once we get it looked at. This is our only means of transportation
Was driving home from work on the coldest day of the winter. The car stays in my garage at night, but was exposed to sub freezing weather all day. Normal environmental temperature is 40 to 110 F. On my 15 mile trip home, the low coolant light came on. Before I made it half a mile the over heat engine light came on and the car went into low power mode and started to run very rough. I had to coast to a parking lot as there was no shoulders to pull off on.
Once I was stopped, I looked at the coolant level. It was at minimum. Tried to add fluid, but could not get the cap off the reserve. I had tested the temperature of the reserve by touch. It was not warm. I sat for 20 minutes for cooling then tried to get it to a gas station to try again at putting coolant in. Made it 50 feet before the cycled through the problem again. Sat in a person's drive way for 20 minutes for the engine to cool again.
Next try, I managed to get to the gas station 1/4 of a mile from the original emergency stop. Manage to get the cap off this time after cutting my hand on the windshield cowling. Add fluid till Max line. Problem stopped. However, the pitch of the engine has slightly along with a couple of vibration noises. Gas millage has dropped from a persistent 26 Hwy to a 21 Hwy. I have been watching the coolant levels and have noticed that there is about a mm drop in the level over the last month.
Note, I replace the battery the month before and did a visual of the coolant. It was half way between Max and Min. Vehicle is under warranty and is being looked at by the local Ford dealer/maintenance. I suspect that the valve cover recall fix that happened literately 1 week after I bought it new and was not made known at the time of purchase failed and the engine is consuming coolant. Personally, I've lost confidence in a car that should be running like a babied Swiss watch.
Update from Feb 9, 2018: Just got word from the local Ford dealer and shop. Their diagnoses is that the water pump is leaking coolant. They have ordered the part and it looks like it will be worked on in the next two weeks.
When driving at a high speed on the beltway, a signal goes off saying that the engine is extremely hot, brake slowly, needle gauge moves to high and immediately goes back into normal position. Only happens when driving on the highway. When driving locally, there is no signal re: engine being hot.
- Shelby C.,
Alexandria, US
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Ok, we bought this 2013 Ford Escape for 5K and it has been overheating since. We changed out the bypass valves and the hose only to have the engine stall, overheat, extreme smoke came out of the exhaust and all the fluids ran out the tail pipe at mile 60.8 on I-275 near Milford, Ohio. Fluids were all over the road and refilling them did nothing but watch them come out the exhaust. According to the mechanic, the head gasket is shot and the piston broke the spark plug which were recently changed and the engine is completely junk. We are currently investing into another engine with a 3 year warranty in hopes that the new engine will fix the issue at the cost of approx. 2 grand. The only good thing is that we bought the car cheap but it is turning into a money pit fast.
- Howard J., Blanchester, OH, US