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.
Randomly while stopped the vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate and lunge forward. I have been lucky enough to avoid an accident but feel this is just a matter of time. I make sure I leave plenty of stopping space whenever I come to a stop but this can not be safe. I bought my car in 6/2017 and this has been an on going problem. This should be looked at before someone gets hurt.
While at a lengthy stop light my car suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed while I hit the brakes. I was unable to stop in time and hit the car in front of me. I am certain I did not put my foot on the gas pedal. My foot was on the brake when this occurred.
This happened to me a second time. I was driving up a curvy grade, and had cancelled cruise control. The car suddenly accelerated, and I then realized that the cause of the surge was that my left leg (above my knee) reactivated the cruise control, which had been set at freeway speed (the same as the first occurrence when I rear ended the car at the stop light).
I feel it is important FORD and any owners of Ford Escapes are aware of the fact that a driver can easily unintentionally activate cruise control in a previous speed (freeway speed in my case) while at a stop light or stop sign, with a slight shift of the driver's left leg. Although I raised the steering wheel to it's highest position, I remain concerned this could happen again.
We bought this 2013 2.0 Ecoboost SEL Escape with 19000 miles and it seemed nice. It accelerated too fast with little pressure on the accelerator for me. One day it started losing and regaining power while driving it. We took it to the Ford dealer and the service engine light had gone out and it was running ok. They found nothing wrong. A week later it started acting up again. I started it up and got the service engine message, it jerked when put in drive. It would accelerate ok for about 5 seconds then slow down for a few seconds and keep repeating that cycle all the way to the Ford dealer. This time it did it for the mechanic. They kept it, and gave us a rental car. They called and said they had to order an Ecoboost part. It's making my wife leary about driving the escape when we get it back. Story to be continued.
Update from May 30, 2013: Today the dealer said the part would not be available for shipping until the end of the month. this is May 30th, I sure hope he didn't mean the end of June.
This malfunction has caused an accident. This was the second time yesterday, May 6, 2013 and I rear ended another car at a stop light. The car, on it's own, revs up and lurches forward even though my foot was on the brake the whole time.
- Carl G.,
Oakbrook Terrace, IL, US
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Randomly while stopped the vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate and lunge forward. I have been lucky enough to avoid an accident but feel this is just a matter of time. I make sure I leave plenty of stopping space whenever I come to a stop but this can not be safe. I bought my car in 6/2017 and this has been an on going problem. This should be looked at before someone gets hurt.
- jessabellkate1022, Kelso, US