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:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,753 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.
When I turn on the vents for the air or heat, a smell of exhaust is coming into the cabin especially when idling. The cabin air filter was changed but did not fix the smell.
My 2013 Ford Escape has been occasionally idling funny when I start it sometimes or when I am at a stop light for some time and begin to go. It will start to putter like it is going to stall and even has stalled a time or two. It seems as if there isn't any fuel getting to the engine but the entire tank is full of gas. The car will putter and be reluctant to accelerate until it starts to go back to normal or stalls out. Once I restart the car and give it gas, it sounds and works normal. This has happened about 3 times now in the last month. There is only $125,000 miles on the car. This should not be a wear and tear issue as I always keep my gas tank no less than a quarter tank. No lights are appearing when this happens. The car just doesn't idle correctly and sounds like it is not getting enough gas or is running out of gas.
Vehicle occasionally stalls out at low idle, either when stationary or attempting to drive up hill in forward after backing out into street. This is not triggering an error code and several mechanics cannot diagnose the issue. After completing some research, it sounds like this is a common issue with 2013 Ford Escapes.
Purchased the vehicle used in Dec 2018. For approximately the last 4 months have had issues with stalling after car is warm. Car will start back up and move forward a little bit and then will stall. Check engine light did come on twice and codes were read. So far going by codes we have changed evap valve and the duct on the top of motor. Neither part has made a difference in the stalling issue. Have had a few times that it has stalled pulling onto a main road and had to pray to get it on the side of road to avoid being hit. I have noticed many other owners of the vehicle having the same issue and still have no answers as to the problem. I'm hoping something is done soon as it seems to be getting worse. Yesterday it stalled 3 times in a row after pulling onto a road from driveway before it would stay running. It's not safe to have a vehicle drive like this!
Smell of gas and towed to repair, a leaking gas line was detected. Was told that car was not part of any recall despite other reported similar incidents with this make and model. Repair bill is in the customer mother's name.
- North Royalton, OH, USA
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My car keeps stalling. It all started after one random drive of car sitting all night, all of a sudden my temperature gauge went skyrocketing and my car started smoking. And needed coolant which was fine just before all of that happen. After that it will just randomly stall, the oil pressure light will come on and then my battery light. My oil like on my dipstick is skyrocketing even after letting your car sit. Something needs to be done I drive to college everyday as well as taking my son to school everyday I cannot have a car where the engine catches on fire or I keep stalling out and then I'm 20 30 minutes late to class
If I am in park and it sits for a few minutes it will start to stall and then die. It has happened multiple times and just seems to be getting worse. Once I start the car back up it just feels like it can't go. So it has happened to me mainly while in stationary and now while in motion.
While in motion, the RPM are reduced, the car slows down, turns off and a "system check, service now" notice appears in dash board. There is a recall for same Escape but 2.5, while this one is 1.3. right now it is at Ford dealer for another evaluation.
Car would have hesitation and stall while idle and check engine light would come on (P1450). Also had vibration from fuel tank and/or fuel cap. Ford dealer said has to due with evaporator purge valve. Said has seen this on 'lots of Escapes from 2013-2014'. this needs to be a recall. My car stalled while driving on the highway with no symptoms beforehand.
2013 Ford Escape sel 08/12 stalling problems. Stalled 4 times on a busy state highway. Hesitated to restart then would stall out again. This has been going on for months. Calling Ford dealer tomorrow to see if it's civered under recall due to being bought used from a dealer
The fuel feed hose cracked. My mechanic told me there was a recall for that, but just not my VIN. I wanted.to report that I had the same problem. And see if I could get reimbursed. It wad a vad car day. Started with the fuel smell, dead battery, to my brakes going out!!@ the cist for repairs are $263.05. Thankx.
My 2013 Ford Escape titantum not giving me the rite reading when I put gas in it, each time my car up with gas it give me a different reading on the dashboard. It would 206 on full and next time I full it give a reading on 214 and my I put half tunk of it would give me a reading of 210 and when I empty it agian and full back the tunk it give me a reading of 234 so I take it back to the Ford dealer and they tell me they don't see anything wrong with it even though I show them the picture that I take on my fone
My 2013 Ford Escape has demonstrated the same problems with the fuel injector (specifically the canister purge valve solenoid) that was part of last fall's Focus recall. I had a problem last fall with my car whining, rocking when in stop and go traffic, smelling like burned fuel, and eventually stalling out entirely. Last year the car stalled out multiple times initially while stationary, and eventually while in motion. Experience was difficult to reproduce as it was sporadic and not consistent. We replaced the canister purge valve last year which resolved the problem, except the replacement part has now failed again a year later while I was sitting in busy rush hour traffic. My car started whining and rocking this morning while I was a stop, turned off the engine, and then I was unable to restart the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes (battery would engage, engine would attempt to turn but wouldn't catch). Eventually I was able to start my engine and drive home safely. However I refuse to drive this vehicle again until the part is once again replaced.
My Escape shakes, misses and stalls intermittently. As I am braking in traffic it starts shaking, then stalls. It also stalls when I change gears, I.e. I am in R then go into D. this has been so dangerous! I get stuck in the line of oncoming traffic again and again. Traffic backs up behind me when I stall and it gets scary! my sons(both mechanics) believe it is the vacuum/ evaporator system. I took it to the Ford garage and after driving it for 10 minutes and pulling it in the garage they told me it would be a $1989 repair I will send you their invoice. There is nothing wrong with the car other than this issue...no check engine light has ever come on. I am the 2nd owner, and have not put 40000miles on it since I bought it. It had 42000 on it when I bought it in 2014. I have read many reports of 2013-2014 Escapes having this same issue and owners pleading for an extended VIN recall. I join in that plea!!!! I cannot afford a repair at this cost and I can't afford a new car. Please Ford help with this dangerous default. My sons won't allow my grandchildren to ride in my car with me and I fear for their safety also.🙁
Driving down the freeway, started to accelerate in sport mode, heard something pop. Sounded like the clutch slipped or a belt broke. Lost most acceleration. Got off freeway to take side streets home. Had a lot of trouble accelerating up hill. Would accelerate but very slowly. Not on pace with gears. Was shifting weird. Both in D and S. took me about 4 blocks to get from 0 to 25mph.
I have a 2013 Ford Escape 1.6L ecoboost that stalls regularly while driving. Yesterday it stalled 5 times while my wife was driving. It also will not start after getting fuel. It takes several minutes of sitting and cranking the engine to start. Doesn't matter if you put in 1 gallon or 12 gallons it doesn't start right away. I entered the VIN# into the recall database and it only showed two recalls outstanding. Both were unrelated to mechanical issues. Very unsafe vehicle and will be difficult to trade in since it stalls all the time.
My 2013 Ford Escape SE 1.6L caught fire in motion due to a fuel leak on a city street. Brakes failed and emergency brake was used to stop and get out as smoke and flames came through the vents.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sikeston, MO, USA