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:
3 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,855 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.
Car had problems shifting. Transfer case was replaced. After about 3 months, the car had problems shifting again. A transmission failure warning came on the screen and the car wouldn't shift. The shifting problem occurred coming out of park and then between 2 and 3 gear. Then, the transmission would not past 3rd or 4th gear. The transmission failure warning came on while the car was in motion on the highway while going 50mph. I was approximately 20 miles from home and almost didn't make it.
Temperature sensor was replaced and the issue is occurring now again. The engine shuts off and the car turns off no matter what speed you are going or where you are. The dealership is requiring a new engine or cylinder head
Cpsc: We were called to a vehicle fire of a 2013 Ford Escape SE. Car had been driven for 4 hours and had been sitting in a parking lot for about 2 and the left rear lower tail light area burned.
When I first purchased the Escape the trunk handle fell off into my hand, it was replaced. The passenger door opener handle apparently is wrappend in silver plastic, that cut a passenger, I have spent years asking them to replace it, they finally did last month, of course now out of warranty so I had to pay for it. I have had a recurring issue with my rear passenger door interior panel separating from the metal exterior panel, rendering the door useless. My 7 year old daughter cannot get into or out of the vehicle on her side. The clips have been replaced 3 times at the dealership and they are suggesting replacing the interior because it is "warped" how does a garaged vehicle's interior become "warped" to an extent where the clips cannot hold the part in place and repeatedly snap? the clips are plastic and similar to the interior of this model plastic is wearable, and Ford should be replacing this item, not me. I had a 2001 Explorer for 14 years that I never had issues with, primarily because it wasn't constructed with plastic.this is a serious saftey issue and my child should not be trapped in a vehicle. I have also had a recurring issue with the front suspension, the shocks were replaced and the matter has gotten worse. This issue took place after the tire was replaced becuase of a nail puncture. I am responding to the dealership today 10/16/2018 to see what they are going to do about this problem, that I did not create and have atempted to have repaired since July 2018. When the car is in motion the passenger side simply seems as if it going to fall off, a loud clanking sound and the stability is then off after the vehicle goes over anything, man hole overs small fissures in the ground or large bumps. This can't be safe and it needs to be fixed.
- Columbia, MD, USA
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Random stalling when car is warm. Once it has been turned off for an hour or more, it will work but a little heistant. Check engine light comes on when car has been turned on and off too many times within in an hour (about 6 times). Check engine light will not stay on, it eventually goes off. Left pet store, stopped at a stop sign to cross over an intersection and when it was my turn to go car stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. Was able to get the car to drift across the other half of the intersection out of the way of traffic before car stopped completely. Car started back up but was hesitant to start. Stalled a couple of more times until I got home (about 2 blocks from intersection).
Hose clamp rubbed hole in ac line was repaired at dealership and is doing it again. Car is leaking coolant after being tested at dealership car keeps leaking coolant have to keep putting coolant in car every other day no leak is being seem recalls have been done for this issue but my car was not included. I was driving the car then the car started to shake and said low coolant then the car just died in the middle or the road 4 days after getting car tested and coolant added to the car. One of the hose clams rubbed a hole in this ac line than I started having coolant problems replaced ac line at dealership for it to be rubbing hole in line again. Car is currently at dealership again.
My air conditioning turns from cold & then instantly to warm. The blower is still on but not as strong when it turns warm. If engine is turned off and then back on the air comes on cold. Speed does not seem to be a factor for it happens at different times, in town driving speeds and also on the highway/freeway at different speeds. The fastest I go is 80 on the highway. I drive 110 miles from las vegas to mesquite, nv each week and have to stop at least 3-4 times to turn off the engine off & turn it right back so the cold comes back on. This is a safety hazard for I live in the desert and drive from las vegas, nv 110 miles across the desert each week. I did take it into Ford and they charged me $240 dollars to diagnose the ac but could not duplicate & find the problem. They still charged me. System pressure at 30/160. Another mechanic, who used to work for Ford told me Ford knows about the problem, has hundreds of complaints about the same situation. I am afraid every time I drive the car, especially when it is 100 + degrees out. The problem has persisted starting in may when it turned warm here in the las vegas area and I starting using the air conditioner.
On wed August 22nd, 2018, I was running errands. I left a store, entered my 2013 Ford Escape titanium, and began to slowly back out of my parking space. After backing out of the space, I put the shifter into D and began to try to drive forward, but my vehicle instead continued to roll backwards. I immediately pressed my brake pedal, which stopped it from rolling backwards, and put the shifter into P. though my vehicle showed that it was in park, it continued to roll backwards if I took my foot off the brake. I was able to reverse my car down the parking lot and back into a parking space at the end of the lot. All the while, my 2013 Escape showed that it was in park. I turned my vehicle off, but had to engage the emergency brake to ensure that it would not continue rolling backwards. When I tried to turn the vehicle back on a minute later, I was not able to push the brake pedal down. It became locked, and I couldn't turn the engine on, shift, or do anything except turn press the ignition button to turn on/off the radio/ac/lights/electrical, etc. (during this whole time, there was never any warning lights lit or any indication at all that a problem was about to occur or currently occuring.) I had it towed to the nearest Ford dealership, where they confirmed that it was the shifter assembly/cable that broke, which is the exact issue in the recall Ford issued on over 500,000 2013 Ford Escapes in July 2018. However, despite my vehicle having the exact mechanical failure as described in the recall notice, I was told by Ford when I contacted the manufacturer directly, that my vehicle was assembled at a plant that has not been added to the recall. Obviously this issue is more vast and widespread than Ford is willing to admit. Because my Escape is from a factory that hasn't been added to the recall yet, Ford refuses to cover the cost of repairs. This is incredibly frustrating.
The passenger side door does not shut flush to the door frame. I discovered this when I was washing my car. Below you asked when did this happen" nothing happened this is just the way the is. I always thought the window was not shutting completely because when you sit in the passenger you can hear a whistle. There was a recall on the door. Maybe it didn't work"
In May 2018 I was driving my 2013 Ford Escape, pulled out of a parking spot once the vehicle corrected to pull away I attempted to put the vehicle into drive and the gear shift would not move however the gear shift was reading the vehicle in park. Due to reading I was in park I believed it safe to shut off the vehicle and attempt to restart it however it was not in correct gear and would not start. I believing the vehicle was in park, shut the vehicle off and quickly realized I did not have any control any longer, and to prevent an almost accident when the vehicle began rolling down a steep hill in southern middle tn and as I one this was done, I pulled the emergency brake before colliding with another car and my vehicle had to be towed. It was when it was at the mechanics that it was discovered the shift cable bushings needed to be replaced. I saw in late June 18 or early July 18 that their was numerous recalls for this same exact thing that happened to my vehicle however my VIN is not part of that.
My vehicle was going 45 mph in motion down the highway and the check engine light came on. About 4 miles down the road my car flashed the "engine overheating" signed and within 5 seconds the car came to a stop and stall in limp mode. This is not safe especially since I was on a highway, and where I live there are highways every where that take me where I need to be. Took to Ford dealer a mile or so down the road, and they tested it for everything and they sent me on my way with no work done, just conducted a road test after resetting the codes and light did not come back on. About 15 miles later, the car did the exact same thing again on the same highway, going 45, check engine light came on and the car went into limp mode again. Took to the Ford dealer next day and told me that the standpipe is malfunctioning causing the overheating in the engine cooling system. But, fixing this piece does not fix the problem. My car was fixed for this same issue in 2014, by the 13S12. And yet, this issue is happening again. I do have the 2013 Ford Escape with the 1.6L engine that has frequently dealt with this problem. Driving this car is very unsafe due to the car abruptly stopping if this problem happens, the car stalls and can easily overheat. As the dealer has only suggested installing a new coolant level sensor (standpipe) with new hardware and software, we see that this problem has not worked in previous 2013 Ford Escapes. Having this car on the road is a safety hazzards. With over 3 pages of my Ford Escape alone with factory recalls, this car should not be allowed on the road. I hope this gets fixed, or at least a recall for this car or an investigation is put in action. This car is not safe in any terms or conditions and I do not want this causing any potential fatalities.
Car randomly shuts off has shut off 3 times since getting it back from dealer... car was parked for 4 hours after starting the car and waiting for the RPM to drop when I put it in drive and accelerated the engine shut off power was still on. The second time the engine shut off car was idling for 10 mins after a 25 min srive from work whwn I drove off made a turn a block away engine shut off had hit hazards throw gear into neutral roling to a safe distance from corner yo stop. The last time this happen car was not idle after driving several blocks after a rolling stop sign my csr shut offf in the middle dfle off intersection. Car has said to be fixed by dealership but its not aur bag light stays went off after taking it in but is now lit afain
I came to a stop at a stop sign in my subdivision, and my car stalled out. I thought the problem was the battery so I tried to restart, but it failed. I smelled gas so I got out of the car and started seeing smoke under the hood. The smoke got worse quickly and caught fire within 2 minutes. The front of the car was engulfed in flames shortly after, for roughly five minutes, and it was eventually totaled.
2013 Ford Escape SE bought 3/29/17at the time the 12V DC power outlet, aux port & usb port did not work. 4/22/2018 the vehicle stopped on the pa turnpike immediately after I received a warning 'high engine temperature, please stop vehicle safely'. service appointment for 4/25/18 & was informed that there was a recall on the engine coolant bypass symptoms, issues with the water pump & 2-3 other issues that were all covered under Ford recalls &Ford wexford would fix it on 4/30/18. 5/4/18 informed that they had not been able to contact Ford wexford for an update. I contacted Ford wexford & was informed that they did not have a 2013 Ford Escape to repair. I received a call back informing me that Ford wexford was unaware that the SUV was at their lot since 4/30/18 & they would not be able to service it until the following week. 5/10/17 I picked up the SUV and within 24 hours started having additional problems/signals including the service engine, seatbelt, battery, brakes, hill assist not available, high engine temperature stop safely and the speedometer not functioning. I contacted jd byrider was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that it could possibly be the battery, starter or alternator. I was told to take it to auto zone to have a computer diagnostic. I returned the vehicle 5/17 & was informed that the vehicle would have to go back to Ford wexford. I spoke with andy at Ford wexford and he informed me that the SUV had a wiring issues they weren't able to fix, that the SUV would need a new computer system and that this would be 1-2 weeks. I was also told they had a call out to Ford co. To discuss their concerns. On 5/31/18 I received a call informing me that the SUV needed a new computer system, that it was not covered under my warranty and that the cost would be $1100.
Engine overheating. On May 14, 2018 at approximately 71102 miles, my vehicle was diagnosed as "overheating" due to water pump failure. The water pump failed because 2 out of 4 bolts were not there. This resulted in the pulley bending and several other issues. It was the first and only warning of such a problem. I have owned the car for less than 1 year (purchased used). I was also informed that the front axle requires replacing (clicking noise). Researching this problem, I found that several other 2013 Ford Escape had similar issues. My question is how Ford got away with only being responsible for repairs on less than 7000 vehicles.
The car will randomly stall and die while driving. This has happened multiple times. It can be after reversing and pulling forward, or while at a stop light and start moving from a complete stop. I have taken the car to 2 dealerships and neither of them can find out what is wrong or how to fix it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marshall, VA, USA