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 / 10
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,663 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.
Major problem with Ford vehicles spontaneously shattering lift gate glass. 2013 Escape's rear glass spontaneously shattered two times in 10 days. In both incidents the car was stationary. The first time the car was in freezing temps, warming up w/defrost on. The second time the car was in freezing temps but not started.
My car runs fine when I start it after it has been sitting for a while. If I make a stop and turn my car off, and then restart it within a few minutes, it begins to stall as I am driving. When this happens, I have to shut my car off and restart it. Most times I have to restart it 3 to 4 times before it stops stalling. This is unsafe because I am typically in traffic when it stalls. So I have to stop wherever my car stalls in order to restart it. This normally happens on city streets.
My car has had a total of 12 recalls. In the last 3 months I have had the car to wilson Ford four times for the same problem. The first time it happened, I was on the interstate going to work. The car stuttered, acting like it wasn't getting any gas and wanted to stall. I was afraid I was going to get hit from behind. The car would only go about 30-40 miles an hour. Wilson Ford said they replaced a map sensor. I drove the car for about a week. The same problem occurred. Wilson's told me the sensor was bad. The same problem again. They then said they had to reset the computer and fix a fractured wire. My husband was driving the car last Thursday. My grandson was a passenger. This problem again occurred. This is a safety issue. I have complained to the dealership and also Ford company without any satisfaction. This problem occurs when the car is in motion. I filed a complaint with the NHTSA on Sept 28 via telephone. I spoke with amy around 7pm. I gave her all my info. We were cut off by her line. I'm not sure all info was recorded. I have also contacted the wv state attorneys office. My car is still at wilson Ford. I have not heard from them.
The latch on the rear driver's side door broke. I did not slam it or even shut is hard. I was able to bungie the door closed and got it to the dealer to fix the problem. I went to pick up the vehicle after the work was complete and when they went to get it they said the driver's side door would not shut. The attendant who went to get it said the door was open slightly when he got in. So I had two latches break within a matter of hours, and I still don't have the vehicle with me. I came home and saw that there were recalls on some of Ford's other models. This is concerning because it seems as though these latches break for no reason and at random times. I have a young daughter and now it will be in the back of my mind will another latch break when she is in the vehicle, or will my wife or I have to worry about falling out of the vehicle while driving. Ford has recalled latches on other vehicles and from the pictures I have seen look almost identical to the the ones that broke on ours.
My 2013 Ford Escape rear passenger door latch, the part which catches the metal bar which is connected to the vehicle, does not close and securely shut the passenger door. It will remain open and open up if I make a left hand turn. The latch mechanism is malfunctioning and does not keep the rear door closed.
- Phoenix , AZ, USA
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Door latch broke twice while car was parked. Both times I was shopping and came out to find door latch popped open. First time was 04/17/2014, rear drivers side and second time was 03/28/15, driver side door. When this happens you can not close the door or latch it in anyway. I had to find rope and bungy cords to try to secure it shut. I was transporting my grandchildren at the time, one preschooler and one infant. This is a very dangerous situation. After 2nd latch broke I talked with a Ford car salesman who informed me that they have had many problems with the door latches.he informed me that they have been recalled on certain Ford vehicles.this is a serious safety hazard! children could have been killed if door suddenly swung open while driving, especially if you turn a corner and have no control of the back door.
The back left rear door opened while driving highway, with my 9 year old daughter in the back seat. Thanks god no one get hurt. But it was a very traumatic moment for us. Then when I visit the dealer Ford mayaguez puerto rico they said that I must pay for replacements of latches. I look for the safety recalls of my vehicle Ford Escape 2013 and it was the safety recall #NHTSA campaign number 13V-085 latches/lock/linkages. The dealer said that my unit by VIN # was not included in the recall. I have a concern, it happen to my unit and there are a lot of Ford Escape vehicles affected, it could be worst, I ask for your help in this matter. Is not fair that my 2013 Ford Escape is not included in the recall when that problem happen to it, thank you in advance. I can not use it if I have to park it because the door doesn't close. Help me please.
99% of the time I put my foot from the gas to the brake, my foot ends up under the brake pedal on the undercorner before I make a quick adjustment to get my foot on top of the brake where it belongs. This happens everyday since I got the vehicle. You can actually see where there is a worn spot under the brake pedal and on the very most right side of it. I curse it every single time, every single day. One of these days I can see it coming. I would say that this has been a problem since the vehicle was built.
The driver side rear door would not close, after bringing the vehicle to Ford margate they diagnosed that the latch on the back door was broken and needed to be replaced. I was informed that this had happened on other Ford vehicles and was on recall for several other vehicles types but not yet for the Ford Escape 2013. I was told to keep my receipt so if this does become a recall I will be reimbursed. The dealership was certain since it had happened on multiple other vehicles it would only be a matter of time until it became a recall on the Ford Escape. I am grateful this happened when the car was in park and that the latch didn't brake while the car was in motion becoming a severe endangerment for myself, family and others.
I was traveling down the freeway and suddenly my rear passenger tire blew out. When the tire was changed by aaa, I noticed the inner sidewall of the tire was blown out. All of the years that I have been driving, I have never seen a hole blown out in a tire like I have with this one. I decided to do some research and I've noticed that there are several instances of this happening. I believe there is a serious issue with these tires and I believe some action should be taken against this company; it is worth an inspection anyway. I will be contacting the Continental tire company myself to voice my concern. I've driven many vehicles and I have not had tires fail so soon, especially being mostly highway miles.
My husband set out to change and rotate my tires this afternoon. After verifying the arrows on my car for placement of the jack, and checking with my car manual, he went to work. While he was removing the back passenger tire, after jacking the car, I discerned car movement. I was barely able to warn my husband before the defective Ford Escape jack bent and cracked, causing the vehicle to come down hard on the ground. My husband's hands were almost pinned beneath the car and I am livid. This was extremely frightening to us both! he could have been seriously injured. The Ford Escape 2013 has been no picnic, with the several recalls since 2012, one occurring immediately after we purchased with vehicle from the dealership in 11/17/12. We lost the car for about a month, while they kept it at the dealership, until the parts had arrived that were needed for the repair. This is the final straw. We are going to trade in this potentially disastrous vehicle, before someone in our family does get injured. It has been (seemingly) one recall after another, too. Now, there is a recall for my car regarding the back passenger doors apparently opening while the vehicle is moving and could prove deadly for children, if improperly harnessed. We have 2 children, boy, 9 and girl, 5. that is not another risk I am willing to take either. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to express this experience. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
When starting, car shows "engine fault, service now" light. Took to dealership three times, has not been resolved. Recently, when braking for a stop light, engine fault reappeared and lost all power to the transmission. Huge safety issue.
Twice the passenger interior door frames have separated from the door and became caught on items inside the vehicle such as the seat etc. This causes the door to become stuck and unable to open. Both times it took we well over 30 minutes to dislodge the frame and reattach to the frame to be able to open the door. Both times, the vehicle had been just parked and I was trying to retrieve my infant daughter from the back seat. I fear that if I had been in an accident I would not be able to safely retrieve my daughter from the vehicle. If this occurs with no impact, what would happen in case of an impact" would all 4 doors become lodged"
When the start button of the vehicle is pressed, the instrument cluster and synch panel of the vehicle will energize but the starter motor will neither turn over nor engage. This problem is intermittent and has neither been reproduced nor correctly diagnosed at a Ford dealer service department. No errors codes have ever been recovered from the vehicle immediately following the malfunction when a Ford mechanic has searched the system. The vehicle has been returned to the dealership multiple times with none of the attempts to correct the problem being successful.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Livonia, MI, USA