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.
Rear passenger door latch failure (recall); front driver wheel bearing failure wheel locked up while driving (2X) reverse camera image, sputtering, stalling, electrical failure after re-fueling ecoboost engine
Ford Escape 2013 was idoling at bank drive threw was in park put in drive roughly less then 10mins idoling push the gas and Ford Escape gallop 3-4 times dies put in park turn key start up throw in drive push gas car feels sluggish still in bank parking lot heading to main busy heavy flow of cars Ford Escape again gallop dies do the same restart back up not an issue car has no momentum trouble shifting gears got to a near by family house to let the car rest since it gave me no indication prior to the malfunctioning 3nd time Ford Escape was idoling at a fast food drive threw there was more then 6 cars ahead of me hot summer afternoon lunch time idoling radio off no A/C running in line longer then. A typical food line wait period the symptoms happened when I reached the order microphone dies then I restarted get to window dies 2 times before I can safely pull away
Vehicle drove about 8 hours straight, then showed a message stating 'engine fault: Service now' without any codes or other lights such as the check engine light. The vehicle has not shown any other issue, and the message will disappear and reappear every time you turn off/start the vehicle. Also, vehicle leaks coolant horribly. I've had this fixed twice and the plug will dislodge itself and leak more coolant. I've probably put over 30 gallons of coolant in total in the past 3 years.
I purchased the car from classic Ford in galveston tx. In 2018. I received a recall in the mail two days ago. The recall said that the door handles might come off without warning. Since the time I have had the the car a light came on and I can not get it inspected. My mechanic told me that the cooling system was leaking. The car chugged out and stopped running, this happened inside city limits
- Galveston, TX, USA
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Vehicle was parked on a slight incline and engine was off. Parking brake was engaged. I opened the passenger door to get my bag out and reached over to remove my keys from the ignition. My arm bumped the gear shift and the car began to roll backwards. I tried to move it back in park because my 18 month old daughter was in the back seat (in her car seat) but I couldn't move the shifter and the tire ran over the right side of my body. The car ran into a tree and bent the passenger door open to the front fender. We moved the car back to the driveway and recreated the event. The shifter moves easily out of park without needing to engage the button; even with the emergency brake engaged.
Vehicle stalled on highway due to overheating which was a coolant leak. I see they are already investigating similar complaints. Driver's seat has tears in it. Engine was replaced at 107,000 miles. Vehicle jerks while trying to park on a hill. Touch screen goes in and out. Trunk latch only works when it wants to. Rear differential failed at 121,000 miles, but has been making noise since 107,000 miles. This vehicle is nothing but problems!
The vehicle has had ongoing issues with significant hesitation when attempting to accelerate, coolant needing replenishment on a regular (every 3-4 months) basis, vehicle stalling and shutting down sporadically, vehicle overheating, doors randomly popping open and needing to be held shut by my children until I can safely pull over. Most recently and just this morning on 6/18/20, the vehicle stalled on the highway during rush hour while driving to work. The dashboard indicated that there are now transmission issues. I used my aaa membership to have the car towed to colonial Ford in Plymouth, MA after standing within feet of speeding traffic while waiting. The car potentially lethally just stopped. It is now being "diagnosed" by colonial Ford. Much previously, I brought the car to jannell Ford in hanover, MA to inquire about these issues when the mileage was still reasonably low. The service manager of that branch lied to me. He informed me there were never recalls pertaining to my vehicle ever. In the last 48 hours, I have discovered there were in fact recalls for the exact issues described above. Issues that were never properly repaired when the former owner of the vehicle brought it to their particular dealership to address. I brought the vehicle to sullivan tire yesterday on 6/17/20 when the A/C stopped blowing cold air. They informed me they could not recharge the A/C because they received an engine code of P2637 which I have documented from them. This code specifically relates to recall 13S12 (coolant bypass valves). It does not matter that I pointed this out to Ford customer service even though a total cut and dry issue relating specifically to the year, make, model of my vehicle. They will not cover the expenses of repairs. Ford has basically said in so many words "we know this is an unsafe death trap, but it's too late and you and your children out of luck!"
My car running hot day I got it noone answers my calls I put a thermostat in it an at times it still runs hot. 06/15/2020 my drive shifter stranded me.
Car was in parked. When I put the car in gear, it got stuck in reverse and the car cut out and would not start. Tow truck came to assist and told me that this issue was a recall on Ford cars. I called lexington park dealership to verify and was told that this recall didn't apply to my VIN. Not sure why, if the recall specifically states 2013 and 2014 Ford Escapes which I have. If I am having the same issue as the recall, why am I not covered.
I have a coolant leak somewhere with my car. I have brought the issue up multiple times with Ford and the issue has not been fixed. Now, after 2 years of dealing with it, I have white smoke coming out of my exhaust when I start up my vehicle. Indicating that coolant is leaking into my engine, which can cause a fire.
My water pump suddenly died. No warning. I went from low on heating fluid to over heating in about a minute. I keep my car up to date on all services without fail. This is much sooner than it should fail. Plus the fact that Ford charges 4 times more than other cars.
While driving in the left lane on the freeway, my car just lost power. We had just hit the tail end of rush hour just South of portland, or (heading South to a funeral) so traffic was flowing pretty good but not good enough for cruise control. I was going about 65-70 mph when all of a sudden my car stop accelerating and started coasting. My tachometer went all the way up to the red since my foot was still on the gas. I immediately hit my hazards and merged to the next off ramp. I never had any indicator lights come on saying that I needed to check my fluids but we found a way to check the transmission fluid which was fine, let the car rest then started it back up. Car was fine after that but we still turned around and headed back home to Washington. Did not have an issue the whole ride back home. Sporadically my car will have issues but can't figure out the reason for it.
Car turns off while driving. Mechanic finally pulled up forced engine shutdown and had no idea what it meant, so I took it to Ford. They cant duplicate the issue they dont know how to fix it. I have no lights on. I am literally afraid for my life. Ford still has my car hoping to duplicate the issue. Ford headquarters are barely helpful. Provided me with a case number and that's all. No indication the car would turn off. Happened 3 times in 2 week span. In and out of the shop I am too scared to take it out this time. Last time I was on the highway with my children. It starts back up again when I press the start engine button but I have to react quick enough in order to dave my life. Not safe!
My 2013 Ford Escape requires a complete upgrade of the egr system due to coolant leaks. Ford Escapes build at the louisville plant already have a recall in place for this issue - recall #17S09. My vehicle's VIN number verifies, per Ford, that my vehicle was build in December 2012 at the louisville plant; however, the recall was initiated for vehicles built beginning in February 2013. My vehicle is experiencing the same issues as the recall and was built at the same plant so I am requesting that the recall date be moved back to include 2012 Ford Escapes.
While driving my car they were two warning lights they came on the ABS sensor and the hill side assists. When this comes on is the car all the electrical stuff cuts off the speedometer nothings works in the car the steering will get stiff and it will drive for a while then it reset it self I've noticed where it is gone at least ten minutes before it resets its self this makes me very nervous and uncomfortable because I'm not sure what speed I am going or what's going on with the car anything what's going on with the car my car was in the shop from Dec 27 until Jan and the same thing happens this is my one way to get around can someone please help me. This happens when I am drive on the highway or around town I know it cannot be safe.I was told by five star Ford that the issue was fix and it is not.
I brought this 2013 Ford Escape truck in August 21st 2018 it had 77095 miles when it was under warranty still after we brought the truck the engine light came on in the beginning of September 3, 2018 I went up there to don davis Nissan when this truck was still under warranty and told don davis Nissan that the engine light on there was on they told me that I had to pay for it out of my pocket and I told them why should me and my day pay for something and the truck was under the warranty still they refuse to fix it I being calling them numerous of times from September 3, 2018 and 2019 about this truck and it was still under warranty at that time so around October 28, 2019 I was leaving from the library doing my homework and I have not eaten anything that day so I went to get me something to before I went home as I was driving I heard the belt broken off as I was driving I was almost in a accident when the cars were driving down the street so I pull over on a street I didn't have enough money for a tow truck so I slept in my truck which was October 27, 2019 until the next day which was October 28 2019 a good samaritan help push my truck to don davis Dodge so the people at don davis Dodge told me it was about 450 to fix my truck which means that I had to use my truck note money to get that fix so around in November I brought a sensor that goes on their which was causing my truck to leak oil which they didn't not replace the first time when I brought this truck in August 20, 2018 when I told them about this problem the first time and they refuse to fix it so I brought the sensor last month and put it on their so this year of January 7th 2020 I am on my way home and I hear the same response of the belt broken off again after I replaced the belt and the sensor now it is leaking oil again and I been complaining to don davis Nissan numerous of times about this truck
Stalls after starting... the car will start just fine but a few seconds or minutes later will stall once I am already on the road. Also if sitting with out running for a while car will stall and turn off. In traffic this is also an issue, freeway closed one time and had to sit in standing traffic in hwy and car just turned off. Several times when pulling out of driveway or the scariest part a shooing strip parking lot onto a busy feeder road the car will stall and turn off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Phoenix, AZ, USA