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.
9.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,560
Average Mileage:
64,950 miles
Total Complaints:
26 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (13 reports)
replace steering rack (7 reports)
restart car (3 reports)
replace power steering rack and pinion (2 reports)
2013 Ford Escape lost power steering twice on 9/12/16 with the "Steering Assist Fault" message in the middle of driving. 1st time happened 2 minutes after start while turning out of the driveway. 2nd one happened 10 minutes after start while driving. If this happens during driving it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! You lose control of the vehicle. My wife would have crashed for sure. They say it has a manual reversion to drive without power steering but it is not the same. I have driven cars without power steering and this is way harder.
The rack and pinion had problems and was replaced on 8/5/15 at 23972 miles. It has gone out again on 9/12/16 at 38000 miles. Now ford is sayings it not covered under warranty even thought this is clearly a faulty system to have gone out twice in less than 3 years and 38000 miles. This is a safety issue for sure and I have no doubt will lead to a recall or lawsuit.
I bought this car new on 6/16/2013. I've had it for 2 year 4 months and 10 days when this happened. I started the car and the steering assist alert can you and I couldn't turn the wheel at all. I shut the car off and waited a few minutes to restart. Once I restarted the car the alert did not appear but the wheel still would not turn (electric steering at its best). After a few more minutes of sitting idle I was able to turn the wheel.
I called the dealership and they got me in right away. I was told that the steering rack needed replaced on my 2 year 4 months and 10 day old car. I asked why I should have to pay for this and it was because I was over my 36K limit. I was only charged $100 because after all the recall issues Ford sent a letter with 3 options for all my and everyone else's issues last year. I was smart and chose the extended warranty and I hope everyone else did as well. I was given Ford's number 800-392-3673 (in case you need it) to call. A very nice lady answered and I voiced my issues to her. I was told that a case would be opened in my name and everything was noted in the account. I asked what will be done or if anyone would call me back? I was told that I may receive a letter in the mail. I told her to add if this happened while I was driving or worse my teenage son was that I would sue the sh*t out of Ford. I'm waiting for the response which I doubt I'll get.
I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. WORST CAR I EVER OWNED. I you own an Escape please watch for this very dangerous issue.
I have lost power steering in my Escape a couple of times. I had to refer to the manual to see if it was mentioned in it, and it was!! I did as it said to "restart" my vehicle. The power steering returned. Thankfully this has not happened "while" I am driving down the street/road.
Buy 2013 Escape new body style thinking "newer is better" than 2012 and back. What a terrible mistake. I've never had this new a model power steering lock like this. No one can drive with this problem. Ford is having a lot of problems with this, but guess what- no recall. Why is Ford sticking so many customers with so many cars giving major problems. Ford needs to recall this before people get killed. Just wait till somebody gets killed and Ford will get their butts sued off. That's whats going to happen.
After traveling on a 5 hour round trip at an average speed of 75 mph, I was but 15 miles from home. I pulled into a fuel station and fueled up. Started the vehicle and proceeded to pull away from the island and had NO POWER STEERING!!! Just like that it shut down. After restarting the engine several times I finally received the message....steering assist fault....I had 3 grand children with me and I know it was in God's hands that it shut down when it did. If I had been at a rate of 75 mph and all of a sudden NO STEERING.....I cringe at the thought of 'what if'. No warning of any kind? I have always been a Ford customer and this is not good....not good at all. I purchased the vehicle 2013 model in March of 2015 and only have 47,000 miles on it. I was so proud to be driving the nicest vehicle I have ever bought. Ford needs to step up and address this problem before there is a serious accident with injuries or death involved.
- darlenems,
Richton, MS, US
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While driving at 70mph on the highway the "Power Assist Failure" message popped up on dash message center. At the same time the power steering completely failed just as it needed to exit the highway. The vehicle steering performance was substantially degraded at highway speeds. As I came to a stop at the end of the exit ramp and turned the car off and then on again hoping this situation would clear, it remained. Fortunately I was only a mile from home at this point and was able to make it home using sheer brute force to steer at this point. Had this happened while my daughter or another less experienced driver was behind the wheel this could have turned tragic very quickly.
The fact that Ford has number recalls for this type of situation with the previous model of this vehicle leads me to believe this needs to be taken care of for this 2013 model as well. Clearly Ford needs to address the technology they are using for their Electronic Power Assisted Steering as this seems to be a recurrent theme with their SUVs for several years running now.
Next time the driver may not be so lucky... betting the first person that dies from this will cost a heck of a lot more for Ford than recalling this clear defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2013 Ford Escape lost power steering twice on 9/12/16 with the "Steering Assist Fault" message in the middle of driving. 1st time happened 2 minutes after start while turning out of the driveway. 2nd one happened 10 minutes after start while driving. If this happens during driving it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! You lose control of the vehicle. My wife would have crashed for sure. They say it has a manual reversion to drive without power steering but it is not the same. I have driven cars without power steering and this is way harder.
The rack and pinion had problems and was replaced on 8/5/15 at 23972 miles. It has gone out again on 9/12/16 at 38000 miles. Now ford is sayings it not covered under warranty even thought this is clearly a faulty system to have gone out twice in less than 3 years and 38000 miles. This is a safety issue for sure and I have no doubt will lead to a recall or lawsuit.
- Chris S., Chicago, IL, US