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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:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,667 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.

2013 Ford Escape transmission problems

transmission problem

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2013 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #3

Jun 282022

Escape 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on separate occasions while his granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that while he was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact then stated that he was able to turn off and restart the vehicle. The service transmission light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the fluid was darker than normal and needed to be flushed and refilled. The transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The vehicle was then taken to another transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that vehicles were not being taken in until parts were available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

- Brighton, MI, USA

problem #2

Sep 072022

Escape

  • miles
The 6F35 transmission that are in the Ford Escapes are the worse transmission Ford has ever made and I have a 2013 Ford Escape and also work at a automobile repair shop and there are at least 3 or 4 Escapes that are brought us a day including mine that have to have the transmissions replaced. I have always been a Ford woman but I will never purchase another Ford after all the problems I have had with this Escape and the transmission which went out on me with no warning and pulled off from a stop sign and it would not accelerate and almost go hit by two cars because I couldn't move. I have had to replace my transmission and has only 12,000 miles on it and I think Ford needs to do something about all the Ford Escape owners and the 6F35 junk transmissions.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #1

Aug 122021

Escape

  • miles
The transmission went out of gear and wouldn't stay in the correct gear. I had the vehicle towed to Fuller Ford on W 8th Street in Cincinnati Ohio. They said the entire transmission had to be replaced and that there wasn't a recall affecting my VIN number. I paid to have it repaired. Eight months later, there was an electrical fire under the hood and the vehicle was towed to Rocky Top Ford in Tennessee. I feel both of these issues should have been covered by recalls.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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