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 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,198 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.
I have a 2013 Ford Escape SE, 1.6 L and recently it will act like it is not in gear when driving, the engine will not reve up, nothing happens when pressing gas pedal. On occasion she said the battery light and oil light would come on when it does this. She turns off ignition, restart and is fine till next time. Becoming more frequent. Happens at all speeds.
I have only had this vehicle 2 days and it stalls on me. Slowing down coming to red light car stalls. Happened 3 times in 2 days. No lights on the dashboard or anything. I am deathly afraid to drive it now totally unsafe!
There is a slow antifreeze leak. Every two days, antifreeze has to be added but the leak is not visible. Also, upon starting the car, shifting into drive and attempting to accelerate; the car will get bogged down right before 20 miles per hour and then stop unexpectedly. It does not completely use power but it does stall. There has been no explanation found for this and it is a daily occurrence.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 20 mph, the vehicle stalled but was restarted. The engine failure service now warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 15V8130000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,460.
- Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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It seems my Ford is experiencing symptoms similar to safety recall 14S17, but Ford has not told me my car is affected my this recall. It's been 2 weeks and my car is still not fixed my the local mechanic.
Every winter while driving my 2013 Ford Escape info screen displays "hill start assist not available and ABS icon flashes. The radio also goes off and on. I have taken it to two different dealerships to get this corrected and I am told they could not see any codes for this problem. In other words I am lying. I am sure by checking with others, I am not the only one with this problem. I hope that this can be resolved because I don't know if and when this will effect anything else.
Apparently battery being drained and car won't start in the morning. Several times in the past year. Had diagnostics done. Battery replaced N May 2020, alternator replaced in November 2020. Aaa road repair said battery, alternator & starter all working fine. Only 55,000 miles on 2013 Escape sel 4WD w/2.0L 14 gtdi ecoboost engine. Should have a parasitic draw test" wake up' issues" spoke to online technician today.12/27/2020
While driving this vehicle died after giving a high temperature warning & the engine came on. Once cooled it would not drive forward on in reverse. This vehicle is not safe to drive and has had multiple previous issues.
Warning came on stating engine was overheating and to pull over safely. After sitting for 3 days, tried to start the car again, with the same warning. The vehicle should not have been overheated at this time. Could not drive vehicle with this warning. Had to have it towed home.
Engine fault - service now light has come on at least once/year. When this happens the car hesitates and rides rough. I contact the Ford dealership immediately to have them fix the problem. The Ford dealership has worked on the car but the problem still exists. The warranty has expired. This has been an ongoing problem. Should I be responsible for repairs?
For the last 2 years our Escape will stall out while driving when the weather is cold but after the car has been in motion for more than 20 minutes, this has been terrifying with my child in the car we have almost been in several accidents due to the car just stalling out while driving in traffic, we have taken it to the dealer and other mechanics and nobody can figure it out we have repaired the turbo and catalytic converter among other various repairs that have cost us thousands of dollars and nothing has fixed this issue. This is a safety issue! I've almost been hit by a semi on the freeway because my car stalled out while driving it! it happened again today.
Frequently and usually right after I turn the car on, the ABS light will come on, the traction control light will come on, and then my car will stall. I can usually crawl into a parking space/off the side of the road. Occasionally the hill start assist light will come on and occasionally the 4WD disabled light will come on. The ABS and traction control have come on on the interstate and highways before, but they have only caused my car to stall (luckily) right after I turn it on and begin to move. The hill start assist will usually only come on if I come to a full stop while driving, whether I am on a hill or not. This happened once when we first got the car (4.5 years ago). It did not happen again until about 6 months ago. It now has started happening very frequently at multiple times a day for the past 2 weeks or so.
While driving the car has stalled several times. It also will leak coolant sometimes im able to see the puddle under the car parked but sometimes no puddle which means its leaking into the engine. The instrument cluster also will go haywire and shut down while driving the needles will fall to the bottom shoot to the top and it will have an engine warming and sometimes just shuts off all together even though the car is still mechanically on and running. There are several recalls that all cover these issues im having however my vehicle is not listed in the effected vehicles. These issues happen while driving in any capacity or parked. It has happened on the highway the freeway the side streets while parked while moving slowly. It has become an issue that im worried to deal with because I dont have the funds to fix the car but the car is so unsafe im afraid to drive it. I do have a video of the instrument panel messing up if its needed.
While driving on a back road with many curves.warning lights came on abruptly concerning power steering. Wheel locks was unable to do anything while on the road this was replaced in March 2020. Once again is has done the same things again while reversing from a parking space
I have had my car for a few years now and bought used from a dealership scott Ford. My car had low miles and it was in my budget, plus good on gas and from what I was told farley safe. This car has given me so many problems since purchasing it and has left me out of hundreds of dollars. My latest issue is a huge one and I believe that there should be a recall on this car after doing my research as so many other people have sadly had to deal with the same issue. I pick my young children up from a carline at their school, and one day when I was there my car started to rev up slightly then it stalled on me completely. I was able to get it started the second time with slight hesitation on the engines part. Long story short my car stalled on me a total of 5 times. The third time I was able to drive away from car line and parked across 3 parking spaces as it stalled on me again. I popped my hood and my engine seemed to be extremely hot, then I sat there with my 2 young children, thankfully on a decently nice day outside for a half hour. I was able to start it again and went to leave to head home, and just as I was about to get into the turning lane it stalled right across on coming traffic. I had to roll my windo down and motion people to stop as I frantically tried to start my car again. After 2 tries I was able to start it and went into reverse and parked in the schools parking lot, since this incident my car has stalled a total of 11 times, and just again once this afternoon when I was leaving the grocery store reversing out of my parking spot. I feel this is extremely unfair because I am still like so many people making payments on this vehicle. I shouldn't have to worry about my children's safety and others because my vehicle is a pos. I am very upset by this I paid good money for this vehicle and all the dealership will do is charge me outrageously and not care
Veh: 2013 Ford Escape, sel 1.6 liter engine, front wheel drive. I intermittently have no power steering when starting the vehicle. Vehicle is stationary at the times I've experienced the problem. If this happens during driving I would be unable to steer the vehicle. Diagnostic code: U3000-49.
My Ford Escape 2013 said it was over heating and it left me on the side of the freeway. Took it to the mechanic and the code turned out to be the temperature sensor misfiring. Sensor was changed, two days later I drove my car and it left me on the side of the freeway due to the same issue again, stated it was the same isssue. Paid for a diagnostic report at Ford and they said nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Ive had the sensor replaced, both thermostats, water pump has been changed, but car keeps saying is the temperature sensor. I did read there was a recal on the Ford Escape 2013 due to the same issue and a system update needs to be done, however Ford does not have any knowledge of it.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle idled roughly in drive and shuddered while at a stand still. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the map sensor and PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V495000 (electrical system) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that at start-up, the service engine immediately message appeared on the instrument panel. On the way to toycen Ford, Inc. (1000 chippewa crossing blvd, chippewa falls, wi 54729) the vehicle constantly jerked while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the vehicle shut-off while depressing the brake pedal. While at the dealer, he was informed that a defective wiring harness needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle and therefore had to pay out of pocket for repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 63,312.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Texarkana, TX, USA