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.
The "engine fault: Service now " error message just popped up on my dashboard while driving. It felt like my car is going to stop anytime. If you have to stop on a signal then it feels like car will not move again, no matter how much acceleration you do.
Coolant constantly into engine. I have had it repaired numerous with same problems. Truck power constantly flickers and it's shakes and sometimes cuts off will I'm driving
Transmission began failing approximately September/October 2018, just over 75,000 miles and after the expiration of the warranty. The transmission was rebuilt in January 2019 @ a cost of $3300. The electrical controls (radio & HVAC) on console and dashboard have a shortage and go out regularly. I pointed this shortage out when the vehicle was purchased and I was told it was fixed when I came to pick it up.. there are also issues with the battery. I replaced the battery in November 2018 with a Ford battery. 4 months later, in February 2019 it failed to start due to excessive leakage with corrosive exposure. Ford crossroads replaced it at that time (2019) with another new Ford battery and on September 10, 2020 the battery failed again. Mechanic had to clean up the irregular corrosion on the battery and the posts. Documentation is not available at the time of this post but can be retrieved if requested.
All the symptoms outlined in a previous recall #14S17-S1 displayed by vehicle. Loss of power, poor acceleration, sputtering and stalling at speed. Contacted Ford and they say the work was completed on this vehicle on 2/27/14. Recall wasn't active till 1/3/2016. Took to a mechanic and they said work still needs to be done. Contacted Ford dealership in area and was told the recall had expired and they won't do the work. Just purchased this vehicle 3 months ago. 1 prior owner. 1 service center used to service vehicle. Car is unsafe to drive. Obviously Ford solution to the issues was only temporary or work was not done properly as it has failed again.
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
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The vehicle turns off with no warning while I am driving. I will be doing 45 miles per hour and the car will turn off. Turning into traffic it will stall too.
Vehicle will stall while driving, bucks, jerks and shakes while accelerating. Rpms randomly accelerating, not producing enough power to allow vehicle to get up hill. Engine overheating, engine service soon light frequently coming on, especially after sitting out in hot/cold weather for a while. My radio has completely just stopped working, no sound whatsoever. I had hit a deer back in March of 2020, took it to my dealer for repair. When I picked up my vehicle I asked if it was still 'shifting hard.' I assumed since my computer to my car was just dangling after the accident I thought there was something wrong there. But apparently there has been other complaints as far back as 2018. Now, here I am months later and am terrified to drive my car. Will not have my daughter in it, which makes it hard being a single mom. Took it to multiple dealers explaining the situation. Everyone made me seem crazy, it magically didn't do it for them. Now I see I am not the only one!
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
Unsafe almost hit by huge truck on heavily trafficked area. Vehicle was driving normal and suddenly the car lunged, sputtered, stalled drove 5-8 mph the screen displayed engine fault service now. I saw twice this has been a recall. My young child and I were in the car going 45mph before the occurrence scaring us both. After shutting off vehicle called and was told to restart car to check code no screen error displayed and car had no issue for mechanic looking at it. Still very concerned as I travel everyday with my child and go out of town to cancer clinic to take patients to appointments I can not have that issue taking them.
I have had many issues with my 2013 Ford Escape and it seems everything that keeps happening is a recall but for some reason never applies to my vehicle. My Ford stalled for the first time a few months ago. I was at an event that I made it to with no issues. It sat in the parking lot for about 45 minutes. When I tried to leave, it wouldn't turn on. I sat in the vehicle for about 10 minutes until it finally started and was able to drive away. Ever since this, it has been stalling every once in a while. Sometimes it will start and I can drive a few yards away before it stalls and I am forced to turn the key off and try again. It would do this a few times then I would be able to drive again. Another issue I've had is sometimes while I am driving, everything will shut off but the vehicle will keep driving. Everything meaning: Air conditioning, all lights, radio, touch screen.. anything that is on while I'm driving will shut off for around five minutes or so. I keep going without touching any of these things, then they will all turn back on, on their own. This happens very rarely. I have taken my Ford in to get these issues looked at. They told me these were recalls, printed the recall paperwork out, and told me to go to a dealership to get it fixed. When I took it in, I was told these issues were indeed recalls for 2013 Ford Escapes but "did not apply to my vehicle" and was sent away. Now, my Ford randomly started leaking gas last week after only just turning it on while sitting in my home driveway (didn't drive anywhere). I looked up "gas leaks in 2013 Ford Escape" and its a recall for 1.6-liter engine, which is what I have but when I put the VIN in the recall website it says "0 unrepaired recalls". why do I keep having the same exact problems that are described in recall details for 2013 Ford Escape but keep getting told its not for my 2013 Ford Escape?
Vehicle hesitates after being started, when I attempt to drive vehicle stalls and is unable to move. Vehicle stalled while in motion on highway twice, was able to get to break down lane before any accident could occur. This also happened when driving on secondary roads. I have also had the this issue happen in my driveway, I started vehicle and put into drive and it puttered then stalled this has happened at least 30 different times in the past 2 months. I also have been experiencing the loss of coolant but not finding a leak. This has been happening for 6 months, I am having to add coolant every other week. Warning lights for low coolant do not display nor does the check engine light.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the battery, ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The instrument displayed showed that the front wheel drive was temporary disable. The contact stated that the battery was replaced. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact called lake view Ford Inc., (12381 conneaut lake rd, conneaut lake, pa 16316), and informed the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate with the accelerator pedal depressed. There was no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to asheville Ford Lincoln (611 brevard rd, asheville, nc 28806) where the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown electrical failure. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
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!
Freeway driving and car stalled. Able to drive to close dealership with pedal to floor and getting about 8 mph. Replaced throttle body. Left dealership. Driving side streets 2 miles from dealership and same thing. 8 mph. Towed back to dealer. Said it might be wire harness $2000. They test drive though and no problem after moving wires around. So I took car and drove a few days but then after exiting highway about one mile it does it again. Towed back to dealer where I start it and get zero warnings. Drives ok. But leave it there. They think it's purge valve now. Glad I didn't replace wire harness. They say it isn't giving any codes not sure what to do. Scary to lose all acceleration on freeway!
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 own a 2013 Ford Escape sel 1.6 with 103,000. After recently almost being involved in a car wreck due to my Escape stalling, I took it to my local mechanic to get a fuel sensor replaced after reading online that it could be the cause to stalling. Few days after repair my Escape is still stalling. Absolutely no warning lights let alone warning when my Escape decides it wants to die. My Escape stalls at low speeds and when I'm idle. As an essential worker, I feel more safe working with the public than driving my Escape. This is a very dangerous issue.
Ford did a diagnostic on it which 2 codes showed but they tested and could not find the issue. So I then took it to the approved service shop. The first time they replaced the PCV valve but when I picked it up the next day, the engine light came back on and was now flashing. The shuddering was now happening while driving 70mph. I took it directly back to the shop where they worked on it for about 3 hours. As it was a Saturday, they asked me to bring it back in on Tuesday when the sr. Tech was there. On that day it was there for another 6 hours. They consulted with their head tech who has been there over 30 years and also with several Ford lead technicians. They replaced the egr valve and asked me to let them know how it was. The next morning I had the same issue. They asked me to bring it back in and they were told by Ford to replace a sensor. Once replaced that did not fix the issue. At that point they decided with Ford to take it to Ford to do another diagnosis. The code shows what they've already fixed. At this point there is not much else they can do. I have a vehicle that can't be fixed and I don't feel safe driving.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Charlotte, NC, USA