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.
2.9
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,844 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 Ford 2013 Escape. It first statred having problems with the headlights keep blowing. I had to replace 4 in the pass 2 years. Now the back brake lights keep saying faulty. The bulb pops out. I have to push it back into place. Then its out again. Now the navigation system is faulty. Plus the trans misson is faulty or everytime I shift the gear into drive it cuts off. I have to put it to neutral and then it moves. When I get to the speed 50 or 60mph thecar trembles. Im afraid that I may wreck.
Both windshield wipers suddenly stopped working making it extremely unsafe to drive. Dealership said both motors are bad and need to be replaced. Automatic lights just started going on randomly in the daylight and the brake lights would be illuminated when not braking. Back windshield wiper suddenly does off when it's not turned on. In the last month I have spent more than half of what this car is worth on repair! what a lemon!
Display will read engine fault service now and then the car will seem like it restarts, it will next read transmission not in park, this will happen while I'm driving 75 mph down the freeway. I took the car into the Ford dealership and they replaced the wiring harness that was recalled, but it didn't fix the issue.
Hid headlamp shutters stick in high beam position in cold weather. Ford only sells complete headlight assemblies, as the solenoid that controls the shutter is sealed inside the housing and not accessible. The design drops the shutter when the solenoid is activated for high beams and the return spring(?) is apparently not strong enough to counteract gravity and get the shutter back to the raised low beam position for proper light cutoff. The result is that high beams stay on and have the potential to blind oncoming drivers, creating a safety hazard. Ford has so far refused to warranty the issue and expects the customer to cough up $1300 list price plus labor per headlamp assembly to get the issue fixed.
- Eagle River, AK, USA
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My 2013 Ford Escape's information display with all required information and odometer reading has gone blank all of a sudden. The vehicle was stationary at the time. I addressed this issue to Ford and the Ford dealer, but they don't care to help me and asking me to pay too much amount to replace it. How can I pay too much amount for replacing this if its there manufacturing defect. I know as per federal law this is must and the screen cannot happen on this case to any vehicle. Its definitely a much needed thing and its not a fault from the user. They said there is no recall for information cluster. When I searched, I found many recalls (15C03 recall) which they said my car cannot be included since it is 2013 model. Please help me. This is really a safety issue. I am scheduled by colonial Ford, danbury on 6/27/16 to check the problem and I have end up paying too much money. Please consider this complaint and please take actions as soon as possible. Thank you
After starting my 2013 Ford Escape, the instrument cluster information display with system warnings and only odometer display went blank. Technicians checked for a bad fuse, but none found. Also, found that there is a recall (15C03 - reprogram instrument panel cluster) issued against 2014 Ford Escape for the same issue.
Vehicle info centre indicated a brake light malfunction. All 3 brake lights were inoperative. Personally checked fuse which was not blown and contacted sam galloway Ford in fort myers for service appointment. Was told only a bulb was burnt & that all bulbs were non-functional because of "xmas tree effect". I find it unsafe for a vehicle to loose all brake-light functionality because 1 bulb in the circuit expires. This is exceptionally dangerous when driving at night; which is what happened here. I would like to know if this is a factual situation with this vehicle.
The car has hid headlights. These lights use a "shutter" to cut off the light on "low beam". the "shutter" is stuck and does not raise to obscure the lamp in "low beam" leaving the lamp on "high beam" whenever the headlamps are on. Our Escape has this problem on the drivers side resulting in many flashes from oncoming drivers. This is a clear safety problem as it impairs the vision of oncoming traffic and we have no control over it. Ford will not recognize this as a safety issue. They will only repair it if it falls in the 3 yr. 36,000 mile warranty. I have found incidents on the internet going clear back to 2005 on Ford Focus cars with same problem.
My vehicle's rear running lights failed at night. The car has automatic headlight controls, and even after cycling the light switch several times (off-parking-on-auto), I was unable to get the running lights to illuminate. The issue cleared up after leaving the car parked overnight, however the following day, the passenger side light failed to illuminate. Both bulbs checked out fine.
The left light went out. Went to dealer to get the light bulb changed. After an hour, they updated me that "some" electrical failure occurred and that it could take "hours" to fix. It for sure is covered under warranty, but now I am skeptical to drive this car. And this car is new, and under 3 months old with about 3500 miles. Incident occurred on Friday evening. Took to dealer on Saturday morning. Was told they were out of bulb, and to wait until Tuesday. Took to another dealership. They were kind enough to get the needed part (bulb) by Monday. Took to them on Monday. They put in the bulb. Then realized power wasn't reaching the bulb point. So had me get it back in on Tuesday. Checked on Tuesday, to find out it was the BCM (body control module) that was out. So had to wait another while they got the part. Finally got the vehicle delivered on Wednesday evening.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph during the night, the daytime running lights and the instrument panel lights illuminated automatically however, the tail lights would not illuminate unless activated manually. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised that the vehicle was functioning as designed. The manufacturer also advised the contact that the vehicle functioned as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 22.
Warning light failed to go on for a flat tire. Light went on when tire was removed. After temporary tire was put on 3 different lights kept flashing on and off when driven.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Davidson, NC, USA