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:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,139 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.
Driver's seat belt tensioner quit working. Seat belt will no longer tighten when brakes are applied. The seat belt will not restrain the driver in the event of a sudden stop.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts) and 16V643000 (latches/ locks/linkages). The parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 01/06/2017 updated 01/17/17.
The rear seatbelt buckles appear to have been installed improperly at the factory. One of the buckles is forced up by the bolt spring while the other two are forced down. The two that are forced down make it difficult for rear seat passengers to buckle in. Furthermore, when the seat back is folded down, the two seatbelt buckles tend to be forced under the seat. This can lead to the buckle(s) getting damaged when trying to raise the seat back to its upright position. In some cases, the buckle can be crushed and made unusable.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (seat belts) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The VIN was not available.
- Rineyville, KY, USA
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Drivers seat belt does not retract, now it will not retract enough to properly fit driver, hanging loose on torso at all times, and conditions. Clearly this is a failed safety device, required by law. Car was taken to dealer, where for $100, I was told it's not covered and parts alone are $800 vehicle is model year 2013 with 80,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. MA 10/21/15
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the parts needed to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the lack of parts for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure....updated 09/22/15 updated 12/28/15.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. MA 10/1 updated 10/08/15
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufactured exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts) was received in October of 2014. After contacting the dealer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was notified.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seatbelts) and stated that the part was not available. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contacts vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts) however, it was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts). However, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Was rear ended by a vehicle going at a high rate of speed while sitting at a light. Passenger seat belt did not engage. My daughter was thrown to the left and forward then to the right and backwards. Almost hitting the dash. Has whiplash and collar bone issues. Cannot lift her arms. Called Ford and reported this safety issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph and applying the brakes, the brakes failed. The contact crashed into a concrete lane divider and went airborne. The vehicle crossed over four lanes of traffic before coasting to a stop. The contact sustained a fractured lumbar spine and injuries to the left elbow. The front passenger suffered a head injury, fractures to the lumbar and thoracic spine areas. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat also failed upon impact. Both of the injured occupants were transported to the hospital from the crash site. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Upon taking off driver side seat belt, it would not retract. Pulling out and fastening the seat belt it will not retract and tighten. Took to Ford on Nov. 26th. Said it is a known problem. Have to order parts but was told that seat belt does not function properly but have air bags if anything was to happen. A malfunctioning seat belt is not a warm feeling to drive around with. Big safety issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pomeroy, OH, USA