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:
9 / 60
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,186 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.
While in motion on the freeway in a busy metro area, traveling at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled with an instant loss of power and flashed a code that said there was an 'engine malfunction' and 'service now'. I was able to coast to the side of the freeway without incident, however, this could have been disasterous at those speeds on a metro freeway. I was able to restart the vehicle with the push button start and although it started sluggish, it resumed driving with no codes as if nothing had happened. Until an hour later, when the same repeat incident occurred. The car was functioning completely normal without any warning indicator that there was an issue....until the vehicle instantly shut down at a high speed. This is absoluetly hazardous and the dealership said there is no open recall for this issue, despite the multiple online reports of other consumers experiencing the identical issue. The cause of this issue is unknown as all levels on the dashboard indicated the vehicle was in good operating condition until it shut down for no apparent reason. I repeat......it was a sudden loss of power in freeway traffic at high speeds. Vehicle code readers display no code when I have had them read. This vehicle was purchased used from a dealership and was inspected less than 3 months ago.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking coolant. The vehicle was taken to shults Ford South (900 regis ave, West mifflin, pa 15236) but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure stated in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
Significant loss of engine coolant. Leaking engine coolant. Constantly replacing fluid. Engine light now comes on constantly. Mechanics are unable to determine cause. I have purchased over 6 bottles of engine coolant. I refill the tank at least 4X month.
Car cuts off when accelerating after a warm start (car has been driven with no problems, sits for about 20 minutes and then is restarted). Car starts easily, is driven out of a parking lot, brakes are applied before proceeding turning on main road, car engine cuts off. This is the scenario each time. Doesn't happen every time car is driven but it is a constant safety issue. Always have to make sure no traffic is coming wither way because car has to be placed in park to restart. Car shows no codes when placed on computer. Dealer says they have never heard of this recall or problem. Problem is intermittent so impossible to demonstrate to dealer. Online research indicates many people experiencing this problem with this engine but no solution available, just many suggestions. So resolution is unknown.
- Suffolk, VA, USA
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When starting the vehicle, 70% of the time the vehicle stalls after 1 minute, sometimes on the road which is dangerous. Now it is stalling after it has been driven for awhile and I place it in park. It now stalls while idling. In all instances I can restart the car with no problems...except if it stalls again, which is now approximately 50% of the time.
The car has stalling issues. When I start it it chugs and stalls. I restart it and drive approximately 15 miles. Let the car sit a few minutes and get in to drive away and it stalls again. It also intermittently stalls while driving down the road. I also have a heating issue. I purchased the car Dec.26. 2020 and it has been in the Ford service dept since Jan 4, 2021. Only the heat has been gbeing looked at. The stalling hasnt been looked into. Heat only works when accelerating.
Vehicle stalling at different times. There is no codes when it happens and no set time. Don't feel safe driving this vehicle as we are seniors and don't want to get stranded some were! going back to my personal mechanic on 2/2/21 to see if they can fix the problem. I think Ford should foot the bill as this car is unsafe for our highways.
I drive vehicle a little and if I stop then when I start car it will stall when I start driving and I have to crank it again and it will go a little and die again. I pulled into intersection and car died leaving me in sitting in the highway. I almost got hit by another car.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in the driveway of her boyfriends residence, the contacts boyfriend noticed leaks of fuel on the ground. The contact stated that an abnormal oder appeared as the vehicle was idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer koons Ford of annapolis (2540 riva road, annapolis, md 21401 (410) 224-2100) where it was diagnosed that the fuel line was leaking into the engine compartment. The fuel line was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 13V583000 (engine) as a possible solution to the failure however the repair was performed back in 2016. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
I was driving home when the engine to my 2013 Ford Escape started smoking enough to engulf the inside of the vehicle with black smoke. The engine then caught fire while I was still in drive. I placed the vehicle in park and jumped out when in a matter of seconds the entire engine was in flames, seconds after that the whole vehicle was on fire. The fire dept. Came to put it out. The fire dept. Left and the fire was extinguished. Approximately 45 minutes later, the car started on fire again. This time it was letting off small explosions' of sparks. The fire dept. Came again and extinguished the fire. I asked them if they had any idea what caused it. One fire fighter's reply was "no idea, I have never seen any thing like this before in my life" the car had 89000 miles on and had been inspected by Ford a few months ago with no complications found in the engine. The heat gauge never raised to make myself, the driver aware of any over heating. The fire started right infront of my home as I was pulling into my driveway while I was still in drive/motion.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing out of her driveway, the high temperature and low engine coolant service warning lights illuminated. There was no visual leaks present. The contact purchased coolant to place in the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. North central Ford (1819 N central expy, richardson, tx 75080, (972) 584-1338) was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,800.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing anti-freeze prematurely. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have a diagnostic test performed that located the failure that the engine cylinder cup plug was not secured to the cylinder head causing the antifreeze leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 58,000.
We have a 2013 Ford Escape and it dies/stalls out periodically. When this happens, there is no warning and typically it is after idling (ex: At a stop light). My daughter was at a stop light after getting gas and once the light turned green, and she began to accelerate, the vehicle died and she had to coast across a 7 lane busy street to get out of traffic. This is not a new problem, it has happened on more than one occasion. We have taken it to the mechanic and it doesn't typically bring up a "code" on the machine they use. On one occasion, it did and we replaced the fuel pump ($600) which did not solve the problem. This is a huge safety concern!!! and after reading some additional information, there are a lot of people with the same problem! please do something!
The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that coolant leaked into the engine causing the vehicle to overheat and stall while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to future Ford Lincoln of roseville (650 automall dr, roseville, ca 95661) and was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling) however, upon performing a VIN search, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
I've been having problems with the coolant system and my vehicle has been shutting off while driving. There has been a severe leak near the engine and I don't know what other problems it may have caused. I almost had an accident riding into traffic with the car shutting off in the middle of driving.
I just came out of a state inspection a few months later the engine overheats and the car just shuts off. Now, if I had one Ford I would not pay attention to this, but I have more than one and the same thing has happened. Now, at times where there's a recall, but when they have other items that get fixed without a recall, we never hear about that. I know I'm not the only one. This has never happened on this car, but my Ford Focus, and it happens after a car has been in for service lately during the virus worst for some reason. This is a danger and could kill someone on a freeway. As when the car stopped on a recall before. From the doors opening on the freeway to this mess. Ford needs to be investigated at a higher level. I do know my antifreeze has been water down as I found out today, ucz their orange fluid has been discontinued for over a year I was told.
Two different times while driving, the engine started missing, no power. Got to edge of road, shut car off. Re started and it was fine. Today (1/10/2021 power steering quit working while in line to get coffee. Made it home barely, shut off car, now it's working.
There has been multiple coolant line issues result in the car stopping immediately no matter where you are. There has been a previous stated issue I do not feel like my car was fixed properly before buying it and the recall should be reopened and considered an hazardous issue. I have been stranded, left on the side of the road unsafely, there is little to no warnings. The vehicle will shut itself off if you can't pull over in time. It will end up hurting people if it isn't resolved. There is a current class action lawsuit open for it, I don't want that I just want my vehicle safe. I actually love it. It has happened multiple times I always havre coolant with
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Minneapolis, MN, USA