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:
8 / 62
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,321 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 purchased my vehicle in 2013. A year after I had it the low engine coolant light came on. It took a small amount of antifreeze to fill it up. This same thing happened once or twice the following year. Last year it was more frequent. I had it check and was told it needed a water pump. The water pump did not take care of the problem. I'm having to add antifreeze weekly to my car now. I pulled up Ford recalls and saw where Ford Escapes were being recalled with the same problem. I was told at the Ford dealership that mine was not included in that particular recall. If I'm having the same problem why is mine not being recalled?
My 2013 Ford Escape has demonstrated the same problems with the fuel injector (specifically the canister purge valve solenoid) that was part of last fall's Focus recall. I had a problem last fall with my car whining, rocking when in stop and go traffic, smelling like burned fuel, and eventually stalling out entirely. Last year the car stalled out multiple times initially while stationary, and eventually while in motion. Experience was difficult to reproduce as it was sporadic and not consistent. We replaced the canister purge valve last year which resolved the problem, except the replacement part has now failed again a year later while I was sitting in busy rush hour traffic. My car started whining and rocking this morning while I was a stop, turned off the engine, and then I was unable to restart the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes (battery would engage, engine would attempt to turn but wouldn't catch). Eventually I was able to start my engine and drive home safely. However I refuse to drive this vehicle again until the part is once again replaced.
Engine coolant kept leaking. Notices about 'engine coolant low' were not corrected, even after I had 2 heater hoses replaced, as per the service repair report recommended. This was done, first one hose, costing $485, the light still came on about 4 weeks later, and the second hose was replaced costing ~ $475. Even after this, on Saturday September 7th, 2019, the engine began making incredible noises and smoke starting coming out from under the hood. I was able to pull over, out of the line of traffic and my granddaughter and I got out immediately! no coolant, no oil and the radiator(/) cap had bubbly 'stuff' in it. I have copies of paperwork that states, " customer states that the 'low engine coolant 'light comes on, over a period of several months. I cannot believe that the Ford dealership...N E V E R.. mentioned that this might be part of a recall, for this exact problem! I consider this fraud by deception. After being told that a new engine would cost me $7,000, Ford said they would give me 'financial assistance of $1700, toward the engine cost. I am retired, working a part time job! I cannot afford this, especially since I feel that this was such a well-kept secret by the dealer. Obviously, this is the same engine problem that caused nhtsato require a recall on:12V551000 12/03.2012 and recall #12V431000 09/04/2012. This car should have been one of those recalled!! I'm lucky my granddaughter and I weren't killed on a highway, or injured others while on the road, during this fiasco. Thank you for any help you can give. I appreciate someone looking out for the consumer.
Car signals its overheating and shuts down after being shut off for a few minutes its fine. This is dangerous as it happened on a freeway onramp. I have replaced practically the entire cooling system in addition to the recalls Ford has done.
Vehicle stalls then restarts immediately then stalls again after a short time running, it has done this on 3 separate days now in the last month. It will stall and restart about 3 to 4 times in a row and then drive normally. This concerns me as to a potential accident in traffic waiting to happen. I have had the vehicle scanned and it shows no fault codes. My local.Ford dealer says they are at minimum a month out for appointments...... this is not good. Ford needs to step up.and stand behind their vehicles. I have seen various websites that have multiple people complaining about the same issue. As I said, Ford needs to fix this before people are injured or heaven forbid....killed.
- Springfield, OH, USA
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Took my 2013 Ford Escape in for 100,000 mile check up. Oil was leaking onto the engine. Had this gone unchecked, it could have caused a fire on the engine unexpectedly. Very scary.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled and completely shut off. Also, the engine need service soon warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to packey webb Ford (1815 w ogden ave, downers grove, il 60515, (630) 598-4700) where the contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine and cylinder four was misfiring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would pay part of the repair cost. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My check engine light came on and I received an error reading stating my engine coolant is low. I checked coolant and it is full. My car started to stall while I was driving it. I looked up info on this website which mimicked my issues exactly. The Ford recall campaign number is 12S41. I called Ford Motor Compay customer relationship center and asked them about my car and explained the problems and how they mimicked the recall listed above. They said my car was not included in that. I informed them that it was a 2013 Escape which shows to fall under it and they told me that my car probably didn't get made with the same parts and may have been made at a different time. I will now have to pay out of pocket and I have a hard time doing that since obviously the symptoms mimic the recall. My vehicle is in motion when it stalls out and tells me my system is overheating and to pull over. It is a random thing. It can happen when just started or when I'm driving down the road.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While operating the vehicle, the 'coolant low' message appeared. After coolant was added to the vehicle, the message went away. The contact indicated that the message displayed hours after checking the coolant levels, which were normal. On several occasions, coolant was found under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Car was running rough and hesitating, took it in and they said it had to do with coolant loss, said they fixed. Car continued to run rough took back and it smelt like something was burning, and now when started white smoke can out of exhaust. Now they say I need a new engine.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power while driving. Also, the engine overheated, coolant leaked from the engine, and "coolant overheating' appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven to thoroughbred Ford (8501 N boardwalk avenue, Kansas City, mo 64154, 816-505-1818) where it was diagnosed that the cylinder was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 126,950.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving, the engine fault and service now warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle partially stalled. In addition, the rpms, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge decreased to 0. as the contact continued driving, the gauges returned to normal. The contact stated that the failure occurred three to five time while driving down the road. The vehicle was taken to kendall Ford of meridian (250 E overland rd, meridian, id 83642, (855) 982-8853) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in an unknown recall regarding the software unit. The software was updated, but the failure recurred ten times within three miles after leaving the dealer. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a diagnostic testing was completed and the contact was informed that a negative battery terminal was causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure went away and then recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer a third time. The dealer test drove the vehicle and it stalled while driving. The technician informed the contact that the mcu needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
The engine appears to give a false overheat alarm and goes into limp mode soon after engine start. Turning engine off and restarting usually clears the overheat alarm and the vehicle operates normally. It will sometimes repeat and could be a problem if this were to happen at an intersection when you need to clear quickly. False overheat issues being reported all over forums with 1.6 engine. Mechanic replaced engine coolant temperature sensor and problem persists. No other apparent problems with cooling system were found.
I was driving my car on a very busy highway and then the engine failure light came on and my car went into limp mode and stalled out several times while I was driving, this was very unsafe as I had cars going by me as I was stalling out, this could have caused a crash. I took it to the mechanic and he stated that it is a problem with my wiring harness. There is a tsb out but it says that my car was manufactured two months prior then the dates listed for the tsb. There is also a recall for my year make and model in the correct manufacturing dates but I am being told by a Ford representative that it isn't my car without them even looking at it.
Vehicle continually stalls at idle rendering the car unsafe to drive. The manufacturer has made 3 separate attempts to resolve the issue all to no avail.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While the contact was entering the vehicle, he noticed that the oil consumption levels were low. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the coolant was leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. Sheehy Ford of springfield (6727 loisdale rd, springfield, va 22150, (703) 651-1549) was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling) as a possible cause of the failure. The contact went to the hospital for medical attention because he felt sick. The hospital stated that the contact experienced antifreeze poisoning. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kistler, WV, USA