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 driving my vehicle is slowing down losing power it doesn't want to stay started while at a light Will hesitate to stay started and will just cut off. And hesitate to restart this is not the first time that this has happened ethier.
2013 Ford Escape 1.6 ecoboost engine, at around 103,000 miles, a quarter size spot of coolant on the drive was first notice. Every now and then the low coolant warning came on, but the coolant was barely below the minimum line. In 2020-21, had taken it to my local mechanic and another time to my Ford Dealer. Both told me no leakage was found. Neither informed me of this being a known issue with this engine coolant system, nor about the recalls. In April, the low coolant warning came on, this time coolant loss was significant. I had to add 1/2 gallon of water even it I drove only 5 miles. I noticed the coolant only leaked out while the vehicle was running, never when parked. I took it into Ford Service Department for repair. They determined it is an internal coolant leak. Due to a design defect, coolant leak into one or more engine cylinders. Engine replacement needed. The price will be $9721! (I purchased it in 2020 for $10,000). They said this is common with the Ford Escape's engine. They said, they have seen hundreds of Escapes in recent years, with this issue of the coolant leaking into the engine and ruining the engine.
My son was driving stopped at a red light vehicle shut off while in drive it will not stay running. This is not the first time it has happened in traffic. If he was not stopped he could of been seriously hurt along with myself and daughter. I see there is a investigation on the 1.6 but not 2.0. This needs to be looked at before someone gets hurt or worse killed.
This Vechicle has been serviced at Ford Dealership since purchasing it.every 3,000 miles synthetic oil change, balance, rotate and eliminate if needed and certified inspection at a cost of $412 plus any repairs. The Vechicle started overheating while my daughter was taking her kids to school in the neighborhood, she hurried and used the onboard fire extinguisher due to all the smoke and the children were in restraints car seats. This issue is a100% match to the recall for this Vechicle (not my vin?) the fuel line is also leaking and matches recall 100%. Ford needs to include my Vechicle it-€™s been sitting ever since the incident.
The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stopped abruptly. The transmission warning message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to her parents' residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred her to NHTSA. No additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
- Palatine, IL, USA
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The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while in the vehicle with the engine idling for 10 minutes, the contact then attempted to park the vehicle however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure had recurred twice. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,575.
The controls in the driver side door stopped working. No window or door locks could be activated. The car was taken in to the Ford dealership and it was repaired so the controls worked. A few months later, while driving on the interstate at 70 MPH the engine turned off with no warning. All the warning lights in the electrical panel lit up after the engined turned off. After getting off the road and sitting for a few minutes the car started with no problem. After driving 20 minutes, we stopped and tried to use the controls in the driver side door to put the window down. No controls in the driver door functioned. I took the car in for repair but there were no loaner cars and was told they would have to keep the car at least two weeks. I needed transportation so I waited to take the car in. The engine turned off two additional times while i was driving with no warning. I took the car in to the Ford dealership again. They said the door control problem was a fuse and they would have to try to find what was shorting out the fuse. They did not have any comment about the engine stalling out which I reported. They have had the car 4 weeks. I see that some 2013 escape models have been recalled for the engine stalling. I think my car should be added to the recall. I really need my transportation. I am borrowing my mother's car. There is no other car at my house.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that he continued to drive the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred the next day while pulling out of a parking spot. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and the dealer informed the contact that they could not replicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly, 2-3 times per day. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not replicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that coolant was leaking from under the hood of the vehicle onto the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle would overheat occasionally with a message to pull over, stop, turn off the vehicle, and allow the engine to cool down. The contact was informed by the dealer that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V336000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 13V583000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Case number [XXX} INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).-€
The computer issues a high engine temperature warning without physical indication of high temperature on the dash thermometer. This results in reducing engine power into -€œlimp mode-€. The temperature indicator immediately rises to maxim high. The engine does not shut off but there is no power. The safety concern is: if this condition would occur while in fast moving traffic around a city belt-way, the sudden loss of power and speed reduction could make the vehicle susceptible to a rear end collision or endanger other drivers trying to avoid a slow moving vehicle tryin to get off the road.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her husband was driving 25 MPH, the engine overheating warning light was illuminated before the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to restart the vehicle. The driver added engine coolant but continue to experience failure. The vehicle was not drivable. The driver towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The mechanic also noticed that the engine was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer but was unable to speak to a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. There was a faulty fuel injector which caused it to not pass emissions. After taking care of that problem, the coolant would run dry very quickly, in a matter of minutes. At this point, the engine light came on and the car just stopped dead in the middle of the street. Consumer sold the vehicle due to hazard.
My son was driving up a hill on January 26, 2022 and the car stalled. I called the Ford dealer and they said I had to take it in and pay for the repairs. This is a 2013 Ford Escape and I was reading on the internet that these cars have these problems. My son said there was no warning lights before this happened, it just stalled on a busy, dangerous highway. Thank God he was not hurt. I don't know what else to do. This problem should get taken care of with so many people having the same issue.
The sensor for cooling system goes off for low coolant even though there is a full amount of coolant in the vehicle. Causes a bunch of codes to activate and throws vehicle into "limp" mode while saying the vehicle needs to be turned off immediately. Only some vehicles received recall notice per automotive service center, but others do not even though there is plenty of complaints online about the same issue. Having a vehicle go into "limp" mode while driving in traffic and/or on highway is extremely dangerous.
I bought my car at the end of winter in 2018, and every winter, when it gets 20 degrees or below, every few weeks, my engine overheating light will come on after 10 minutes of driving it. When I look at my coolant, it is right at the minimum line every time. I have since learned to keep a bottle of coolant in my car as well as a funnel to fill it just a little. Afterward, it would drive okay. Every shop I have taken it to states there are no leaks, and it was working just fine. I've also been told that it's a common issue with the 2013 Ford Escape, and I will have to continue to fill it. This has been an issue as I have been stuck on the freeway with my 3 and 7 year old numerous times trying to get under my hood with the car shut off in negative degree weather. I DO NOT feel safe getting out of the car to fill the coolant with my children in the backseat on a freeway with cars flying past me. Winter of 2022, the issue became worse. I was turning and saw smoke pouring out of my hood, and my check engine light came on. Luckily, I was right by my destination, where it quit working altogether and coolant emptied altogether. My husband, a former mechanic, is replacing the overflow coolant reservoir hose, which broke. The head gasket appears to be okay; however, he believes there may be tiny cracks in the head gasket which would explain why all of the shops I've been to state there is no leak. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My kids safety, my safety, and those on the road are at risk every time my vehicle stalls, especially with no heat. At times, my hood is frozen shut, and I cannot open it right away, so my kids and I freeze until I can get the hold open while I hope no one hits my car while the roads are icy. No one has been able to reproduce the issue at a shop. My check engine light comes on periodically every winter but will disappear the same day. It also came on moments before the hose burst.
The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, her daughter had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.
when i back up then turn sharp to the right it will shut off. it will crank up. but i have had this to happen 2 times. its very scary to pull out into traffic.
I purchased my 2013 Escape SE AWD (non-turbo) last January 5, 2021 at approximately 59k miles (currently at 81+k miles) and haven't had any issues (other than having to replace ALL of the defective lugnuts that swell and make it so the included tire iron that Ford provides, don't even fit them for removal after almost getting hit by a car when I couldn't get them off when trying to change a flat tire three days after taking ownership of the vehicle) until today. I do my regularly scheduled oil changes and such and I'm still about 1050 miles away from when my next oil change is due. I was driving on a non-interstate highway, going up an incline at about 45-50mph, having pulled away from a full stop at a traffic light. Suddenly, I hear a ding, and look down and the 'engine coolant low' warning comes on, then another ding, and the 'danger of overheating' warning comes on, I look at the temperature gauge and it's right at normal. Within 3 seconds of the overheating warning coming on, while I was in heavy active rush hour traffic the engine just died, shut off, no power, nothing and all the dash lights came on. Luckily I had a little momentum and was able to pull over (after having to cross two lanes of traffic) safely and turned off the car. I waited a few minutes and then started it back up, the temp gauge now, shot to the top, but quickly came back down to normal, the coolant light warning was off with just the check engine light on. I pulled into a gas station purchased coolant and much to my surprise when I opened the hood, it wasn't low at all and was just slightly above the Minimum mark. I put a little in (but not over MAX) and was able to get it to a mechanic, but they can't look at it until tomorrow (12/14/21) as they were about to close. The vehicle is garage kept, and there are no spots underneath where the car parks. Considering the reservoi was full and hadn't been topped off since my last oil change in August, it doesn't appear to be burning anything.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Blaine, MN, USA