Print this page

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:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,753 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.

2013 Ford Escape fuel system problems

fuel system problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 3 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #194

Jan 012021

Escape

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When idling the engine will stall. It will start right back up but sometimes will stall again when attempting to accelerate. Often there isok no power when attempting to accelerate.. I have had to put coolant in at least twice in 2 months. The vehicle overheats and forces me to pull over. None of the gages indicate overheat.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #193

Mar 102021

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
This seems to be an intermittent problem but the vehicle will stall with no warning on acceleration (in motion). The vehicle will start again and this can happen several times in a row. No check engine light visible when this happens. Ford service has no idea what is causing this as we have described this problem to them several times.

- Parrish, FL, USA

problem #192

Mar 092021

Escape

  • 145,000 miles
There is a slow antifreeze leak. Every two days, antifreeze has to be added but the leak is not visible. Also, upon starting the car, shifting into drive and attempting to accelerate; the car will get bogged down right before 20 miles per hour and then stop unexpectedly. It does not completely use power but it does stall. There has been no explanation found for this and it is a daily occurrence.

- Marion, IN, USA

problem #191

Mar 042021

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear selector indicator is stuck in sports mode. This is the second time it has happened

- Bella Vista, AR, USA

problem #190

Feb 232021

Escape

  • 97,466 miles
Engine stall twice while driving with no warning, starts right back up, seems same symptoms as other recalls for same year Escapes

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #189

Feb 082021

Escape

  • 78,000 miles
It seems my Ford is experiencing symptoms similar to safety recall 14S17, but Ford has not told me my car is affected my this recall. It's been 2 weeks and my car is still not fixed my the local mechanic.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #188

Feb 162021

Escape

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine stalls at idle and when taking off from intersection has two engine codes P008B P0087 sometimes desert a lot and sometimes very little

- Deer Park, TX, USA

problem #187

Jan 072021

Escape

  • 136,000 miles
Vehicle stalls and bucks at low idle or at a stop. Water pump, timing belt as well as vct solenoids and cam phasers replaced.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #186

Feb 072021

Escape

  • 30,000 miles
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

problem #185

Jan 272021

Escape

  • 90,138 miles
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.

- Longview, WA, USA

problem #184

Jan 272021

Escape

  • 86,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my 2013 Ford Escape in Dec 2020. I have only had it a little over a month. 3 weeks ago I noticed a humming noise coming from the rear of the car. As I was approaching a red light, slowing down to stop, without warning, the car stalled. I was able to pull over safely, put it in park and restart it. I had no other issues that day. Now it has become a daily occurrence. It all starts when I hear that humming noise and then I know that the car will stall on me when I slow down or stop. The check engine light came on once and my husband hooked it up to read the code P1450. I have not had it repaired yet. It is so scary, knowing that my car will stall on me in traffic! tonight, on my way home from work, I heard the humming noise again, while driving 65mph on the interstate and then I heard a very loud pop which sounded like it came from the passenger side floor board area. Luckily the car stayed on and did not stall on me until I exited the interstate and came to a stop. It stalled on me and wouldn't start up right away. Even though the A/C stopped working, the car made it home without any other issues tonight.my husband told me to check this website for recalls and I found almost 1200 complaints on the very same thing that I am experiencing! how can a huge company like Ford not see the issue and help us" I am scared to death to drive it! I have to get on the interstate to get to work. Ford...you need to do something because this is not ok! I haven't taken it to a shop yet but they will probably tell me the same thing that everyone else is getting told! NHTSA you have to do something! how can you see all these people with the same issues and not make Ford fix the issue?" it is not safe to drive this vehicle! my safety, along with others on the road that have to slam on their breaks to avoid hitting me when I stall out, is a huge safety concern!!! please help!

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #183

Nov 102020

Escape

  • 111,000 miles
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.

- Wilkesboro, NC, USA

problem #182

Jan 122021

Escape

  • 108,860 miles
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!

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #181

Jan 122021

Escape

  • 99,000 miles
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.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #180

Jan 112021

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #179

Jan 092021

Escape

  • 90,000 miles
Dangerous intermittent problem where vehicle stalls without warning while driving. This requires the driver to pull over, stop, put the vehicle in park and restart the engine. Frequently once it stalls, it is not safe to pull back out into traffic right away because it usually stalls again. I replaced the high pressure fuel pump, but the car continues to stalls at random while driving. No check engine light appears.

- Golden, CO, USA

problem #178

Dec 302020

Escape

  • 90,000 miles
On my 2013 Ford Escape whenever I pour coolant in it automatically leaks. It has been smoking, overheating and dangerous. I need the car fixed. I scheduled an appointment with autonation Ford margate at 5401 w copans rd, margate, fl 33063 and when I got there they told me it would be a charge to diagnose. Ford should be aware of the issue and ready to fix it for the customer. There has already been a recall for this and need it fixed for free.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #177

Dec 262020

Escape

  • 51,130 miles
My 2013 Ford Escape 1.6L stalls at low speeds. This occurs randomly when the car is moving at a slow speed. For example when approaching a stop sign on a city street. This has happened multiple times, too numerous to count.

- Sayville, NY, USA

problem #176

Sep 292020

Escape

  • 60,000 miles
Any time I get gas the car does not start immediately. While driving the car and decelerating it shut off on me. Initially was told it was my remote start until I got gas and the car wouldn't start. While stopped at a light it shut off and took a minute to start back up. While stuck in the middle of an intersection the car began to make a loud noise coming from the gas tank and completely shut off and would not restart.

- Eastpointe, MI, USA

problem #175

Nov 172020

Escape

  • 63,000 miles
While attempting to accelerate the vehicle stalls then shuts down. Then while just driving it does the same. This happens while actively driving the car.

- St.Louis, MO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?