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:
59,141 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 HAVE A 2013 Ford Escape THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO ITS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED AND WITH NO WARNING FAILURE. 6000 AT FORD DEALERSHIP. THEN THE PROBLEMS WITH COOLANT STARTED. IT WOULD SUDDENLY START OVERHEATING, AND START STALLING. DROPPED DOWN TO TWO MILE AND HOUR TILL YOU LIMP OFF THE ROAD. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHECK IT. WILL BE FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY START LEAKING AGAIN. REPLACED COOLANT CAP, COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK, NEW HOSE FOR COOLANT TANK, COOLANT HOSE THAT INSERTS INTO REAR OF ENGINE, STAND PIPE AND BYPASS VALVE.
From the day I bought the vehicle, it had coolant leak issues. I read that Ford knew this so they installed a feature where the vehicle will shut down/not move if there is low coolant, so as to avoid fires. An abrupt stop is very dangerous as well depending on location. $1000s later and years later, the leaks turned into not being able to hold any coolant at all. I took it to FORD they kept for 6 months and when I got the car back, it no longer drove. I took to another shop and they said there is a class action lawsuit for the issue and that the turbo needs to be replaced. That would almost $5k in repairs-?? due to labor costs. I loved this car even thought it-??s been problematic. I would love nothing more than to have it working again, but not for that price.
The Turbocharger Wastegate Regulating Valve Solenoid has been intermittently forcing a OBD2 code P0234. The solenoid location has not been determined and why the code goes away and then comes back later after driving the vehicle after clearing the code is not determined either. Ford charges more for this part than any other parts houses. The dealer labor is also costing just as much as the part ($200). This is a problem that is currently happening to quite a few Escape owners.
While getting gas the other day, when I put the fuel in my car the nozzle into the gas tank a hissing sound came out of it out of the gas tank and it smelled like gas really bad, then I ran a code thing on my car said can't un able to bleed up fuel tank, I don't know why then after I got the gas when pulling the nozzle out it did it again, then my car would not start,
First: A steering assist fault "service vehicle" started to appear on my dashboard of my 2013 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 L. Steering is very hard and will not turn when in park and ready to drive, i can change gears, but steering is locked. I turn the ignition (push button) off, then it unlocks. I thought it was because I was putting in gear too quick after starting, but it does it even when I wait a couple of seconds to engage the gears. I don't want to encounter this problem while driving for obvious reasons. I have not confirmed it with a dealer since it doesn't do it all the time. Problem has not been inspected by anyone yet, but I've seen other posts of the expensive costs to repair. No other warning lamps of messages and this started a week ago (o/a 1 Oct 23). Second: I am getting very poor fuel consumption (about 17-18 MPG). A check with my FIXD device confirmed what I thought was the problem - "Fuel Pressure Sensor 'B' Circuit Low and Low Pressure Fuel System Pressure Too High". I don't see any safety concerns other than I might be left stranded in the desert one day. Dealer tell me that if I see no warning lamps on my dashboard, I shouldn't worry too much (hello?). I now have 115,800 miles on this vehicle.
- Converse, TX, USA
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My 2013 has developed a gas leak. It is a small leak and shooting gasoline in the engine. It looks like there was a recall on some vehicles in this make/model and year but mine did not qualify. The recall number is 13S12. I would like for it to be included since it is a known issue in other vehicles in that same time frame. My car is not safe to drive as the gasoline in the hot engine could catch on fire.
There is a defective fuel line that is rapidly leaking fuel and is a fire hazard. I found out that this part was recalled leading up to July 2012. My vehicle vas built in August of 2012 and it is the exact same part. The recall on the earlier models is 12S35. It's the exact part and issue in the later models, yet hasn't been recalled
Fire started in engine from oil leak in cylinder head on Saturday, 9/9/23 at approximately 1:15 pm. Car had been running for around 2 hours with no signs or indication of malfunction. Driver pulled car over after entering Mt. Rainier National Forest at a viewpoint. At this point driver noticed engine was smoking. NO lights or indicators on dashboard lit up notifying of overheating or malfunction. The temperature gauge did not indicate the engine was over heating. The safety of 4 passengers was at risk. Fire started with four passengers including the driver in the car. Vehicle was located in Mt. Rainier National Forest where passengers and driver had no cellphone service. This also occurred in a National Forest during the high risk season for forest fires/wildfires. Fire could have put lives of passengers at risk as well as those in nearby area, if car went ablaze in the forest. With no service, preventing the car fire from turning into a forest fire would be very difficult. This problem occurred AFTER TSB on this vehicle was completed for safety recall 17S09-S1 in April 2014 at Bellingham Ford. The crack in the cylinder caused by the recall was patched by Bellingham Ford by filling it with Copper silicone rather than removing the cylinder and replacing it. Repair shop (Mike's Shop - Buckley Washington) that inspected vehicle after incident on Sept. 9th 2023, found that copper silicone patch had split causing oil to leak into engine and catch fire. This inspection indicates that the initial repair done by Ford Manufacturer did not prevent leak from occurring and causing a fire to start in engine.
The smell of gas is overwhelming. It reeks of gas and there was a recall on the 2013 Ford Escape for this reason, yet this vehicle isn-??t associated with the recall. No mechanic will look at it due to the strong emission of gas.
This is the 1.6l engine it has a main fuel line problem in the engine area that is leaking fuel. I see recall but FORD says my car not affected in recall. See below Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through July 11, 2012, and equipped with a 1.6L engine. These vehicles have an engine compartment fuel line which may split, resulting in a leak. Manufactured between: 1/1/1900-1/1/1900 Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY Recalled on: 7/19/2012 Vehicle: 2013 FORD ESCAPE
This car constantly stops in mid traffic. I have taken it everywhere and they can-??t seem to find anything wrong. I-??ve call ford a hundred times and nothing.
In 2019 Ford replaced my "entire fuel line" due to a recall. Yesterday I found out why my car started to smell like gas, there's a pinhole size leak in my fuel line. Mechanic said it's not rubbing on anything and it's protected by the undercover piece and there would be no way for flying debri or anything to damage it. How did the recalled fuel line last longer than the replacement fuel line?!
Praise God no incident at this time. But I've had a Ford mechanic look at the codes my Escape is giving, has seen how it drives and told me the CVP is stuck. This is the exact same issue as for the Fuel Tank Deformation recall Ford currently has out. Because I could not afford the repair I'm driving on a wing and a prayer. But now I see that my vehicle should be included in that recall and doing what I can to make that known and heard.
Well I went to start my car after getting gas and it would not start after a few mins it started, but it was trying to lunge forward even though it was in park, after I finally got it going went home and the whole time I smelled gas in my car ? Then I pulled in my driveway and the check engine light was on, had my brother in law do a digital scan on my car and it had PO456 evaporated emissions leak, I don't understand why, I'm scared to drive it now because I don't want to have the cab fill up with gas smell in my car and it's bad for me and my kids
I had a fuel line recall on my vehicle a few years ago but didn't get the notice until my car almost caught fire. The recall melted some coolant components that were replaced free of charge when they replaced the "entire fuel line". Now my car has constant coolant problems, heat and air problems, and suddenly (just started yesterday) it smells of raw gasoline in the cabin of the car and some on the outside of the car near the front. No visible leaks can be seen under the car(coolant or gas). Please help.
While accelerating the car repeatedly hesitates, but keeps on going. It is like a hiccup, never stopping. Called the dealer he wanted to charge me for a diagnosis and could not promise me that my care would be serviced in a timely manner. (this was not the dealer I purchased the car from)It was one closer to my home. I have a warranty from the Purchasing Dealer. I purchased the car on 8/2/2022.
The fuel line caught fire while driving under normal load. There is no active recall on this model any longer, but had one years ago for same issue. This vehicle has 89k miles, serviced regularly, and fire
I noticed the smell of gas when I parked one night. The next day after I drove it the smell of gas was very strong. I stopped the car and checked under the hood. The fuel line that connected to the fuel rail was leaking gas onto the engine. I consider myself lucky that it did not catch on fire. Ford did a recall for this years ago from what I have learned from the internet, but for some reason mine was not recalled. I have ordered the new fuel line and waiting for it to arrive. I have removed the leaking fuel line and have it if you would like to examine it.
On 06/21/2022 I took my 2013 Ford Escape to a Ford dealer because my check engine light was on. I was informed that a Evap Tube was needed and the part was ordered. A few weeks later I checked with the dealer and was told the part was on back order. 08/01 I checked again and was told that there were 3,000 people waiting for the part and there was no estimate on when it would arrive. Whenever I start the engine after getting gas the engine does not start right away. It takes several times to start. I am always worried that the engine will not start or there could be a fire.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mountain Home, AR, USA