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.
DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. SAYS IT IS IN TRAILER, YET FORD HAS A SECOND TRAILER HARNESS TO FIX PROBLEM. DEALER PUT IN NEW HARNESS. AFTER 250 MILES PROBLEM RECURRED. SOMETIMES THE SIGNAL WORKS GREAT FOR 4 TO 5 BLINKS THEN GOES CRAZY. DEALER NOW CONTENDS THE PROBLEMS IS STILL IN TRAILER. I HAVE HOOKED THE TRAILER TO 7 OTHER VEHICLES (NONE OF THEM FORDS). TURN SIGNALS WORK GREAT. IT IS ILLEGAL TO TOW TRAILER WITH THE LIGHTS IN THIS CONDITION AND I AM NOT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER TRAILER WITH THE LIGHTS LIKE THIS.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE TRAILER PACKAGE TO TOW THIS TRAILER. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO GET RID OF THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER. BEING AS I AM A GOOD CHRISTIAN AND CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE WITH A TRAILER PACKAGE THAT CANNOT BE USED TO TOW A TRAILER. WHAT ARE MY CHOICES..
Same problem for me. I have a 2013 Escape with a Legend trailer. The park/running circuit is ok because Legend uses traditional bulbs there. I added two resistors, one each to the brake/turn circuits on the trailer. The resistors were $20 on Amazon, and you can add them at the lighting box at the front of the trailer. You could wire it yourself, or pay someone. Just remember that Legend does not use standard colors inside the trailer, and the resistors get hot. Wire each circuit as though you are completly color blind, and don't mount the resistors to plastic. I'd advise the installer if you use one.
I agree that Ford and its dealers are ignorant of the issue. My dealer was no help, and neither was the tech line at Ford the techs use. VW and Lexus have this problem too. Shared technology from a clueless supplier?
I have a 2012 Legend trailer with LED tail lights which has 12 LEDs per light. When I connect the trailer plug to my 2013 Escape all the lights work but, if I turn on either indicator, the opposing tail light also flashes but only the middle 4 LEDS. And my information console starts beeping and displays a message that the trailer indicator bulb is out. Which it is not!
Also, when the blinkers are at rest, both tail lights have the middle 4 LEDS flashing. This flashing continues even when the vehicle is not running! Took it in to the dealer and they said they found a ground problem and fixed it but when I got it home and hooked it up the flashing problem was still there. Actually they made it worse because now the lights are flashing brighter! Now it looks like my trailer has hazards on.
Dealer is contacting Ford Engineering as we speak. Let's see what they come back with.
Update from Aug 2, 2012: Dealer got back to me. Ford engineering is claiming the 2013 Escape is not compatible with trailers that have LED lighting. In other words, they don't want to, or can't fix it. Oh but, the new Exporer, the Edge, and 2012 Escapes do support the LED lighting. WTF!
Update from Aug 26, 2012: New update on my electrical problem. My complaining has paid off. I had a call from the Ford dealer and they are working on a fix for my trailer connection problem. Dealer says Ford should have the fix ready by 3rd quarter this year. September time frame.
- Clark Z.,
Clinton Twp, MI, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. SAYS IT IS IN TRAILER, YET FORD HAS A SECOND TRAILER HARNESS TO FIX PROBLEM. DEALER PUT IN NEW HARNESS. AFTER 250 MILES PROBLEM RECURRED. SOMETIMES THE SIGNAL WORKS GREAT FOR 4 TO 5 BLINKS THEN GOES CRAZY. DEALER NOW CONTENDS THE PROBLEMS IS STILL IN TRAILER. I HAVE HOOKED THE TRAILER TO 7 OTHER VEHICLES (NONE OF THEM FORDS). TURN SIGNALS WORK GREAT. IT IS ILLEGAL TO TOW TRAILER WITH THE LIGHTS IN THIS CONDITION AND I AM NOT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER TRAILER WITH THE LIGHTS LIKE THIS.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE TRAILER PACKAGE TO TOW THIS TRAILER. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO GET RID OF THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER. BEING AS I AM A GOOD CHRISTIAN AND CANNOT SELL THE VEHICLE WITH A TRAILER PACKAGE THAT CANNOT BE USED TO TOW A TRAILER. WHAT ARE MY CHOICES..
- stutz, Lockport, US