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:
3 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,741 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 sel 08/12 stalling problems. Stalled 4 times on a busy state highway. Hesitated to restart then would stall out again. This has been going on for months. Calling Ford dealer tomorrow to see if it's civered under recall due to being bought used from a dealer
Car cuts off unexpectantly and transmission lite comes on this has happened many times and transmission people say there is nothing wrong with transmission
Car keeps losing coolant. Had leaks but were repaired been pressured tested but cant keep coolant car overheats had about 30,000 miles when I bought the car and have had this trouble every since car has 63000 miles now
I have taken my vehicle to sheehy Ford ashland several times in regards to it losing coolant but they cannot find a problem but now my car will not start. I've researched my vehicle and apparently that is an ongoing issue for 2013 Ford Escapes.
- Henrico, VA, USA
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Moved the gear shift on the vehicle into reverse backed up the vehicle 5 feet went to put it in drive and it was stuck in reverse, the gear shift cable came off of the lever on the transmission to switch gears because of the bushing breaking. This is a recall on other vehicles like mine but not for my VIN, doesn't make any sense
The transmission shift cable wore down and broke off several Ford Escapes are already recalled for this but mine is not on the list. My vehicle was in motion when this happened on a city street and would not continue to move I have 2 small children and I am pregnant this was a very unsafe situation
Vehicle has been taken in multiple times to evacuate and repair ac compressor line. Each time, the line breaks in exact same spot. Has been taken in twice to Ford dealer, 3 times to a midas, and 4 times to a local mechanic. Line has broken same place every shop. Audible hissing and slight vehicle shaking occurs when line snaps. Leaks the gas out into engine when this happens.
I have taken my vehicle in multiple times to a dealer and other mechanics to have parts replaced. The engine seems to have an issue despite having no leak of overheating despite having replaced nearly every part in the vehicle. This is the second version of this model I am on with the same issue for a Ford Escape. The engine has now overheated and required around 1-3K in repairs (for each individual time) for the 9th time in under a year.
This vehichle has had multiple problems, sway bar replacements X3, I have to have it done again, lost power while driving, vehicle would literally stop in the middle of the road almost causing me to be hit a few times, Ford took care of that, now I have a gas leak in the line somewhere, engine light on, gas fumes so bad have to drive with my windows open, no leaking anywhere. This vehicle has a large amount of rust inside the doors and the camera does not work all the time. I have had a few Ford, via lease, I have never had a problem and was never afraid to drive my vehicle. This vehicle has had multiple problems. I almost feel like it was not checked properly. I now have to take this vehicle to the dealer again tomorrow, last time they told me the wrong thing was wrong, had I not gotten a second opinon I would have paid for the wrong repair, I then brought I back into them and felt like I had to demand the repair, after they looked at my vehicle that time they found the same thing wrong that I already knew. I did fill out my survey with Ford and they did cover the problems. There is nothing leaking anywhere under the vehicle so from my research I am assuming it is somewhere in the lines, hopefully I wont blow up. I am just unsure if it is just my truck or other Ford Escapes have this problem and nothing is being done about it. Thank you
We were camping far in the country. No cell service or signal. We loaded up our car with our gear to head back to town. Backed out of the parking space then moved shifter to drive forward. Nothing happened other than the vehicle drifting forward due to the incline. Now no reverse or drive. Was very difficult to get it to register park in order to get key out. Put parking brake on and hiked until we received service to call for a tow. Tow driver connected shifter cable to bushing and we were fine to drive ourselves directly to repair shop if we park using E-brake. Our repair guy looked at it and told us it was a recall item under #18S20. Called Ford dealership, who ran VIN number, and they said it isn't included on that recall. It is still currently at our mechanic being worked on.
Informational display behind steering started flickering and now does not light up so I cannot see mileage or anything else thats going on with vehicle. I have attached a pic of what my display shld look like, however the middle display in my vehicle is black, nothing will display. The flickering started last month and now my display is completely black/blank
The Escape has stalled several times. First time it stalled and stopped with no indication of issue on interstate. We were able to get it moved to parking lot after several times waiting for it to start. Had car towed to mechanic. The car never stopped for him. We picked it and drove in the morning to church and back with no issues. I drove it in afternoon temp around 85 degrees for about 3 miles. Car stopped running with no indication of problem while pulling up to stop light. After about 2 minutes car restarted and quit running again less then 1/4 mile while trying to get off street.I tried replacing ignition relay as noted by several websites but no change. Have no idea what is causing the unsafe sudden stalling. Car going back to mechanic. This is a very unsafe problem.
Excessive heat warning pulled over within 5 min. Vehicle caught fire, within 15 min vehicle was engulfed in flames there where no prior warnings. We had no other indications that there was a problem. Coolant was full.
I have a transmission fault service soon error ! the car seems to think its in park while driven. It staules seems that it is slipping out of gears by its self
Having issue with engine harness-almost go into accident twice- my car is not under recall however all other Ford Escapes in 2013 were under recall for engine wiring/harness. I got it fixed at Ford for a cost of $1000. 2 weeks later I was traveling to another state and it happened again, almost got into accident due to this issue! this should be included in the recall that you already made for all the other 2013 Escapes! car was moving then started to buck and slow downm, almost stall-then wouldnt move, all lights came on...
I just purchase this vehicle about a month ago. Recently, the car would just stop out of no where. When engine light would go off and on. When I notice it on one time, I went to auto zone it said it was a coolant bypass which means my car is getting too hot however I known when I start up the car in the morning, it would get hot fast which is not normal. The car would be still and it would or im driving it would just shut off...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Smith, AR, USA