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2013 Ford Escape complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →

Engine
Filed Sep 2, 2021IA

Check coolant light came on, took to my local Ford dealer. Diagnosis from Charles Gabus Ford: Vehicle is losing coolant due to a crack in the engine. This is a known Ford defect. The car is currently not in operation due to the risk of the engine catching fire. Estimate from Ford = $8,880.

Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2021105,000 milesVA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated and the vehicle would occasionally stall. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Aug 30, 2021TX

When parking, transmission failed to go into park. After engine was turned off and my foot removed from brake, the car unexpectedly rolled forward downhill into the curb. The shifter cable bushing had disconnected from the transmission, so the vehicle failed to go into Park even though the shifter in the cabin showed to be in Park. This has been confirmed by the Ford dealership that repaired it. There was no prior warning. Luckily, I parked facing a curb rather than another vehicle or roadway, so I didn’t hit anything other than a bush at the curb. However, the vehicle did have to be towed into the dealership for repair. Ford has recalled other 2013-2014 Escapes for this EXACT issue, but my 2013 Escape is not covered by the current recall.

Steering
Filed Aug 24, 2021100,000 milesSC

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing from a parking space, the steering wheel seized and became inoperable on several occasions without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with an internal steering gear failure. The mechanic retrieved fault code: U3000: 49-48. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Aug 23, 2021KS

The door latches were recalled on the 2013 ford escape but now the hatch isn't staying shut. Why was only the doors recalled & not the hatch as well?

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Aug 17, 2021115,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after shifting the vehicle to PARK, the vehicle continued to roll away as if the vehicle was in neutral. The day after the contact discovered that the battery power had drained because the gear shifter was not in the park position. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 17, 2021FL

2013 Ford Escape 1.6 ecoboost engine started to show signs of coolant loss at around 32,000 miles. No visible leaks but coolant level in reservoir was low. Reported this to Ford Dealer service department. They pressure tested system but found no leaks so they just added more coolant. Coolant loss persisted but was very slow. Now at aproximately 53,000 miles, vehicle has been diagnosed by Ford service with an internal coolant leak. Coolant leaking into cylinder 1. Engine replacement needed.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Aug 16, 2021IL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact stated that since receiving the notification, the driver’s, and passenger’s side rear doors failed to latch securely. Several dealers were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that due to a shortage of parts, they were unable to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2021TX

Engine sputtering, took into dealer service week of 7/30/2021 - had wiring harness replaced. Took car back, engine light came back on, returned to dealer service week of 8/6. Car gave Evac code of a solenoid sensor issue. Team suggested solenoid replacement and new spark plugs - work done and picked up Friday 8/6/2021. By Monday 8/9/2021 Check engine light back on. Took back to dealer service. Code given out was #4 Cylinder Misfire and cylinder was "wet" looking. Overnight pressure test was completed and leaking was found from the coolant system into the engine. A boarscope was used and coolant was found on top of #4 piston. Engine is leaking coolant internally. Service Manager at dealership says this is a design flaw not an indication of use/wear/tear. Said there was a tech bulletin put out about the flaw, but that tech sheet has now been wiped from their system. There is a former recall in 2012 about a similar issue affecting the 2013 Ford Escape and 2013 Fusion. Ford denied our request because of their policy that the date of the warranty (2/13/2013) is more than 7 years old. We believe this is a design flaw of the engine itself and not a wear and tear issue. Our concern is how many of these vehicles are on the road and are having the same issue unknown to the owners. The additional coolant/liquid in the engine can cause the engine to corrode or sieze while driving - creating a hazard condition.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 13, 2021113,280 milesAK

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal would extend to the floor causing the stopping distance to delay. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,280.

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
Filed Aug 9, 202140,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the backup camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to a dealer where the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. Recently, the contact stated that the backup camera failed to operate as needed and was completely blank. The contact then took the vehicle to Southgate Lincoln, LLC (16800 Fort St, Southgate, MI 48195) where he had the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that since the vehicle was not under recall, they could not offer any assistance. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000

Engine
Filed Aug 9, 2021157,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "engine temperature high" message was displayed. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic performed a diagnostic test but could not determine the cause for the overheating. The mechanic pointed out a recall notification with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V583000 (Engine) relating to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 5, 2021120,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, there was a strong gasoline odor in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact also stated that one day as his wife was driving, the vehicle began to jerk while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was notified by his wife of the failure and he was able to tow the vehicle himself to his home. The contact called the dealer where they informed him that there were no recalls on his vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V336000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and informed him that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer then referred him to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Structure
Filed Aug 5, 2021CA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V239000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 4, 2021AL

There was a pop noise and then screeching under the hood for a short period & then the noise stopped. Pulled into my garage for the night. Pulled out the next morning to go to work and the car overheated, low coolant warning light came on. I pulled over into a gas station to let it cool down and added coolant. had it towed to a repair shop & diagnosis is: Water pump bearing failed and leaked engine coolant leading to engine overheating and cracked block and is now leaking oil. Car is available for inspection.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 4, 202175,000 milesNJ

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle started to overheat. The message "Check Coolant, Coolant Low" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired however, the engine coolant was refilled. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine coolant was leaking. The engine coolant was refilled however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle was not included in a recall and offered no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Aug 4, 2021MO

Put the vehicle in park and it stayed in neutral. Car is now stuck in neutral and unable to shift.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Aug 3, 2021NC

The vehicle will not shift gears. Luckily it is in my garage and I was not out driving when this happened. It appears to be in park, but it is actually in natural and I cannot shift it. In doing some research, I found that a the gear shift bushing is defective. In doing further research, I found that Ford does have a recall on this car for the EXACT reason (18S20) issues July 18, 2018 for 2013 Ford Escapes manufactured from May 15-Sept 15, 2013 in the Louisville plant. I contacted Ford and my car was manufactured on May 13, so it is not covered. This is extremely dangerous. Had I not done research online I was not aware that my car was not in park and all I had to do was simply push it forwards or backwards-with ease-to get it to roll. I have choked the tires to prevent this. But Ford refuses to fix it and I cannot locate a very simple replacement part that costs about $20 and 2 minutes to fix. Rather, I will have to spend $500+ towing to have an entire new cable installed. This is EXTREMELY dangerous and defective. Forth-eight hours or less for this not to be include in the recall is more than concerning and this recall must be updated to include more cars. I found several people online having the exact same issue...while driving and loosing control. Thank you.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 2, 2021FL

Fuel line started leaking at damper, personal mechanic pulled part and notified me that part was apart of recall. Damper part #: 120620A. 610732. Are all of the numbers on the damper. I git the part replaced at the personal cost of $180.04 on 08/02/2021

Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2021KS

Unknown. The problem is that. My turbo is over boosting even after a full engine replacement.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 1, 2021CA

Cannot open passenger side back door from inside or outside safety hazard if one has to exit the vehicle quickly just happened looked on internet, it is a common problem for this vehicle no warning

Steering
Filed Jul 28, 2021101,149 milesIL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and shortly afterward the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact manually pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, waited a few minutes, and then restarted the vehicle. The power steering warning light was gone, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be inspected however, the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,149.

Engine
Filed Jul 26, 2021232,227 milesIN

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated due to a coolant leak. The contact stated that the service engine message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 13V583000 (Engine) however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that Vin was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 232,227.

Steering
Filed Jul 25, 2021WA

Car currently has ~ 104k miles and all of a sudden a "Steering Assist" failure warning comes on and I lose power to the power steering while driving. Had to slow down and carefully pull to the side of the road as I almost did not make the upcoming turn on the road.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 24, 2021FL

While driving my Escape turns off unexpectedly. Then I stop put it on park and restart then it drives again. It's does this randomly.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 20, 202176,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2013 FORD Escape. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motors lost functionality. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that the Vin was not under recall regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Steering
Filed Jul 20, 2021AL

“Steering assist fault service required” Power steering does not work. I have read multiple forums where people have had this issue and almost crashed. There are recalls on other year models and explorers of the same year model. This needs to be a recall.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 19, 2021110,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the engine started to shake violently and was leaking coolant. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 19, 2021ID

On 10 July 2021, while driving vehicle at approx 50 mph, I was in the S-Drive and placed it into Drive, however, my display still showed me in S-Drive. I did get home without incident, but was unable to get my vehicle into Park. After several attempts, gear shifter did slide into Park, only to realize that display still showed I was in S-Drive. I turned off vehicle, and attempted to re-start, only to find that since the vehicle was still in S-Drive, I am unable to restart. I have found that other 2013 Ford Escape Vehicles are dealing with this same problem and have identified this particular issue as a failure to the Shifter Cable Bushing, (19S16) that prevents gears to be shifted, that can cause a vehicle to roll since it is in gear and possibly injure someone. I feel this VIN should be covered in your recall, but have found out that since my Vehicle was made in May 2013, it was not covered, but clearly it is still a problem that Ford has identified within the 2013 year. I now have to tow vehicle to a Ford dealership and they advise they are 4-6 weeks out from making any repairs to my vehicle which is not under a recall advisory list. I must pay for all services. At this time, my vehicle is unusable.

Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2021NM

The vehicle overheats. Happens every now and then. It once overheated, shutdown and had to be towed to the Ford dealer; who said there is nothing to do other than turning off the AC when going up a steep hill. And even that doesn't work.

Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2021UT

The coolant low gauge failed, stating that the coolant was low and the car was overheating and needed to be pulled off to a safe side. With the odometer not reaching the H showing it was approaching hot too soon. Before an individual could fully pull off the road safely car started to shake, the light went red, the dash said car overheating pull off, and the car turned off. The individual was still somewhat in a lane and on the side of the freeway where cars could still possibly hit the car and roll off the side of a cliff. This problem has been confirmed by a dealer before. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer. The warning lights and messages did not give enough warning to get off the road to safety.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 8, 2021IL

Vehicle just shuts off completely stalling than doesn't want to start back up.

Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2021GA

Coolant has been leaking from vehicle over the course of a month and a half. Fill reservoir only to have to refill within a week to two weeks with coolant.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 29, 2021120,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed however, the vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V813000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 28, 2021FL

I purchased the car on June 09/2021 After taking the car home I noticed a severe lack of power at times when acceleration is crucial in order to navigate safely, such as when approaching an expressway ramp after having been at the light that controls access at the nearby intersection. Traffic moves quickly after lights change, and when I went to blend in from the merge lane, the car was inresponsive, the accelerator hit a dead spot that sent the engine spinning into very high rpms suddenly..5000 rpms The car became an obstacle and other drivers had to swerve to avoid an accident. All in the car were startled and I was upset because of the near collision. The usual sluggish engine response suddenly became dangerous. This car has 2 codes in the computer unit which are identified by these Codes..P0299-00 and P26AC-00 They only show if vehicle is hooked to a scanner and No Check Engine Light has been activated. My mechanic found them. The dealer refuses to admit theres any problem and FORD MOTOR has no recall for this issue. This car is available for inspection upon request.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 28, 2021CA

The purge valve (whole system) has failed on my vehicle when it was on less than 5 years old. This can cause for the vehicle to pause which is dangerous. Because my purge valve (whole system) failed, not only did input my family at risk for danger, I now have to pay out of pocket to have this repair. I did not have the money to get it repair and now that I do I have to pay over $600. Ford has recognized that this is a systemic issue, however they somehow were able to focus their recall to specific manufacturers which did not cover all including my vehicle.

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2021FL

Vehicle will not start after fueling. Takes up to 20 minutes delay to start vehicle after filling tank with fuel. Not a single incident. Has happened every time I have fueled the vehicle over the course of several months. Mechanic stated it is an emissions problem with this model vehicle, but there is no recall issued.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 23, 2021GA

Fuel leak, with smell of gasoline filling the cabin. Leak was in the engine compartment. After car was towed I saw about 7-8 oz of gasoline pooled on my carport. Due to gas being flammable, I had the car towed in. Dealer says it needs a new fuel line for $505. Had someone lit a match, my house could have been set on fire. Also, since the leak was so strong, what if there was a short in any of the electronics? Again, major risk of fire.

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2021GA

One of the radiator hoses, causing all of the coolant to drain in less than 1 second, followed by tremendous amounts of smoke coming from the engine. A warning light came on the dash, with a loud alarm. The car immediately overheated and had I not stopped driving the car in seconds, it would have overheated & destroyed the engine. This occurred in heavy traffic, on a highway while I was in a middle lane. This made it hard to get to the shoulder and other drivers were not letting me move over easily. Once of the shoulder, I was stuck for 4 hours with an engine that was smoking so badly, I thought it might catch on fire. Prior to the moment the part failed, there was no warning. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer repair and they replaced the hose. The dealer repair person said that these hoses fail with some regularity and I was just unlucky to have it happen under the circumstances (being on a highway, at speed, during high traffic time).

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jun 22, 2021106,200 milesIL

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 75 mph, a deer unexpectedly ran across the freeway. As a result, the vehicle ran into the deer. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained but the contact suffered a sore back. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to their home address. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic as a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,200.

Engine
Filed Jun 21, 2021OK

Code P26B7 Engine Bypass Coolant is shown when diagnostic is performed. I have to add coolant on a regular basis (1-2 x’s a week) My VIN has not been included in SAFETY RECALL 13S12 or any other pertaining to engine/coolant issues. My year model, date manufactured which is 1/13, engine type (1.6L) should qualify for this type of recall. This has been an ongoing problem for 3 years plus. I always check my coolant levels before I leave to see if I need to add coolant and I keep extra coolant in my car to add whenever warning light “coolant low” warning appears (which I never know when that will happen). The first incident I did not have coolant in my car and it overheated and engine shut down. I had it towed to nearest auto parts store to purchase and add coolant. I have not had it fixed by the dealership because of cost of repairs to fix since it was not included for recall. I am the only owner of this car, I purchased it May 2013.

Engine
Filed Jun 14, 2021SC

While driving vehicle, the temperature warning light came on as did the power steering light. Went into limp mode. Coolant was full. Had to have it towed. This is second time this happened. Let vehicle sit for a day and tried it again. With in 2 minutes of it cranking, it did the same thing. Now have it at a mechanics shop.

Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2021MI

I just bought this vehicle less than 3 months ago, and now it’s stuttering when I start it. It also stalls while driving.

Engine
Filed Jun 11, 2021140,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact’s daughter stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to overheat and stalled. The emergency shutdown message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jun 11, 202160,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start with black smoke coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed with needing a new engine. The vehicle has not been repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 10, 2021FL

My engine will not hold coolant and apparently has coolant in the cylinders acording to Ford new motors are required for this and it’s a defect from the way the motor is designed

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jun 8, 202165,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon a vehicle inspection, she was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The contact stated that upon opening the front driver’s and passenger’s side doors, the doors failed to lock securely when closed. The contact stated that the latch remained in the closed position on both doors, preventing the doors from being secured. The contact's husband called the dealer and was informed that the parts were on back order and that the recall repair could not be performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2021OK

FORD has recalled certain 2013 Escape's for the Engine coolant bypass solenoid. My 2013 Escape has failed(check engine light code P26B7) but is not covered. The Ford dealer wanted to charge $550 to fix it. I declined as the part is $59 and labor at 2 hours is $120 in my area.

SteeringCrash
Filed Jun 3, 2021PR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER STEERING IN VEHICLE AT ALL. LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 1, 2021160,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that within five minutes of starting the vehicle, the engine overheated with the warning message turn off the engine displayed. The contact indicated that the engine cooling system was replaced by an independent mechanic however, the failure recurred. The local dealer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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