NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the temperature gauge suddenly indicated that the engine was hot(H), before the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle eventually shut off in the middle of the highway, and the contact was forced to manually push the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence where it remained. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was no coolant leak found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
This is the second time that I have had issues with a coolant leak leeching onto my engine. The coolant leaks out and causes toxic fumes in the cabin that have repeatedly caused me and my passengers severe damage to our mucus membranes resulting in coughing and difficulty breathing. I have literally had to drive with my windows down in the cold autumn air because I cannot breathe in my vehicle. There has been no warning or check engine light that has come on at all in either of these experiences. It has been my mere experience of health issues that has resulted in me needing to bring the vehicle in. As of right now there has been no recalls but evidently this has been a recurring issue and problem per my local mechanic as well as the forums that I find online. This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed to Ford customers.
I took my car into the mechanic after the coolant was filled up multiple times and they diagnosed it as coolant leaking into cly 2. This is a major defect in the engine design that is a known issue with this type of vehicle.
Engine randomly stalls when pulling out into traffic. This has happened on at least 10 occasions in the last year, and 3 or 4 of those were extremely dangerous situations. Many parts have been replaced, but nothing has solved the problem. There are no codes or check engine lights, and since it only happens randomly, the service centers have not been able to reproduce the problem. There is no advance warning when this is going to happen. There are tons of similar reports that can be easily found with a google search of "2013 Ford Escape 1.6 stalling", but none have a clear fix. 1000's of these cars are on the road, and are ticking time bombs just waiting to cause an accident.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was oil leaking from the turbocharger. The contact stated that the hose had detached, and the coolant had leaked out. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about a recall and referred the contact to the local dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim, and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Coolant leak occurring from the engine.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was coolant leaking on the driveway. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V431000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel made it difficult to turn to the left or the right. The steering assist failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by a local independent mechanic, and it was determined that the electronic steering assist had failed. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by another local independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the electronic steering gear had failed. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
In reverse, Steering locks up without warning, then the steering assist fault message comes up.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure powertrain control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V813000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 172,000.
N/A
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact became aware that the vehicle responded as needed while shifted into reverse. The contact also stated that a message was displayed, alerting the contact of an air bag deployment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 22V413000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the “High Engine Temperature - Stop Safely” warning light illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle lost motive power and the temperature gauge was raised to a higher-than-normal level. The contact was adding coolant daily. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the sensors were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V583000 (ENGINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 220,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that immediately after driving into a parking space and stopping, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove forward over a median curb before crashing into another parked vehicle. During the incident, no injuries were reported and no police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to the home and later towed to the collision center for body repairs to be performed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 33,437.
Bypass/heater hose connector cracked at T
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and the engine overheated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the enjoy had overheated and the plastic cooling line was leaking. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.
While driving down the road the passenger seat floorboard began to fill with brown liquid (Coolant) the temperature of the vehicle increased and a distinct burning smell was coming from the engine compartment. Within 30 minutes (when I arrived home) the coolant tank was empty, and with the hood raised the burning smell was much stronger. The interior on the passenger side of my vehicle is ruined
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine idled incorrectly and was skipping. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The vehicle had been almost overheating and warning lights to shut off engine would kick on. I took it to my mechanic and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt. I was informed that Ford Company is fully aware that that the transmission in the Ford Escape is an ongoing problem. Why has the NHTSA not required a recall? This is not fair to consumers, and the work/parts/labor of this type of replacement are extremely expensive. Shutdowns on the highways or local roads can cause accidents and loss of life.
Unexplained coolant leaks. Have taken to multiple shops and nobody can figure out where the leak is coming from.
I get a steer assist fault code, and loose power steering at random points. It is very dangerous and almost crashed twice.
MY COOLANT IS LEAKING, i HAVE ALREADY FIXED THIS ONCE. WHY HAVEN'T I GOTTEN A RECALL LETTER ON THIS?
I was driving my vehicle home and as I was turning to the street I live on the power steering went out and I almost lost control of the car. I had to use all my strength to turn the wheel and barely miss an oncoming car in the turn. If my wife would have been behind the wheel Im certain it would have caused an accident. After getting home I searched for what may have caused the loss of power for the steering and I read this has been a reported problem but the NHSTA has not issued a recall. Why? Does someone need to die or be injured before it is investigated and issue a recall?
I bought the vehicle and February of 2020 and didn’t even have it for 6 months before it needed major repairs. In any other state, lemon laws would have applied and I wouldn’t be driving a dangerous vehicle. This model should not be on the market anymore, period. There have been countless failures: the transmission has been changed 3 times in less than 3 years, the purge valve has been changed twice and is going bad again, which has caused more problem for the engine cooling system. A coolant hose EXPLODED just yesterday, which I had changed not even 3 months ago. The electrical system has been “fixed” by countless mechanics, including Ford, and continues to malfunction and I assume is showing incorrect codes or not showing them at all, as there was NO ENGINE HEATING ICON that appeared prior to the hose exploding, as would normally be expected. Every problem I have just described is a recall that Ford has acknowledged on my same year, model and even manufacturing date, but they not only claim it’s not their responsibility, but they have bullied me any time I attempt to bring this up. As I stated, this car should never have been allowed to be sold. It began to dangerously malfunction less than a year after buying it. This included the overheating issues I described above, and major drivability issues that have caused the car to lose power and or acceleration while driving at highway speeds. As also stated, the coolant system is extremely flawed leading to a hose exploding, which tells me an engine fire would not have been far behind had we not been close to home. I have tried every measure possible to address all parties accountable. The dealership that sold the vehicle, the warranty company that did repairs that didn’t need to be done, the repair shops that did the repairs and did further damage to my car that still hasn’t been repaired, and the Ford dealerships themselves. I have on record multiple parties saying they don’t know how to fix the vehicle.
Keeps constantly and randomly alerting that the engine is overheating, there is recalls for same make and models with same issues but my vin does not have the coolant issue listed for recall yet it has same issue? Plus have not received any info on lock recall to get fixed
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the message "Low Engine Coolant" was displayed, and the vehicle started driving rough. The vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant had leaked into the cylinders and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 96,000. The VIN was not available.
I have done research along with my mechanic and have found that models just like mine or are the titaniums, have the Shutter problem that I am having with mine that are due to the torque converter in the transmission once the vehicle hits 150,000 miles or more. Due to the fact that this is a common problem, I think it should be considered as a recall instead of having to pay $6,000 to have the transmission replaced or are forced to trade the vehicle in before 200,000 miles because the person does not have $6,000 just laying around! It seems to happen with the models that have the turbo & eco boost in them.
My coolant keeps leaking and car is constantly overheating. I replaced the coolant tank and replaced hoses however it’s still doing the same , overheating and fuming !
Steering wheel locks up intermittently. Never know when the steering wheel may lock up. When able to use steering wheel there is no power assist to help with turning the steering wheel. Hesitant to use car out on the road because I don't know when the power steering may go out and make it very difficult to turn the steering wheel to get off the road to somewhere safe.
Engine Stalls while driving down the road at low RPMs This is a known problem with 2013 Escapes but only limited number of Recalls were given. Very dangerous
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling noise and an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle while the vehicle was idling. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that there was a leak in the fuel line. The mechanic referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
235/55 R-17 99T This is one of a set of two tires I purchased in Oct. 2021. The passenger side front tire had the same issue discovered a few weeks earlier. The steering wheel started to shake while driving. I took the vehicle to the shop who informed me the tread was separating like the passenger tire was separating a few weeks earlier. Again the tire was more worn on the inside versus the outside tread. The replace tire indicator was still in place. It seems very odd that both tires purchased and installed at the same time had the same issue with the tread separating. I have both tires in my garage if anyone wants to inspect them.
I started my Escape to come home (about an hour and half from home). I immediately got a message that said Steering Assist - Immediate Service Required . I turned the car off and restarted it and got the same message. I got really nervous, but thought maybe it would steer like a vehicle without power steering - which I have driven long ago. But the wheel would not turn at all. I could only go forward. I turned the car off and went to the bathroom thinking I was going to have to call my husband to have him come and get me and have my Escape towed home. When I got back in the car and started it up, the message was gong and the vehicle was working. I drove home, scared all the way, that it was gong to happen again and the road was very mountainous with uncountable turns. Thank God I made it home.
On Tuesday July 30,2024 I started to notice the smell of gasoline inside my car, did not drive for 2 days, then on August 3rd the fumes were so strong they were making me sick. Parked car and called dealership Monday morning July 5. Not able to take me in until August 15, 2024. There were no warning lights on dashboard just the smell of gasoline, This problem could start a fire under the hood, hope to get it to dealership and they can resolve the problem.0
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel leak was coming from the engine compartment fuel line. The contact was informed that the engine compartment fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,399. The VIN was not available.
*car shakes as it brakes *coolant leaks (i see in the ford escape recalls there is one for coolant leaking) *upon opening doors it feel a slight stuck before opening. the doors don’t feel intact properly. *rubbers around windows appear loose. windows may not be secured.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine was extremely hot; however, the engine did not overheat. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact's brother, who is an independent mechanic, performed diagnostic test and retrieved DTC code: P26B7. The contact stated that the code indicated that the failure was due to an engine coolant bypass valve failure. The contact was informed that the engine coolant bypass valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,900.
A wheel bearing is unsafe to drive on. Yes my safety and those in the car with me has been at risk. The problem was confirmed by a Ford Dealership and has been inspected by a suspension tech. There was no light in the dashboard or anything to notify me of this issue.
Coolant leak
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the rear liftgate door erroneously became unlatched and opened. The contact later discovered that the rear liftgate locking mechanism was faulty and the liftgate door would not remain closed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 119,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle and raising the hood, the engine was very hot. The contact stated that the coolant level was not checked. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to shift to drive(D), the plastic handle on the lever melted. The contact stated that the two buttons located on the shift lever were very loose due to the handle melting. The contact stated that other plastic parts on the dashboard and interior trim panels were not melted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,859.
Tire 235/55 R-17 99 T. the steering wheel started to shimmy while driving. I took the vehicle into the service shop found that the a section of the tire was indented and the inside of the tire had a bubble. The repair shop stated this was caused by the tread separating. The tire had to be replaced. The tire is 2.5 years old and the tread on the inside was heavily worn while the outside tread was in good shape. The replace tire indicator was still intact. I purchased this tire at the same time i purchased the driver side tire.
The rear door latch does not latch and keep the door closed. There are other recalls for this issue on 2013 Ford Escapes but according to my specific VIN there is no recall. Those other recalls are NHTSA Campaign ID 20V331000 and 16V643000.
It wouldn't steer it ran hot it stalls everytime I was on hwy system fail to warning system not display not updated
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the throttle body assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 13N03. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 36,780.
I own a 2013 Ford escape SEL, and I have had a continuous coolant leak for over a year now. Codes from computer reading have come back as spark plugs and cylinders misfiring. I have taken it to a licensed repair shop. They have informed me that they could not find a coolant leak within the cooling and radiator system. However, after personal research and additional information from, my mechanic, I have come to realize that other issues within the Ford escape 2013 1.6 L eco-boost engine, our part of the problem. In my opinion, the Ford Motor Company has neglected to acknowledge, or repair the issues with this engine and what’s causing the vehicle to lose coolant, then causing other engine problems. It has put me in unsafe situations as acceleration and or overall performance is putting people at risk.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026