2013 Ford Escape Complaint Log

car is in park but when I tried to come out of park the arm move but it won't shift out of park.

test

UNKNOWN

VDP TEST

Transmission stopped working. It completely disengaged and i was unable to move the vehicle in the middle of an intersection. This created a potentially fatal breakdown.

Engine Coolant Intrusion. During normal operation coolant leaks into the engine cylinders causing power loss and eventual overheating once the coolant system runs out of coolant. This prompts an emergency shutoff of the vehicle into "limp mode"

This was a recall earlier, twice, and it was supposedly fixed but the fuel vacuum line to the gas tank is leaking and giving off gasoline odors in the passenger area. Also another recall that was supposedly taken care of is an oil leak that is occuring often. The oil was changed only a month ago and already the oil has just about all leaked out. Both of these issues are fire hazards and the fuel leakage can can the operator or passengers to succomb to carbon minoxide. These were told to us by a Ford dealer who put the car on a diagnostic but they are saying that the recall is over and it will cost $1,400. for the fix. I bought this car, in June 2025 ;from a used car dealer. I am still paying on it. I never receive a car history of any kind from this dealer. . I had no idea that there were 18 recalls on this vehicle. That is really a lot. If either of these problems were fixed on a recall, could they re-occur again. On this particular fuel re-call, I read that it had to be done again because the first recall fix was not done well. I do not have $1,400. to fix this. I am an [XXX] senior woman and am buying this car for my daughter. It seems to me that one a recall is made that it is a permanent thing until there is an assurance that it is fixed and won't happen again. It also seems to me that a vehicle that has that many recalls should not be allowed to be sold to the public. Can I hold the dealer who sold it to me accountable for not letting me know about the recalls or not letting me know the history of the vehicle? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

As I was traveling down hwy [XXX] the ford escape lost power and started excessively smoking. When I looked under the hood flames were coming from the passenger side of the suv under the hood. The fire begin to grow and finally engulfed the entire front of the suv and moved to the interior of the suv before the fire department arrived. The vehicle has not been inspected as this happened last night [XXX]. The engine light and oil light appeared before the suv shut down. I purchased the vehicle on [XXX] I did research and found a recall on the 2013 ford escape. Please see below. A 2013 Ford Escape may catch fire primarily due to engine overheating caused by a cracked cylinder head, leading to oil leaks, or due to a faulty engine block heater that can short circuit. Specifically, models with the 1.6L EcoBoost engine are prone to these issues, with several recalls issued for fire hazards. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was parking vehicle & noticed from center console burning smoke coming from heater vents & middle console. I turned it off right away, waited a while & it stopped, driving at 60mph a back & forth forward & back hesitation or vibration. Shifting back & forth, No check engine light, but I feel that this vehicle has the recalls that are listed for this same year model & it has never being corrected. I need to bring this vehicle to a Ford dealership to get it checked. I'm in the Madison Wisconsin area, please have this matter taken care ove. 2013 Ford escape 2.0L

Failed part: Electronic Steering Gear Assembly. Starting January 15th 2026 this car began having steering problems, since then it has occurred 2 more times. I immediately determined this car was undrivable because it seemed to be locked but in each situation (1) I was parked along side a curb in (2) a parking lot (3) or in other non-dangerous locations. Had I been driving on a street or highway I am certain I would have crashed. The first time this occurred I stopped turned off the engine, restarted it which unlocked it so I was able to continue safely, in the following 2 incidents this action did not work. On one occasion I stopped at a Ford Dealership & Service Center, described the issue to the agent who stated it sounds like the above assembly. I did not leave it because I was driving my other car. Upon returning home I took it in for service at my local mechanic. He detected code U3000-53 for the Power Steering. I authorized repair. No warning lights appeared on the console displays. Note 2 Invoices attached. My repair invoice is the one totaling $3,471 printed 03/04/2026 but please refer to earlier on printed 02/24/2026 (original quote) because it includes additional details.

Was opening the moon rooftop And I noticed smoke started coming from the middle of the radio / navigation system, all through vents smoke coming out something was burning I shut the vehicle, and waited about 10 minutes till it went away Don't know why this happened, but I'm curious that the recalls that coming up for this vehicle are very significant, running hesitation & smell of burning, vibration in front of vehicle

My car is the 2013 Ford Escape SEL 1.6 L ecoboost and have had same issue as the recalled 2013 ford escape sel 1.6L economist with over heating,thermostat,and cracked head with coolant leaking into head,why is my car not on recall also.I know this from diagnosis that was ran.

I took my car in for a safety recall for the bushing on the transmission. A short time after getting it back my cabin filled with smoke when I used the remote start. I had never had this problem until it came back from the dealer. so I stopped using the remote start! but after that the car's cabin began filling with acrid smoke whenever it idled for more than a minute. It now fills with smoke when sitting at a stop sign or in slow traffic, so i have to open the windows to breathe! On top of that the transmission started slipping in park again! I don't think they actually fixed it. and that they may have caused the smoke problem. there are no warning lights going on. I am [XXX] and on socsec. I need my car to be safe! I have been dealing with this for a while now because I don't trust the dealer now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger seated in the front passenger's seat became aware of smoke inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the engine cover had cracked and that there was an oil leak coming from the engine. The independent mechanic cleaned up the oil from underneath the engine and became aware that the wires and additional parts underneath the engine were burned. The contact was informed that there had been a fire underneath the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle could have caught on fire. The contact referenced an unknown recall, but the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle in the winter, the coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the coolant sensor needed to be replaced. The coolant sensor was replaced; however, the warning light remained illuminated. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the model year was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two different occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the current failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

The coolant leaks into the engine. I had the coolant container replaced as well as the coolant bypass valve.Coolant still leaks into the engine and container has to be filled every day. It’s unsafe to drive. It stalls. The mechanic says it’s dangerous and to get another car but I can’t. There is a class action for same issue. Coolant leak has destroyed the engine making it unsafe to drive. I can’t afford another car for my kids and I. Mechanic says his mom had same issue with her ford escape and it’s a fatal engine flaw and u safe to drive. This has been a problem since I purchased the car. I finally could afford to get the new container thinking that was the leak problem but it wasn’t. Then the coolant bypass valve broke too. I’ll put the date the repairs were made but this has been a problem with coolant contaminating the engine forever.

I bought a 2013 escape 3-4 months ago. It had a clear car fax as well as clean on Ford.com. recently the air bag light has been flashing on and as time has gone on, it is staying on longer. I just had it diagnosed at a Ford Dealership and was told it was an air bag sensor, with a cost of over $2000. After digging deeper, I discovered that the Air Bag and sensors were replaced in 2016 under the recalls at the time. I understand that this was done and I am only asking for some financial assistance as I can no longer drive my escape. I know i bought an older car, but Ford will not help with any assistance and it seems they have an obligation since this problem has been happening over and over. i worked in Ford dealerships for over 40 years. Please help.

This vehicle is going through coolant constantly. I couod not find a leak. I did find a recall FORD had for a cup plug and the cylinder head that leaks. My vehicle is outside the date range it looks like but looking under cylinder 2 coil pack I found that the cup head is visually leaking. Trying to see if this can be fixed under that recall.

I own a Ford Escape SE with 1.6 L eco boost engine. The vehicle started having loss of power and started smoking under the hood. The car is now not drivable and it’s the same issue people have been having with this engine. The engine made a popping sound with no warning beforehand and stopped in the middle of the highway. No fluids leaking but engine has failed. Engine temp gauge didn’t move but car was overheated. The engine is bad and needs to be replaced Spoke to Endurance warranty and they said the engine has 2 service alerts for same issue and my research corroborates as there is a lawsuit pending over that engine. However Ford continently says there isn’t an issue regarding my VIN but the engine is the original OEM engine that has had issues in the past reported by numerous other owners of the same engine.

My wastegate solenoid in my turbo is over-boosting. I have replaced it once and it’s still an issue. I also am leaking coolant heavily. Ive seen 2013 ford escapes engine’s like mine have recalls stating 1.6L Engine Overheating & Fire Risk: A major recall involved 1.6L engines where a cylinder head cup plug could fail, causing coolant loss and potential fire. Another recall addressed fuel lines that could leak, causing fire risks. I’ve looked on Carfax, NHTSA.gov, and Ford.com to see if my car has the recall alert and it says it does not but I have the same exact issues.

Coolant intrusion on 2.0L ecoboost engine due to cracked cylinder head. Ford is aware of this issue yet has refused to issue a recall or offer a replacement to those affected as they have done for the 1.6L engines. The engine now needs to be fully replaced out of my own pocket.

The car caught on fire from the engine

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the contact's uncle was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's aunt called the contact's cell phone and informed the contact of smoke coming from underneath the contact's vehicle. The contact's aunt was trailing behind the contact's vehicle as they were traveling. The contact's uncle drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and turned the vehicle off. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact and all the occupants of the vehicle exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed a lot of smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact then noticed flames coming from underneath the vehicle and underneath the hood. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact stated that the vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact stated that the vehicle was consumed in the fire. In addition, the Police and the fire department advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

My 2013 Ford Escape had safety recall 22S43 (NHTSA 22V413000) completed by a Ford dealer in January 2023. That recall was supposed to fix a defect in which the shift cable bushing can detach from the transmission, potentially allowing the transmission to remain in gear even when the shifter shows “Park.” After the recall repair, the same issue has occurred again — the bushing has disconnected from the transmission lever, creating the same roll-away risk that the recall was intended to correct. When this happens, the gear selector shows “Park,” but the vehicle can still move. Ford Motor Company Customer Service told me that because more than 12 months or 12,000 miles have passed since the recall repair, they will not cover it again. However, this is the same safety defect reoccurring after the recall remedy. It appears that the recall repair did not permanently correct the problem, and the part may still be defective or the cable end may have worn prematurely. I am submitting this report because the defect has returned after the recall was supposedly completed, and I believe other owners may also experience repeat failures that pose a roll-away safety risk.

Component: Engine and Engine Cooling: Cooling System (Thermostat Housing / Water Outlet) What happened: My 2013 Ford Escape developed a fast coolant leak from the thermostat housing/water outlet. Coolant drains quickly and the engine overheats within minutes. The engine has overheated twice while driving on the highway, which created a dangerous situation. This matches the overheating and coolant loss problems covered under Ford recalls 17S09 and 18S07, but my VIN is not included. How often: The leak happens continuously while driving. Coolant loss occurs rapidly and overheating follows if coolant isn’t refilled. Injuries/fires/crashes: No. The engine overheated twice on the highway, but I was able to pull over safely each time. Inspected or repaired: Yes. A mechanic diagnosed a coolant leak from the thermostat housing. Ford replaced the water pump and gasket in 2015 for a similar leak. Concern: Recurring safety issue identical to known Ford cooling system recalls. Requesting investigation or recall expansion for Escapes with fast coolant leaks and overheating.

When I change gears to P or R the car shut down , also it shakes when I break

Purchased this ford escape for our granddaughter with in the last 2 years as a used vehicle and during a recent visit to a local ford dealer for another issue, they noticed the rear subframe crossmember had rust holes across it. Not sure if it is unsafe to drive due to the main structure looks solid. The front and back of the subframe has the rust holes. No other warning signs except a visual inspection. My question is: has there been an issue with this subframe or any other complaints. or is it normal for this part of the vehicle to wear or without warning. PS: I have a photo

Begin to loose coolant out of resavior. Then began leaking fluid around flange. Had bought extended warranty through A.U.L. Corp. They refused to cover repair. Mechanic at Evetette Ford said it would be right at 400 to replace flange. He said he had been driven hot. Aul Corp said but [XXX] said he was mistaken that the flange was ok just an O ring. It was in shop from Nov. 17, 2025 until Jan 10, 2026. It was never fixed because [XXX] quit working there and new guy said it would be 1,113. 39 with a total bill for over 4,900. So it was towed back to my home where it sits. The latch on.lift gate has never worked so I wasn't able to change brake lights. I purchased the vehicle in February 2025. I've only have about 300 miles on vehicle. I feel like I've been screwed all the way but the used car dealer who should have known by the Ford Dealership, and by the extended warranty company. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Rear view camera going out or showing image upside down. Started approximately beginning of September and has been ongoing since.

The engine light came on a few weeks after I purchased this used vehicle from Ford. I got s diagnosis on it the other day at Oreillys they said “Thermostat coolant”, we added the necessary liquids. Got it checked out at a Ford dealership the other day and they say they see no issue with the thermostat cooler, but an issue with the standpipe. I search online and see a recall about this issue in the past.

I was driving my vehicle. I pulled into a gas station to buy something. When I stopped, smoke was coming out of the engine bay. When I popped the hood, the engine bay was on fire! I put it out with a fire extinguisher. Side Note: I bought this vehicle from a friend. It has not been registered in my name. It will be registered today, 08/15/2025 in Butler County Kansas. Augusta, KS.

coolant leak-put more in and leaks took to Ford Dealer in LaFollette, Tennessee. Was told after review it was the waterpump needed and also if they do that do the timing belt and the drive belt all costs were $ 2,133.00 estimated. The car has approximately 150,000 miles on it. I do not feel with all the safety issues for the coolant and the cars catching fire possibly that we should have to pay for these repairs and it would of been in a recall and fixed by Ford Motor Company. The check engine light soon has come on and remained on. It smells like the car is burning and it will only hold coolant at the minimun level. They stated it is driveable but it will eventually fail, dont you think Ford would have fixed this issue with all the complaints that have come in for the same issue. I do not have the estimate in had at this time as it is at the dealer and they have just called me with what is wrong with vehicle. Their phone number is 423-562-2251 Tim Short Ford

Check engine light came on, Coolant intrusion into the engine block. Ford knew of the issue but had stringent and not widespread enough recalls for this issue.

Right passenger door came unlatched while driving. Had to manually keep the door shut while driving.

Steering wheel locked up hard to turn wheel Consuming(burning) way more gas than normally would

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera displayed a blank image. The contact stated that there was an unknown message displayed. 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 unknown.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the warning light indicating that the Engine was Overheating was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that the engine had overheated. The contact filled the coolant reservoir with coolant. The contact stated that the warning light became illuminated again the following morning while driving approximately 5 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who tested the vehicle and confirmed that the vehicle failed the block test, indicating there was a coolant leak into the engine. The contact stated that the coolant pump was replaced, and the mechanic performed an oil change. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

On June 24, 2025 at approx 4:45 pm, my wife and I were driving home. The car was running fine, no lights, gauges were normal, no info on screen, when all of a sudden the engine shut down, info on screen stated steering assisi unavailable, and smoke started coming from vents. We were aproaching a sharp curve in the road, so I had to manhandle the steering to keep from crashing. Then used the emergency brake to stop after insuring we cleared the curve. By that time, we were unable to see anything for all the smoke inside the car. Nothing would work so we could not roll the electric windows down. When stopped, we opened the doors and jumped out. Then I heard the engine compartment crackling due to a fire. Luckily, we escaped with no injuries except for smoke inhalation. I have been driving for over 58 years and doing mechanical repairs for over 60 years. I have never experienced anything like this. We bought this car new and I have maintained it in 'like new' condition since. Now it is completely destroyed. I also know Ford has had recalls on this vehicle and we have taken care of all these except the one on the shifter linkage bushing. I am very concerned something went very wrong with this car and others may, too. Plus, I am a dedicated Ford owner and may be concerned on replacing with something else after this terrifying incident.

Ford recall 14s21 was performed on this vehicle in 2015. I currently have a DTC b10a2. The code indicates that the restraint control module has failed. I contacted the local ford dealer, Cavalier Ford, and was told that the item was out of warranty. The issue is safety. The representative that I spoke with did not understand that the item that was the focus of the original recall has failed. Based on the original recall, the air bags and belt pretensioner could fail in the event of an accident. The replacement of the original item does not provide long term protection since it has failed again.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a gas station and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for several minutes, and the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The contact parked the vehicle at the gas station. The vehicle was not yet towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the rear driver’s side control arm detached from the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle momentarily. However, the contact was able to control the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe had corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced because metal fragments were found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Engine Coolant Low" and "High Temperature Pull Over Safely" were displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact added water to the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that water leaked from the reservoir after the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Purchased a car from used dealership less than 24 hours later check engine light came on white smoke was coming out of the exhaust pipes displayed that coolant level was low . Had it diagnosed it is backfiring as well and it’s running hot there were 18 recalls that had same issues however it’s saying I have 0.

Recall 14517 check. Engine is stalling and failing in idle, but is able to start. I’m

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his foot was depressing the accelerator pedal, the back of the contact’s foot would strike the brake pedal due to a reduced clearance between the accelerator and brake pedals. The contact stated that failure restricted the ability to properly depress the brake pedal while driving at highway speeds. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V319000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Structure); and related the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

My favorite

Vehicle startered to deccelerate and lose engine functionality while I was going 60mph on the freeway. Had to involuntarily stop in traffic. No system warnings were on or lights. After the incident mechanic saw a head gasket failure just as other models and coolant had leaked into cylinder two. Seems to be a recurring problem with these models .

While driving on a city street at low speeds and good road conditions the rear torsion(stabilizer) bar cracked and broke off its mount and flipped the rear wheel sideways. This was extremely providential in that had this occurred at high speeds the results would have been disastrous for all around and in the vehicle. The incident occurred fortunately right at a location where there was a service to fix it. I want this incident to register with you because it may save someone's life. Please take this seriously. THIS WAS MY VEHICLE AND NOW IT IS MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE.

The transmission in my vehicle failed and had to be completely rebuilt before the car even reached 90,000 miles. Additionally, the vehicle has been leaking coolant. I have read that there are known recalls for coolant leaks on vehicles of the same year, make, and model as mine, which may be related to the issue I’m experiencing. Component or system that failed: The transmission failed and required a full rebuild. The coolant system is also leaking. Both systems are available for inspection if needed. •Safety risk: The transmission failure caused sudden performance issues, which could have led to an accident if it had happened while driving at highway speeds. The coolant leak puts the engine at risk of overheating, which could also lead to a breakdown or safety hazard while on the road. •Reproduction or confirmation: The transmission issue was confirmed by a certified transmission repair shop that performed the rebuild. The coolant leak is ongoing and observable. •Inspection by third parties: The transmission was inspected and rebuilt by an independent service center. The coolant leak has not yet been officially diagnosed by a dealership, but I plan to have it inspected soon. •Warning lamps or messages: There were no warning lamps for the transmission before failure, but symptoms such as slipping and rough shifting occurred prior to the rebuild. For the coolant leak, low coolant level warnings and engine temperature alerts have appeared intermittently, which first began a few months ago.