2013 Ford Escape Problems: Engine (2,752 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2013 Ford Escape is Engine (39% of 2,752 owner reports). There are 18 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 2,752 complaints · 18 recalls

What problems show up on the 2013 Ford Escape?

1,080 of 2,752 filings named Engine (39% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (332 reports).

There are 18 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Airbags, Body / frame, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2012 has 616 reports on file; this year has 2,752. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2013 Ford Escape

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 18 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 1,080 complaints · 39.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 50
  • Fires 90
  • Injuries 55
  • Deaths 0
All Ford Escape years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 1,080 of 2,752 owner complaints (39.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 1,080 complaints, 39.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 crash reports 51 fire reports 1,080 · 39.2% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 332 complaints, 12.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 crash reports 3 fire reports 332 · 12.1% Steering (STEERING): 282 complaints, 10.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 4 crash reports 282 · 10.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 219 complaints, 8.0% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 13 fire reports 219 · 8.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 145 complaints, 5.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 crash reports 6 fire reports 145 · 5.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 63 complaints, 2.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 1 fire reports 63 · 2.3% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 62 complaints, 2.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 62 · 2.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 39 complaints, 1.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 7 crash reports 39 · 1.4% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 37 complaints, 1.3% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 4 crash reports 37 · 1.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 518 complaints, 18.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 8 crash reports 17 fire reports 518 · 18.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 1,080 39.2% 4 crashes · 51 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 332 12.1% 8 crashes · 3 fires
Steering (STEERING) 282 10.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 219 8.0% 1 crashes · 13 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 145 5.3% 2 crashes · 6 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 63 2.3% 4 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 62 2.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 39 1.4% 7 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 37 1.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 518 18.8% 8 crashes · 17 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2012. 2012-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2012-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2013-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2013-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2013-Q3: 36 owner reports 36 2013-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2014-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q2: 49 owner reports 49 2014-Q3: 39 owner reports 39 2014-Q4: 29 owner reports 29 2015-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2015-Q2: 30 owner reports 30 2015-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2015-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2016-Q1: 31 owner reports 31 2016-Q2: 36 owner reports 36 2016-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2016-Q4: 61 owner reports 61 2017-Q1: 60 owner reports 60 2017-Q2: 56 owner reports 56 2017-Q3: 53 owner reports 53 2017-Q4: 58 owner reports 58 2018-Q1: 82 owner reports 82 2018-Q2: 50 owner reports 50 2018-Q3: 87 owner reports 87 2018-Q4: 107 owner reports 107 2019-Q1: 119 owner reports 119 2019-Q2: 78 owner reports 78 2019-Q3: 85 owner reports 85 2019-Q4: 122 owner reports 122 2020-Q1: 91 owner reports 91 2020-Q2: 48 owner reports 48 2020-Q3: 69 owner reports 69 2020-Q4: 78 owner reports 78 2021-Q1: 66 owner reports 66 2021-Q2: 59 owner reports 59 2021-Q3: 50 owner reports 50 2021-Q4: 55 owner reports 55 2022-Q1: 43 owner reports 43 2022-Q2: 56 owner reports 56 2022-Q3: 89 owner reports 89 2022-Q4: 53 owner reports 53 2023-Q1: 64 owner reports 64 2023-Q2: 51 owner reports 51 2023-Q3: 47 owner reports 47 2023-Q4: 35 owner reports 35 2024-Q1: 40 owner reports 40 2024-Q2: 38 owner reports 38 2024-Q3: 48 owner reports 48 2024-Q4: 36 owner reports 36 2025-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2025-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2025-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2025-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2026-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2026-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 Owner reports Jul 2012 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 12V319000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V319000 Recall campaign 12V336000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V336000 Recall campaign 12V431000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V431000 Recall campaign 12V551000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V551000 Recall campaign 13V085000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V085000 Recall campaign 13V583000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V583000 Recall campaign 13V584000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V584000 Recall campaign 14V164000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V164000 Recall campaign 14V237000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V237000 Recall campaign 14V239000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V239000 Recall campaign 14V495000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V495000 Recall campaign 14V597000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V597000 Recall campaign 15V813000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V813000 Recall campaign 16V643000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V643000 Recall campaign 18V471000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V471000 Recall campaign 20V331000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V331000 Recall campaign 22V413000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V413000 Recall campaign 26V011000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V011000 Investigation PE16001 ● Investigation PE16001 Investigation PE16001 ● Investigation PE16001 Investigation PE18007 ● Investigation PE18007 Investigation PE18007 ● Investigation PE18007 Investigation RQ19005 ● Investigation RQ19005 Investigation RQ19005 ● Investigation RQ19005 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 13V584000 was reported 462 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V164000 was reported 622 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V237000 was reported 309 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V239000 was reported 665 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V495000 was reported 685 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V813000 was reported 1,163 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V643000 was reported 1,510 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V471000 was reported 2,020 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V331000 was reported 2,881 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V413000 was reported 3,445 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V011000 was reported 4,928 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q3 Owner reports 10
2012-Q4 Owner reports 17
2013-Q1 Owner reports 14
2013-Q2 Owner reports 28
2013-Q3 Owner reports 36
2013-Q4 Owner reports 25
2014-Q1 Owner reports 20
2014-Q2 Owner reports 49
2014-Q3 Owner reports 39
2014-Q4 Owner reports 29
2015-Q1 Owner reports 23
2015-Q2 Owner reports 30
2015-Q3 Owner reports 38
2015-Q4 Owner reports 30
2016-Q1 Owner reports 31
2016-Q2 Owner reports 36
2016-Q3 Owner reports 38
2016-Q4 Owner reports 61
2017-Q1 Owner reports 60
2017-Q2 Owner reports 56
2017-Q3 Owner reports 53
2017-Q4 Owner reports 58
2018-Q1 Owner reports 82
2018-Q2 Owner reports 50
2018-Q3 Owner reports 87
2018-Q4 Owner reports 107
2019-Q1 Owner reports 119
2019-Q2 Owner reports 78
2019-Q3 Owner reports 85
2019-Q4 Owner reports 122
2020-Q1 Owner reports 91
2020-Q2 Owner reports 48
2020-Q3 Owner reports 69
2020-Q4 Owner reports 78
2021-Q1 Owner reports 66
2021-Q2 Owner reports 59
2021-Q3 Owner reports 50
2021-Q4 Owner reports 55
2022-Q1 Owner reports 43
2022-Q2 Owner reports 56
2022-Q3 Owner reports 89
2022-Q4 Owner reports 53
2023-Q1 Owner reports 64
2023-Q2 Owner reports 51
2023-Q3 Owner reports 47
2023-Q4 Owner reports 35
2024-Q1 Owner reports 40
2024-Q2 Owner reports 38
2024-Q3 Owner reports 48
2024-Q4 Owner reports 36
2025-Q1 Owner reports 29
2025-Q2 Owner reports 23
2025-Q3 Owner reports 18
2025-Q4 Owner reports 13
2026-Q1 Owner reports 23
2026-Q2 Owner reports 6
2026-Q3 Owner reports 13
Recall campaign 1 12V319000
Recall campaign 1 12V336000
Recall campaign 1 12V431000
Recall campaign 1 12V551000
Recall campaign 1 13V085000
Recall campaign 1 13V583000
Recall campaign 1 13V584000
Recall campaign 1 14V164000
Recall campaign 1 14V237000
Recall campaign 1 14V239000
Recall campaign 1 14V495000
Recall campaign 1 14V597000
Recall campaign 1 15V813000
Recall campaign 1 16V643000
Recall campaign 1 18V471000
Recall campaign 1 20V331000
Recall campaign 1 22V413000
Recall campaign 1 26V011000
Defect investigation 1 PE16001
Defect investigation 1 PE16001
Defect investigation 1 PE18007
Defect investigation 1 PE18007
Defect investigation 1 RQ19005
Defect investigation 1 RQ19005
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (18)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Airbags, Body / frame, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 12V319000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    THE REDUCED CLEARANCE MAY RESULT IN THE DRIVER’S FOOT CONTACTING THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE TRANSFERRING THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING AND LEFT-SIDE CONSOLE TRIM PANEL REPLACED WITH A NEW PANEL, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 12V336000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    If this leak occurs in the presence of an ignition source, there is an increased risk of a fire and/or personal injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify and instruct owners to stop driving their vehicles and contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer to arrange pick-up of their vehicle. Customers will be provided with a rental vehicle if needed. The dealer will replace the engine compartment fuel line, free charge. The recall began on August 10, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 12V431000

    Safety recall 12V431000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    As leaking engine coolant evaporates on the hot engine, the glycol may ignite causing an engine compartment fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will seal the existing plug and add a secondary plug cover, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 11, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 12V551000

    Safety recall 12V551000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicle’s hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine for coolant system leaks and reprogram the vehicle’s powertrain control module and instrument cluster with an updated calibration and overheat strategy software. There will be no charge to owners for this service. Owners were recently notified to contact dealers to arrange for alternative transportation as Ford developed a remedy. Owners will be shortly receiving notifications to contact Ford dealers to schedule the free remedy repair. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 13V085000

    Safety recall 13V085000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 13V583000

    Safety recall 13V583000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Leaking engine oil may come into contact with a hot engine surface potentially resulting in an engine compartment fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shielding, cooling and control systems, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S12.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 13V584000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners and dealers will inspect the engine compartment fuel line, and if necessary, replace it, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S12.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 14V164000

    Safety recall 14V164000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 14V237000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 14V239000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    A door that opens unexpectedly may result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 14V495000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 14V597000

    Safety recall 14V597000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Recall campaign 15V813000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Recall campaign 16V643000

    Safety recall 16V643000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Recall campaign 18V471000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Recall campaign 20V331000

    Safety recall 20V331000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  17. Recall campaign 22V413000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  18. Recall campaign 26V011000

    Safety recall 26V011000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 2,752 complaints · page 1 of 111
2026-09-28Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11767334
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Performance issues after Eco boost icon stopped appearing on Dash, followed by a Check Engine Light that was intermittent for a few days. Vehicle would fail after ignition and would lose pressure and RPMs directly after fueling vehicle. Fuel Line clear would fix issue, Had repair shop check battery and alternator with no issue found. Days following would smell slight gasoline odor from exhaust while on, smell moved to Engine bay and became overpowering. Had a Technician check and confirmed both the Fuel Line had ruptured and was actively dripping into Engine Bay, as well as the EVAP Purge Line had become completely broken off of the manifold. No active Recalls for this Vehicle but reading recent Complaints about this exact issue for this exact model and make. Vehicle @ 70,100 miles only two owners previous. Risk of Fire Hazard and Death.
2026-09-14Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11764119
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was fire coming from under the hood. The contact turned off the vehicle, opened the hood, and extinguished the fire using coolant stored in the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire had started at the fuel line connector. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle when the vehicle was previously started. The manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, was notified of the failure by phone and referred the contact to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
2026-09-10Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11763508
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I recently purchased this vehicle for 2400.00 from a private seller. Within 3 weeks of very minor driving the car got 1 block from home and showed very hot and dumped all the coolant. And that was the 1st time it had been driven that day and it was 69 degrees outside. We let it sit for about a week and refilled the coolant. It drove great for about 2 weeks and then out of the blue it stalls while I'm driving it down the road. Had it towed home and my mechanic came and did a tune up. We had very fouled plugs and replaced all the coil wires. Put in a emissions treatment as well as checking everything. It started after killing my battery several times and seemed to be fine. Drove it around the block and it stalled after being fine only to find coolant in the spark plug areas and somehow my vin isn't listed in the recall. My mechanic said I should write you guys to let you know that I should be included as he believes that is exactly what happened to me. Please help. Thank you
2026-09-10Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11763495
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission failure needing full replacement
2026-09-04Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11762054
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Driver door would won’t latch I tried wd40 and put the latch back in place noting working I thought I should notify that it is a safety risk
2026-08-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11760097
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheating warning light illuminated. The contact noticed an unusual odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a failure associated with an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in a recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
2026-08-12Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11756424
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact's son owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled with an unknown message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact's son pulled off to the shoulder of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and went into LIMP Mode and drove slowly back to the residence. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
2026-08-12Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11756415
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The system that failed was the rear passenger door latch. The door will not latch and I checked the door latch and it moves freely. My vehicle also is telling me that my rear passenger door is open
2026-07-30Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11753713
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Car caught fire in engine, near transmission
2026-07-24Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11752579
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway, the front passenger’s side door suddenly came ajar. The "Passenger Door Ajar" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact called a local dealer and was advised of the cost for the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 94,996.

Ford Escape Complaints by Model Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Ford Escape?

Owners named Engine most often — 1,080 of 2,752 reports (39%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2013 Ford Escape?

NHTSA lists 18 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Airbags, Body / frame, Electrical, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Ford Escape?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources