2013 Ford Escape Problems

2,748 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict AVOID 5/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Engine1267
Power Train401
Electrical System340
Steering302
Unknown Or Other299
Fuel/Propulsion System247

In the owners’ words

“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”NHTSA complaint, 2013 Ford Escape owner
“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 ”NHTSA complaint, 2013 Ford Escape owner
“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 tes”NHTSA complaint, 2013 Ford Escape owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
16/07/2018Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor ShiftFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the
07/05/2014Structure:Body:DoorFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014. Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door out
02/12/2015Electrical System:Wiring SAFETYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficien
06/09/2016Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within th
26/09/2014Air Bags SAFETYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Es
07/05/2014Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive SAFETYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result i
11/08/2014Electrical System:Wiring SAFETYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012
02/04/2014Seats:Front Assembly:ReclinerFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012,
03/12/2012Engine And Engine CoolingThis is an update to a recently announced recall. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through November 26, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines, as well as certain mo
06/07/2012Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages SAFETYFORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2012 THROUGH JUNE 7, 2012. DUE TO MIS-POSITIONED CARPET PADDING THE CENTER CONSOLE TRIM PANEL MAY BE PUSHED OUTBOARD OF THE INTENDED P

Questions owners ask

Is the 2013 Ford Escape reliable?

On the federal record it scores 5/100: 2,748 owner complaints (211.38 per year on the road) and 12 recall campaigns, 6 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford Escape?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 1267 of 2856 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2013 Ford Escape scored 5/100 on the federal record.

Full 2013 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Escape yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking