2013 FORD ESCAPE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Escape. This model year has 2,737 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2013 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Ford Escape. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 1,437 | 8 | 68 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 399 | 10 | 7 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 340 | 3 | 15 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 302 | 5 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 296 | 3 | 12 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 246 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 91 | 5 | 3 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 87 | 3 | 4 | — | |
| Brake System | 74 | 8 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 64 | 3 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 55 | 11 | 2 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 43 | 5 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 41 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 40 | — | 2 | — | |
| Gasoline | 39 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 33 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 32 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 26 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Diesel | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 2,737 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Over time the car began to lose coolant. I read codes and troubleshot the systems, replacing a sensor first, no visible leak from collant hoses was discovered. I took the car to bethlehem ford and after a diagnostics process told me there was a crack in the engine on cylinder thr…
car is in park but when I tried to come out of park the arm move but it won't shift out of park.
UNKNOWN
test
VDP TEST
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the steering wheel became firm while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an indepe…
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.
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…
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 sai…
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 alon…
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 int…
I am experiencing rearview camera issues - Ford to recall 1.74 million vehicles in US over rearview camera issue, NHTSA but everytime an article or alert is issued I check my vin # & not included in recall; but definitely my rear camera is defective.
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"
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 …
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 change…
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, w…
Im having the same issues as the current recall and have been having nonstop issues with my 2013 ford escape that dealerships/mechanics can't seem to figure out or won't figure out, but it says that mine isn't part of that recall, but I believe it should be. Now I have a newborn …
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 s…
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 whe…
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 t…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Ford Escape.
Recalls for 2013 Ford Escape
18 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Escape. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2013 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2013 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2013 Ford Escape has 2,737 NHTSA owner complaints, 50 crash-related, and 18 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (1,437 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Escape?▾
#1: Engine Problems (1,437 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (399 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (340 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Ford Escape?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Ford Escape?▾
The 2013 Ford Escape has 50 crash-related complaints and 88 fire reports out of 2,737 total NHTSA complaints. 55 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes — 18 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Ford Escape. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford Escape?▾
The 2013 Ford Escape has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2013 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.