2013 Ford Escape: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2013 Ford Escape? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 2,737 complaints, with Engine Problems as the top reported area.
2013 Ford Escape Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 5 2013 Ford Escape trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 5 trims analysed.
2013 Ford Escape Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2013 Ford Escape SUV 4x4Official crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
18.5% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
18.5% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Ford Escape has 2,737 owner complaints, 50 crash-related complaints, and 18 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Ford
- Model
- Escape
- Model year
- 2013
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 2,737
- Crash-related complaints
- 50
- Safety recall campaigns
- 18
- Top reported component
- Engine Problems
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 25
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 22 / 29
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2013 Ford Escape Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Transmission / Drivetrain, Electrical Faults. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2013 Ford Escape?
The 2013 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2013 Ford Escape
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the engine for known issues such as hesitation, stalling, or excessive oil consumption.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission, electrical, and steering repairs.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on reported components.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect the engine for known issues such as hesitation, stalling, or excessive oil consumption.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission, electrical, and steering repairs.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on reported components.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2013 Ford Escape, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2013 Ford Escape are heavily concentrated in engine problems, with over half of all reports citing this component. Transmission, electrical, and steering issues also appear frequently. Crash-related complaints are relatively low compared to the total, but the data is consumer-submitted and may not reflect all incidents.
- Engine problems account for the majority of complaints, with 1437 reports.
- Transmission/drivetrain issues are the second most common, with 399 complaints.
- Electrical faults and steering defects each have over 300 complaints.
- Engine Problems
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Electrical Faults
All 2013 Ford Escape Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| 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.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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.
2013 Ford Escape Recalls
18 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Escape. 18 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2013 Ford Escape Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2013 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 2,737 owner complaints, 50 crash-related complaints, and 18 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2013 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
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?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Ford Escape, NHTSA complaints include 50 crash-related reports and 88 fire reports out of 2,737 total complaints. 55 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes. 18 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Ford Escape. A major recall area is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT. 18 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford Escape?▾
The 2013 Ford Escape shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
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.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2013 Ford Escape based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.