Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Ford Escape problems

Owners filed 2,757 complaints about the 2013 Ford Escape with NHTSA between Jul 2012 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (1,269).

Complaints
2,757
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
50
Reported by owners
Fires
91
Reported by owners
Injuries
55
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine1,269
  2. Power train402
  3. Electrical system340
  4. Steering303
  5. Fuel/propulsion system248
  6. Engine and engine cooling175
  7. Vehicle speed control92
  8. Structure88
  9. Latches/locks/linkages65
  10. Service brakes64
  11. Air bags55
  12. Seat belts43
  13. Fuel system, gasoline40
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)40

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201227
2013103
2014138
2015121
2016168
2017227
2018326
2019404
2020286
2021230
2022241
2023197
2024161
202583
202645

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

1,269 reports8 crashes68 fires1 related recall
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2026Unknown or other, EngineODI 11763508

Power train

402 reports10 crashes7 fires2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11756424

Electrical system

340 reports3 crashes15 fires2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11720463

Steering

303 reports5 crashes
“The steering wheel assist failed when I turned the car on to leave work. I had to get it towed to a car repair shop and they told me the entire steering rack had to be replaced because the assist is built into the rack.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026SteeringODI 11772762

Fuel/propulsion system

248 reports1 crash13 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11767334

Engine and engine cooling

175 reports2 fires2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Engine and engine coolingODI 11760097
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.