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Car · Ford problems

2013 Ford Escape problems

2,753 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (52% of them). NHTSA also lists 135 service bulletins and 18 recall campaigns.

2,753owner complaints
49say a crash was involved
91say a fire was involved
54injuries and deaths reported

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 54. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 2,753 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

18 smaller areas not shown (421 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 135 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2013 Ford Escape. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

  1. SSM 53176Received December 3, 2024

    Some 2013-2016 Escape vehicles may exhibit an ABS warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U2300 after the ABS module is replaced.

  2. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

    While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

  3. SSM 51536Received May 4, 2023

    Body and structure

    For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended.

  4. SSM 51261Received January 6, 2023

    Service brakes

    Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied.

  5. SSM 51181Received November 29, 2022

    Service brakes

    Some 2013-2016 Escape/Fusion/MKZ vehicles may display an error message when updating the All Wheel Drive-ATC Barcode using the IDS service function after installing a new rear drive unit assembly...

  6. SSM 50804Received June 1, 2022

    Electrical system

    Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone...

  7. TSB 22-2104Received March 22, 2022

    Equipment

    Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2022 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2022 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty, 2018-2022...

  8. LTR3756Received December 20, 2021

    Air bags

    49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. The 3 to look at first:

  1. 13V583000November 25, 2013

    Engine

    The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.

  2. 12V551000December 3, 2012

    Engine and engine cooling

    This is an update to a recently announced recall.

  3. 12V431000September 4, 2012

    Engine and engine cooling

    The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) may become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant.

See all 18 recalls for the 2013 Ford Escape, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Escape will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

Engine and engine cooling 1,426 complaints · 52%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 401 complaints · 15%

Electrical system 339 complaints · 12%

Steering 303 complaints · 11%

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Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

0 of 17 characters

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2013 Ford Escape: questions

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

Of the 2,753 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Escape, 1,426 (52%) name engine and engine cooling, and 401 (15%) name power train (transmission and drive). A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2013 Ford Escape reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 49 of the 2,753 complaints as involving a crash and 91 as involving a fire. They also reported 54 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Escape have?

NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 135 repair bulletins for the 2013 Ford Escape.

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Sources

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.