2013 Ford Escape: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Ford Escape: 18 recalls, 2750 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
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Recalls
18 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Body & structure, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #12V319000 · 2012 · 8,266 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to mis-positioned carpet padding the center console trim panel May be pushed outboard of the intended position, reducing clearance relative to the pedal package.
Why it matters: The reduced clearance May result in the driverâs foot contacting the side of the brake pedal while transferring the foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, increasing stopping distances and the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the carpet padding and left-side console trim panel replaced with a new panel, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2012.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #12V336000 · 2012 · 9,320 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engine. These vehicles have an engine compartment fuel line which May split, resulting in a leak.
Why it matters: If this leak occurs in the presence of an ignition source, there is an increased risk of a fire and/or personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify and instruct owners to stop driving their vehicles and contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer to arrange pick-up of their vehicle. Customers will be provided with a rental vehicle if needed. The dealer will replace the engine compartment fuel line, free charge. The recall began on August…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #12V431000 · 2012 · 6,146 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engines. The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) May become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant.
Why it matters: As leaking engine coolant evaporates on the hot engine, the glycol May ignite causing an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will seal the existing plug and add a secondary plug cover, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 11, 2012.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #12V551000 · 2012 · 80,057 vehicles
What's wrong: This 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 model year 2013 fusion vehicles manufactured from February 3, 2012, through November 29, 2012, equipped with 1.6l engines. Coolant system leaks May cause the engines to overheat and leak flammable…
Why it matters: If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicleâs hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine for coolant system leaks and reprogram the vehicleâs powertrain control module and instrument cluster with an updated calibration and overheat strategy software. There will be no charge to owners for this service. Owners were recently…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #13V085000 · 2013 · 5,675 vehicles
What's wrong: The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock May not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Why it matters: The operator May incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door May be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #13V584000 · 2013 · 9,469 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engine subject to prior safety recall NHTSA 12v-336. In some cases, the engine compartment fuel line May have been installed incorrectly when repaired under the prior recall. The misinstalled fuel line could chafe and eventually leak fuel.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will inspect the engine compartment fuel line, and if necessary, replace it, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014.
Engine Vehicle recall #13V583000 · 2013 · 139,917 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engines. The affected vehicles May experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which May cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.
Why it matters: Leaking engine oil May come into contact with a hot engine surface potentially resulting in an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shielding, cooling and control systems, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V164000 · 2014 · 43,135 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver and passenger seatback assemblies May have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs May have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 207, "seating systems."
Why it matters: The back of the subject seats May become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #14V239000 · 2014 · 581,986 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel, the affected vehicles have doors that May be difficult to close or May possibly open while driving.
Why it matters: A door that opens unexpectedly May result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #14V237000 · 2014 · 594,785 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (rcm) May have errors in the programming software which May result in a delayed deployment of the side-curtain rollover air bag.
Why it matters: If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the rcm, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V495000 · 2014 · 133,227 vehicles
What's wrong: 0 liter engines and focus st vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the manifold absolute pressure (map) sensor May provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Why it matters: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #14V597000 · 2014 · 746,842 vehicles
What's wrong: The coating on portions of the restraint control module (rcm) May crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board May short.
Why it matters: The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rcm, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V813000 · 2015 · 9,017 vehicles
What's wrong: Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the manifold absolute pressure (map) sensor May provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Why it matters: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #16V643000 · 2016 · 2,046,297 vehicles
What's wrong: A component within the door latches May break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V471000 · 2018 · 504,182 vehicles
What's wrong: The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission May degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission May not be in park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Why it matters: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle May unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V331000 · 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15v-246, 16v-643 or 17v-210, however the repair May not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches May break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to…
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #22V413000 · 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles
What's wrong: The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission May degrade or detach.
Why it matters: A damaged or missing bushing May prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle May roll after the driver selects the 'park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th quarter 2022. Owner…
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V011000 · 2026 · 116,672 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l engine. The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 90 mention a fire, 54 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (1265): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (487), leaks (396), warning light on (375).
- Transmission & drivetrain (401): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (186), stalls / loses power (101), warning light on (98).
- Electrical (339): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (162), electrical failure (128), warning light on (84).
- Steering (302): the most common themes are steering problems (286), warning light on (59).
The 2013 Ford Escape has 2750 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 27 Escape model years for complaints (2.7× the average Escape year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (403 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 75,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (603 complaints, 1 recalls), 2014 (2088 complaints, 16 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 30 | 25 | Regular |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Ford Escape.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 18 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Ford Escape. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Escape problems?
Owners have filed 2750 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (1265), transmission & drivetrain (401), electrical (339).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Escape get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic (S6)), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Ford Escape repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.