10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,910 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #232

Oct 132020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 148,000 miles
Car is in park, but displays shows the car as being in neutral. Unable to reverse or drive without manually unlocking gear shift. Power steering not working correctly. Which Ford had a recall on power steering and excluded my vehicle. VIN#[xxx] now Ford is excluding my car from the recall for 18S20. I feel that is unfair for Ford to exclude my vehicle based on an early manufacturing date and the car was built in the same facility for the indicated recall 18S20. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mintola, NJ, USA

problem #231

Oct 072020

Escape

  • 136,000 miles
2013 Ford Escape sel 1.6 liter started dying while driving. Starts back up but will die several times then not do it again for a week or so. Some times the check engine light comes on but after you turn off the car and start it back up the light goes off. Smell of gas coming from engine compartment but dealer said no leaks. Ford needs to be held accountable and fix these issues. I can't have my wife or kids driving a car that can die at any time. Should have stayed with the Chevrolet at least that ican work on.

- Andersonville, TN, USA

problem #230

Sep 272020

Escape

  • 112,000 miles
After backing into the driveway, I put moved the shifter into park and turned off the car. I stepped off the brake and the car started rolling down the drive. I was able to put the emergency brake on to stop the rolling. I tried to restart the car and it would not start because the car was not in park. I am able to move the shifter but the transmission does not change gears at all.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #229

Sep 192020

Escape

  • 168,000 miles
Driving on expressway, and was losing speed. My vehicle gas pedal stopped working to have any speed. A bright light came on dashboard: Service transmission, and my vehicle stopped. I had to coast it off expressway so I wouldn't get hit or rear ended. It is currently at the Ford dealership. I had it towed there, but they aren't open til Monday.

- Harrison Township, MI, USA

problem #228

Sep 092020

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was in a driveway and it started to roll backwards. The contact attempted to re-enter the vehicle to stop it while it was rolling backwards and was knocked out of the vehicle and onto the neighborhood street. The vehicle continued to roll and crashed into a parked trailer in a yard across the street. The contact had scrapes on his arms and legs and received treatment for injuries to his shoulder, arm and back. The contact was transported by an ambulance to the emergency room after he was diagnosed at an urgent care center. A police report was filed. The vehicle able to be driven from the scene and parked back in the contact's driveway. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The contact believes the issue may be with the bushing cable not allowing his vehicle to be shifted into park and thus allowed the vehicle to roll. The VIN tool showed no recalls at this time. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Marshfield, MA, USA

problem #227

Sep 102020

Escape

  • 116,000 miles
Transmission began failing approximately September/October 2018, just over 75,000 miles and after the expiration of the warranty. The transmission was rebuilt in January 2019 @ a cost of $3300. The electrical controls (radio & HVAC) on console and dashboard have a shortage and go out regularly. I pointed this shortage out when the vehicle was purchased and I was told it was fixed when I came to pick it up.. there are also issues with the battery. I replaced the battery in November 2018 with a Ford battery. 4 months later, in February 2019 it failed to start due to excessive leakage with corrosive exposure. Ford crossroads replaced it at that time (2019) with another new Ford battery and on September 10, 2020 the battery failed again. Mechanic had to clean up the irregular corrosion on the battery and the posts. Documentation is not available at the time of this post but can be retrieved if requested.

- Knightdale, NC, USA

problem #226

Mar 232020

Escape

  • 16,000 miles
Vehicle will stall while driving, bucks, jerks and shakes while accelerating. Rpms randomly accelerating, not producing enough power to allow vehicle to get up hill. Engine overheating, engine service soon light frequently coming on, especially after sitting out in hot/cold weather for a while. My radio has completely just stopped working, no sound whatsoever. I had hit a deer back in March of 2020, took it to my dealer for repair. When I picked up my vehicle I asked if it was still 'shifting hard.' I assumed since my computer to my car was just dangling after the accident I thought there was something wrong there. But apparently there has been other complaints as far back as 2018. Now, here I am months later and am terrified to drive my car. Will not have my daughter in it, which makes it hard being a single mom. Took it to multiple dealers explaining the situation. Everyone made me seem crazy, it magically didn't do it for them. Now I see I am not the only one!

- Delevan, NY, USA

problem #225

Aug 292020

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
My vehicle will not go in reverse. I spoke to Ford and the said this has a recall called the transmission cable brush. They informed me that the recall was VIN number assigned. I'm having the very problem associate with the recall but they want fix it.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #224

Jul 182020

Escape

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the battery, ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The instrument displayed showed that the front wheel drive was temporary disable. The contact stated that the battery was replaced. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact called lake view Ford Inc., (12381 conneaut lake rd, conneaut lake, pa 16316), and informed the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Conneautville, PA, USA

problem #223

Mar 152020

Escape

  • 40,000 miles
My engine light came on and the guage said high temp get to safe plaace to stop. The car would not go back or forward. The shop put in transmission but it happened again and they put in a guage. Now it is happening again. Each time I have had to have the car towed and repaired. I think this is a matter that needs be be iinvestigated. While I was driving on the highway the indicator came on and within a few minutes the vehicle reduced in speed and started to hesitate. Once I got to a place to stop it would not move. I have spent over $3500 so far and it is happening again. I am going to have to have it towed in again and they it might be the motor. I only have a little over 41000 mile on this vehicle and I can't afford any more cost like this. Please let me know if there are other compliants and what you are doing about this issue.

- Crosby, TX, USA

problem #222

Jul 212020

Escape

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the cable bushing detached from the transmission shifter cable while parking the vehicle. The vehicle was unable to be started or shifted in or out of gear. Oroville Ford, Inc (1350 oro dam blvd E, oroville, ca 95965, 530-533-3313) was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #221

Jun 252020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Vehicle starts shaking really bad when idling at stop lights etc. Took it in and they advised that it is the torque converter and is a known problem with this vehicle and they can not find the part anywhere!

- Eastlake, OH, USA

problem #220

Jun 122020

Escape

  • 104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that at start-up, the gear shifter failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that in order to shift gears, he had to reach down in between the engine and the air filter and manually shift gears with his hands. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 18V471000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #219

Jun 162020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Transmission has gone out.

- Hazel Green, AL, USA

problem #218

Jun 152019

Escape

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure also recurred while stopped and while turning. An unknown Ford dealer was contacted and informed of the failure however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

- Forest Park, GA, USA

problem #217

Mar 132017

Escape 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
At 80,000 miles, while driving on the expressway, the transmission failed completely. Left stranded on the road until a wrecker could take it to the dealer. Had to replace the transmission at full cost, with no assistance from Ford Motor Company. They would not even acknowledge an issue with the transmissions.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #216

Oct 012019

Escape 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
The vehicle was in motion on a 55mph road at night time when the transmission decided to stop working! no prior notifications went off on the car before it stopped working. After I managed to roll to a safe spot I shut of the car, let it cool, then turned it back on. When putting the car in drive it went in reverse! there is a 'cat scratching' like noise happening in the transmission. All of this happened only two month after buying the car. This should not happen to a car!! I have seen recalls on transmissions just like mine however mine did not meet the required date because it was build 2 months before the other 2013 vehicles.

- Hallstead, PA, USA

problem #215

May 312020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
While driving the check engine light stays on with code P0128. I check this code is the thermostat defective or something else causing the problem. I did not notice any coolant loss or leaks is this an internal problem. I think this is a on going problem with this 2013 Ford Escape. Ford should take responsibility and own this problem not the owners of the vehicle.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #214

May 302020

Escape 4-cyl

  • 128,000 miles
Car was in parked. When I put the car in gear, it got stuck in reverse and the car cut out and would not start. Tow truck came to assist and told me that this issue was a recall on Ford cars. I called lexington park dealership to verify and was told that this recall didn't apply to my VIN. Not sure why, if the recall specifically states 2013 and 2014 Ford Escapes which I have. If I am having the same issue as the recall, why am I not covered.

- Great Mills, MD, USA

problem #213

May 102020

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
The transmission shifts really hard from second gear to third gear even in sport mode it jerks very hard when shifting from second gear to third gear and it seems like the vehicle goes to the right when this happens.it is not normal as I've had alot of vehicles in my lifetime and never had this kind of problum

- Holly Springs, NC, USA

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