10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 6
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 12 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 66,774 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I went thru the car wash and tried to put my car from neutral to drive and the gear jumped into park jaming the transmission into reverse. Then I lost all power, I couldn't start my car and began to be rear ended by another car wash customer. I had to habe the car towed for repairs & rent a car until repairs were completed. I researched and found there are recalls from Ford on the transmission shifter cable. Ford refused to acknowledge the recall for my vehicle. I was told to pay for repairs and "if" a recall comes available then I would be compensated. Thank god I wasn't driving on the highway at the point this bushing broke loose! this is a hazard for more than a few 2013 Ford Escapes and should have been included in the list of VIN# for the recall. Very unsatisfied from the Ford company.
- King53yy, MI, USA
Purchased Ford Escape in 2014. Had 39,000 miles on it. The vehicle started having issues with the shifting in the engine. Took it to a Ford dealership and was informed it would cost several thousand dollars to repair it. I took the Escape to a reputable shop in town and they fixed it. The cost was $4,346. It has come to my attention there is a court settlement to reimburse buyers who were indisposed by the deficiency of this vehicle. Please reimburse me for faulty parts.
- Carlisle, IA, USA
Ecoboost engine has internal leaks. Cooling system has leaks and faulty sensors. Car overheats or thinks it's overheating and shuts down. While on a dangerous highway with no where to pull over car overheated so I had to stop in the middle of the highway. Finding several complaints about the same issues. Some cars even catching fire.
- Jonestown, TX, USA
In my driveway, I put the car into park and turned vehicle off. It felt odd, so I tried to turn the car back on and vehicle would not turn on. A message saying the vehicle was not in park displayed. When I put one leg on the ground to exit the vehicle with slight pressure the vehicle moved backward. After releasing gear shift, I was able to put vehicle in neutral. The vehicle will start and drive, but will not go into park. After talking to Ford service department, I looked for recall for this problem. One exists for the make and model but this car doesn't qualify even though it appears numerous complaints have been filed.
- Azle, TX, USA
I have had my Escape for about 1yr. And for the past 6 months I have been getting a code P0234 which was read at a local auto zone which reads wastegate solenoid this is happening to me and many many other people around the world the solenoid itself keeps going bad and causing issues such as acceleration problems, losing power and dying down while driving even on an interstate and highways and sometimes it'll do it 2 or 3 times in a row before finally running and getting me where I need to go such as work or my child's school or doctor appointments or to the store. This issue should've been resolved by Ford making it so the wastegate can keep up with the turbocharge in the Ford Escape 1.6L. Other people used their power train warranties to have it fixed just to have to pay out of pocket for another one. It is a very serious ongoing issue with not just my car but others and the part is $200 each time it needs replaced and it is literally never the hoses it's the solenoid giving too much boost over 4psi which is absolutely ridiculous these cars need recalled the wastegate isn't compatible to keep up with the turbocharge itself in the car and if not fixed then people have to replace the turbo itself or buy a new engine or replace head gaskets and it could cause a serious wreck if someone is driving going 70mph on a highway and then boom your car died all because of a solenoid that doesn't work for the 2013 Ford Escape because Ford doesn't want to deal with the fact these cars are not road material and they are not safe for anyone to drive. They sincerely need recalled and nobody should have to pay for something that should've been dealt with before being sent out to the world. I really hope you consider investigating and getting these cars recalled. It'll save everyone time, effort, and money. I have proof of all the forums I could find too of the same issues I am having.
- Lyndon, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing into a parking space, the gear shifter failed to shift from drive to reverse. The gear shifter was shifted to park but indicated that the vehicle was in neutral. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic nor dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact researched the failure online and found NHTSA campaign number: 18V471000 (power train) which he linked to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall due to the vehicle's manufacture date. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
- Minotola, NJ, USA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Maywood, IL, USA