What 2,743 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Escape Gas

I PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE JULY 2015 AND FOR THE YEAR I HAD IT I WAS FAIRLY PLEASED. I HAD HEARD THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THESE CARS CATCHING FIRE AND WAS AWARE OF THE RECALLS. I HAD BEEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BACK IN JUNE FOR A TUNE-UP AND ASSURED ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE, I HAD BOUGHT IT USED BUT FORD WAS ABLE TO SEARCH THE INFORMATION FROM THE VIN, OR SO THEY SAID. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON THE I-5 NORTH FAST LANE, WHEN THE CAR HAD A WARNING LIGHT SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT MY 4WHEEL DRIVE. THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME UP FROM RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER, THANKFULLY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I COULD SEE THE SMOKE REPLACED WITH FLAMES AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT ON THE DASH. I GRABBED WHAT I COULD AND MY DOG AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET TO US THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. ALTHOUGH PERSONAL ITEMS, AND MY FIRST CAR I PURCHASED ON MY OWN, WAS LOST MY DOG AND I MADE IT OUT ALIVE. AS THE PROCESS OF DEALING WITH INSURANCE BEGAN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FORDS ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. I AM NOW THE 14TH PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. AFTER MORE DIGGING AND NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS TO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS ONLY A HANDFUL OF THEM TOLD ME TO GET THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY TO A SHOP BECAUSE OF FIRE RISK. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE, AND ONE DEALERSHIP EVEN GAVE ME A SHOP NAME THAT THE RECALLS HAD SUPPOSEDLY BEEN DONE AT. I CALLED AND THE SHOP HAD NO RECORDS OF EVEN SEEING THE VEHICLE. I AM AWAITING A LETTER FROM FORDS LEGAL DEPARTMENT BUT THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE. I WALK BUY THE VEHICLES EVERYDAY, SOME WITH BABY SEATS IN THE BACK, AND IT HORRIFIES ME. **ALSO TRYING TO UPLOAD PICTURES BUT IT'S NOT ALLOWING ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918588

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE MESSAGE "VEHICLE OVER HEATING" WAS DISPLAYED BEFORE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO OIL LEAKING UNTO THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 10897049

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EMIT SMOKE FUMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME TO VIEW THE SCENE. NEITHER A POLICE NOR A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WERE INJURIES TO THE CONTACT'S RIGHT HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

NHTSA ODI 10871139

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE COOLANT SYSTEM. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, SMOKE AND A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10851641

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. GOT OUT TO GET A BETTER LOOK WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 10819489

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE EMITTED SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT FLAMES WERE RELEASING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LEAKED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT DEALER SOLD THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V431000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) PERFORMED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10808045

ON 10-25-15, I WAS DRIVING A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME WHEN A LIGHT CAME ON STATING "HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE, PULL OVER SAFELY." WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF PULLING OVER, THE FLAMES CAME OUT FRM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN 5 MINUTES MY VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED INSIDE AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I CONTATED THE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME OF A RECALL THAT OIL COULD LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE AND START A FIRE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER FOR FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I NOTIFIED THEM OF WHAT HAPPENDED AND WAS TOLD THEY TURNED MY CASE OVER TO THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL AND I WOULD RECIEVE A WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM FORD IN 15 BUSINESS DAYS. IHAVE STILL NOT RECIEVED A LETTER AND I WAS TOLD I JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LETTER.

NHTSA ODI 10806389

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A PASSING MOTORIST. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE HAD LEAKED UNTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V431000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 10763016

DRIVING ON ROAD AND HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING CAME ON. PULLED OVER AT FIRST SAFE AREA, A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND IN APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 10761165

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOTICED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V583000 (ENGINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. MA 10/16/15 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10759927

WHILE MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT FRONT FORWARD. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB AND CRASH THRU A STORE FRONT WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI 10743544

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN PLOVER WISCONSIN, SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR INTO THE VEHICLE VIA THE FRONT VENTS. I LOOKED FORWARD AND SAW MASSIVE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RAN. I CALL 911, WHERE IT TOOK 15 FIREMEN AND 500 GAL OF WATER TO PUT OUT THE 10FT FLAMES (SEE FIRE REPORT). THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR HAS BEEN DESTROYED ALONG WITH ALL THE CONTENTS. THE FIRE BROKE THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND MELTED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. FRONT TIRES EXPLODED

NHTSA ODI 10724284

ENGINE WAS MAKING ODD NOISE, RED LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. DRIVER PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR BEGAN SMOKING. DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE. DRIVER CALLED 911 AND WAVED FOR HELP. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES APPROXIMATELY 30 SECOND AFTER DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE. CAR COMPLETELY BURNED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ABNORMALLY IN AND OUT OF GEARS AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. DURING A SECOND APPOINTMENT, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY, THE MOTOR, THE ASSEMBLY CONTROL, THE ASSEMBLY TRANSMISSION, AND THE GASKET. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V495000 (ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10644592

IN ORDER TO PARK IN THE SINGLE BAY OF OUR THREE CAR SIDE ENTRY ATTACHED GARAGE, YOU HAVE TO PULL UP TO THE POST BETWEEN THE DOUBLE AND SINGLE BAYS, BACK UP AND PULL FORWARD. AFTER PULLING TO ABOUT ONE FOOT FROM THE GARAGE SUPPORT POST AND BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE ESCAPE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE POST AND OUR EXPEDITION PARKED IN THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE DOUBLE BAY. IT FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN SLAMMED INTO FROM BEHIND. WITH THE ENGINE RACING I WAS ABLE TO USE THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE. THE POST WAS DRIVEN OVER THREE FEET INTO THE GARAGE AND THE EXPEDITION WAS HIT WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT JUMPED ABOUT AN INCH ONTO THE CEMENT CURB IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. HITTING THE EXPEDITION PREVENTED THE GARAGE POST (WOOD AND BRICK) FROM TOTALLY COLLAPSING. THE ESCAPE HAS THE 1.6L ECO-BOOST ENGINE AND WAS PURCHASED IN OCT. 2012. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 5,904 MILES. AT 5,672 MILES THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS FOR THREE RECALLS 13S12, 14S04 AND 14S03. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618718

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE FLAMES WERE SEEN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONTACT MOVED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IT EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. RK

NHTSA ODI 10587496

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A FORD RECALL NOTICE, BURNING VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. FORD DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF LOSS. AS OF THIS DATE (APRIL 26) FORD HAS NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FIRE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10585124

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SMALL FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V583000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10579216

WHEN I TRIED AGAIN TO START UP MY CAR TODAY, THE POWERTRAIN WAS PRODUCING SMOKE. FORD AGREED TO BUYBACK MY CAR IN MID DECEMBER 2013 BUT THEY HAVE STILL NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR WRITTEN CONTRACT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S RAV DEPT ALONG WITH EMAILING FORD'S TIER1 CUSTOMER SUPPORT EVERYTIME MY CAR HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAVE ALSO LET THE DEALER KNOW OF MY ISSUES. I HAVE TWEETED TO @FORD, @FORDSERVICE, @FORDESCAPE ABOUT MY CAR. THEY ARE AWARE MY CAR'S OVERHEATING AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. NO ONE FROM FORD HAS OFFERED TO PUT ME IN A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY TRY TO REISSUE MY 'LOST' BUYBACK CHECK. THEY'D RATHER ME DRIVE AROUND A CAR THAT CATCHES ON FIRE. I SUSPECT THEY ARE TRYING TO HIT A QUARTERLY GOAL AND ARE STALLING TO Q2. I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR SO I'M SURE MY BUYBACK IS IMPACTING THEIR BUDGETING. THE SMOKE FROM THE POWERTRAIN TRIGGERED MY ASTHMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575270

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES HAD ENGULFED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE . THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE INCIDENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10575020

DRIVING IN PARKING LOT FAN SPEED ACCELERATED AND THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. I TRIED STARTING AGAIN 3 TIMES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN RENO WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPORTED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR CLUTCH COIL IS INTERNAL SHORT CAUSE BURNING SMOKE. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE AIR COMPRESSOR. FORD SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574053

WHEN I TRIED TO START UP MY CAR TODAY, THE POWERTRAIN WAS PRODUCING SMOKE. FORD AGREED TO BUYBACK MY CAR IN MID DECEMBER 2013 BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR WRITTEN CONTRACT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S RAV DEPT, I HAVE TWEETED TO @FORD, @FORDSERVICE, @FORDESCAPE ABOUT MY CAR'S ISSUES YET THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME BACK ABOUT WHERE MY REPURCHASE CHECK IS AT OR TRY TO GET ME A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE THIS PROCESS IS OCCURRING. THEY ARE AWARE MY CAR'S OVERHEATING AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573871

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING WHEN I DRIVE UPHILL AND IT'S CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV AT REDLINE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LA OVER THE WEEKEND, THE CAR STRUGGLED THE ENTIRE DRIVE. SOMETHING WAS BURNING UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS ALSO OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. FORD AGREED TO BUYBACK THIS DEATH TRAP IN MID DEC 2013 BUT THEY HAVE BEEN STALLING THE ENTIRE PROCESS. APPARENTLY MY CHECK IS MISSING. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS CAR WHEN EITHER IT BURST INTO FLAMES, THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE SEIZES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573225

MY CAR IS STILL OVERHEATING AFTER BRINGING IT INTO THE DEALER 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE DONE THE RECALL FIX TWICE NOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY HOOD NOW WITH A BURNT SMELL. THE BURNING AND COOLANT SMELL IS TRIGGERING MY ASTHMA WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10552925

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT, WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND CRASHES INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT A DRIVE THRU AND I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

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