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

I own a Ford Escape SE with 1.6 L eco boost engine. The vehicle started having loss of power and started smoking under the hood. The car is now not drivable and it’s the same issue people have been having with this engine. The engine made a popping sound with no warning beforehand and stopped in the middle of the highway. No fluids leaking but engine has failed. Engine temp gauge didn’t move but car was overheated. The engine is bad and needs to be replaced Spoke to Endurance warranty and they said the engine has 2 service alerts for same issue and my research corroborates as there is a lawsuit pending over that engine. However Ford continently says there isn’t an issue regarding my VIN but the engine is the original OEM engine that has had issues in the past reported by numerous other owners of the same engine.

NHTSA ODI 11701985

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the contact's uncle was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's aunt called the contact's cell phone and informed the contact of smoke coming from underneath the contact's vehicle. The contact's aunt was trailing behind the contact's vehicle as they were traveling. The contact's uncle drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and turned the vehicle off. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact and all the occupants of the vehicle exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed a lot of smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact then noticed flames coming from underneath the vehicle and underneath the hood. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact stated that the vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact stated that the vehicle was consumed in the fire. In addition, the Police and the fire department advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11697480

The car caught on fire from the engine

NHTSA ODI 11697081

I was driving my vehicle. I pulled into a gas station to buy something. When I stopped, smoke was coming out of the engine bay. When I popped the hood, the engine bay was on fire! I put it out with a fire extinguisher. Side Note: I bought this vehicle from a friend. It has not been registered in my name. It will be registered today, 08/15/2025 in Butler County Kansas. Augusta, KS.

NHTSA ODI 11680819

On June 24, 2025 at approx 4:45 pm, my wife and I were driving home. The car was running fine, no lights, gauges were normal, no info on screen, when all of a sudden the engine shut down, info on screen stated steering assisi unavailable, and smoke started coming from vents. We were aproaching a sharp curve in the road, so I had to manhandle the steering to keep from crashing. Then used the emergency brake to stop after insuring we cleared the curve. By that time, we were unable to see anything for all the smoke inside the car. Nothing would work so we could not roll the electric windows down. When stopped, we opened the doors and jumped out. Then I heard the engine compartment crackling due to a fire. Luckily, we escaped with no injuries except for smoke inhalation. I have been driving for over 58 years and doing mechanical repairs for over 60 years. I have never experienced anything like this. We bought this car new and I have maintained it in 'like new' condition since. Now it is completely destroyed. I also know Ford has had recalls on this vehicle and we have taken care of all these except the one on the shifter linkage bushing. I am very concerned something went very wrong with this car and others may, too. Plus, I am a dedicated Ford owner and may be concerned on replacing with something else after this terrifying incident.

NHTSA ODI 11671672

On 03-17-24 My daughter was driving a few miles away from home, when the dashboard system states "High engine temperature, pull over safely." Within 30 seconds of pulling off the road, the flames came out near the windshield from under the hood. Within 5 minutes the car was fully engulfed and completely destroyed. I am so upset and frustrated that Ford is not taking this matter more seriously as this appears to be a common occurrence with these vehicles. Fortunately my daughter was uninjured.

NHTSA ODI 11577879

Fire started in engine from oil leak in cylinder head on Saturday, 9/9/23 at approximately 1:15 pm. Car had been running for around 2 hours with no signs or indication of malfunction. Driver pulled car over after entering Mt. Rainier National Forest at a viewpoint. At this point driver noticed engine was smoking. NO lights or indicators on dashboard lit up notifying of overheating or malfunction. The temperature gauge did not indicate the engine was over heating. The safety of 4 passengers was at risk. Fire started with four passengers including the driver in the car. Vehicle was located in Mt. Rainier National Forest where passengers and driver had no cellphone service. This also occurred in a National Forest during the high risk season for forest fires/wildfires. Fire could have put lives of passengers at risk as well as those in nearby area, if car went ablaze in the forest. With no service, preventing the car fire from turning into a forest fire would be very difficult. This problem occurred AFTER TSB on this vehicle was completed for safety recall 17S09-S1 in April 2014 at Bellingham Ford. The crack in the cylinder caused by the recall was patched by Bellingham Ford by filling it with Copper silicone rather than removing the cylinder and replacing it. Repair shop (Mike's Shop - Buckley Washington) that inspected vehicle after incident on Sept. 9th 2023, found that copper silicone patch had split causing oil to leak into engine and catch fire. This inspection indicates that the initial repair done by Ford Manufacturer did not prevent leak from occurring and causing a fire to start in engine.

NHTSA ODI 11544340

I purchased my vehicle may 6,2020 Accident accord in Winnie,Tx June 22,2020 on the highway me and my kids father were on the highway at the time the highway was getting construction work done as we were driving down the highway street someone hit us broke one of my ribs and my left elbow as well I didn’t have any knowledge of knowing my vehicle had a recall until I just realize searching on my vehicle I purchased and the reason why it wasn’t taken cared before I had family matters sorry so late Briana Roy The consumer stated that she suffered a lot of traumas during this incident. No assistance has been offered yet due to the incident occurring during the pandemic.

NHTSA ODI 11536839

December of 2022 - Took car to shop due to engine overheat light and oil smell inside vehicle as well as other "codes coming up. Vehicle was repaired. May 2023 had to take car back to shop due to cranking and it immediately saying engine overheating, low coolant, and various other codes as well as brakes not properly functioning. Repair shop said it was low on coolant and added fluid, stated no leaks and returned vehicle. But repair shop shows it pulled 15 codes, including loss of communication with ABS control module A as well as 3 other "lost communication with" codes and the engine overheating. The NEXT day we had the same issues and had to put it back in the shop. They flushed system and replaced motor because a bad head gasket caused oil to mix with the water (again). Got the vehicle back July 10th and the traction control and braking felt off as it had before in Dec 2022 but then was fine. Noticed on 7/11 that there appeared to be something in the fluid tank that shouldn't be there (like black chunks) and called the repair shop to see about scheduling another diagnostic. On 7/13 my son was driving from work and the engine suddenly stalled saying overheating when it wasn't showing overheating. Pulled over, started to crank it back up and it was fine. On 7/14 on his was to work, he pulled to the edge of the roadway to miss multiple deer in the road and was unable to steer the vehicle back onto the roadway. The traction control kicked in and he could not steer the car back onto the road, brakes did not work and ended up causing him to crash. I have driven the car a few times when traction control would kick in when it really shouldn't and it would not allow me to steer, accelerate, or really do anything until it shut back off.

NHTSA ODI 11532521

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, both a check engine light and a warning message instructing her to pull over immediately appeared on the instrument panel. The contact pulled into a parking lot as white smoke began to fill the engine cabin. The contact opened the hood and saw that a flame had ignited inside the engine. The occupants inside the vehicle exited as the police officers who happened to be on scene were able to suppress the fire with fire extinguishers. The fire department later arrived and managed to fully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and a police report was filed. The vehicle remained at the scene and had yet to be towed. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The contact stated that those same warning lights had flashed two months prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where an unknown hose had burst which led to the overheating failure. The contact was informed that the hose was replaced and that the failure was remedied. The vehicle had yet to be deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11522001

On or about June 17, 2022 my suv caught fire as I was driving. I pulled over at a convenience store and someone there had a fire extinguisher and extenguished the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11506200

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the repair of three previously unknown recalls. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that while parked, the front of the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the flames and determined the origin of the fire came from the engine compartment. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was then towed back to the dealer, where it remained awaiting further diagnosis. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V583000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11505256

While driving the vehicle it started to overheat and before I could safely pull off the highway and stop it started smoking so I stopped it immediately and when I opened the hood the engine was on fire. Fire department was called a report was filed. I called ford after being informed by the fire department of a possible recall for this issue and ford denied any issues and hung up the phone on me on numerous calls.

NHTSA ODI 11504885

The fuel line caught fire while driving under normal load. There is no active recall on this model any longer, but had one years ago for same issue. This vehicle has 89k miles, serviced regularly, and fire

NHTSA ODI 11498820

Losing antifreeze but it's not leaking from underneath, I'm not sure where it's going my car smells like it's burning some where , and under my car on my muffler there is burnt looking marks on the muffler underneath I'm not sure why , I have my car since November 20th 2021, I bought it from Auto wholesale in Gladstone , I have appointment for the recall on the bushing Dec. 20 th, I called Ford in Sandy Oregon talk to the guy about my car is not acting right and I'm not sure on what to do , he said that I should not drive it very much , I said well do you guys provided a loaner car because I work everyday and have to drive up into the Mt. Hood everyday if I can't get to work then I will lose my job , he like sorry we have enterprise if you need to rent a car , I don't think it's really fair I have done everything wright for my car and it be there doing when they built my car , you think they would help there customer with proper care until they fix the wrong on my car that was there doing not mine , there are burnt marks on the muffler underneath

NHTSA ODI 11495704

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE ENGINE TO MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE STARTED SMOKING ENOUGH TO ENGULF THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH BLACK SMOKE. THE ENGINE THEN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND JUMPED OUT WHEN IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES, SECONDS AFTER THAT THE WHOLE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME TO PUT IT OUT. THE FIRE DEPT. LEFT AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS LETTING OFF SMALL EXPLOSIONS' OF SPARKS. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AGAIN AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD ANY IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT. ONE FIRE FIGHTER'S REPLY WAS "NO IDEA, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY THING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE" THE CAR HAD 89000 MILES ON AND HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY FORD A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH NO COMPLICATIONS FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE HEAT GAUGE NEVER RAISED TO MAKE MYSELF, THE DRIVER AWARE OF ANY OVER HEATING. THE FIRE STARTED RIGHT INFRONT OF MY HOME AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS STILL IN DRIVE/MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11389082

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE SERPENTINE BELT FRACTURED. THE BELT RIPPED APART THE HEAT SHIELD AND IGNITED THE SOUNDPROOF FOAM. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (J.C. LEWIS FORD HINESVILLE 309 W OGLETHORPE HIGHWAY HINESVILLE, GA 31313 912-876-3673) AND THEY INFORMED THE DAUGHTER THAT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE BELT TENSIONER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOLD THE DEALER TO HOLD OFF INITIALLY ON REPAIRS UNTIL SHE CONSULTED WITH HER FATHER. THE DEALER CALLED HER BACK AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS ANYWAY AND QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $300. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE HEAT SHIELD WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO SMOKE AND POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BACK AFTERWARDS AND THEY HAVEN'T CALLED BACK. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,780.

NHTSA ODI 11343187

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, COOLANT NEEDING REPLENISHMENT ON A REGULAR (EVERY 3-4 MONTHS) BASIS, VEHICLE STALLING AND SHUTTING DOWN SPORADICALLY, VEHICLE OVERHEATING, DOORS RANDOMLY POPPING OPEN AND NEEDING TO BE HELD SHUT BY MY CHILDREN UNTIL I CAN SAFELY PULL OVER. MOST RECENTLY AND JUST THIS MORNING ON 6/18/20, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOW TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I USED MY AAA MEMBERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO COLONIAL FORD IN PLYMOUTH, MA AFTER STANDING WITHIN FEET OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC WHILE WAITING. THE CAR POTENTIALLY LETHALLY JUST STOPPED. IT IS NOW BEING "DIAGNOSED" BY COLONIAL FORD. MUCH PREVIOUSLY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO JANNELL FORD IN HANOVER, MA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE ISSUES WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS STILL REASONABLY LOW. THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THAT BRANCH LIED TO ME. HE INFORMED ME THERE WERE NEVER RECALLS PERTAINING TO MY VEHICLE EVER. IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE WERE IN FACT RECALLS FOR THE EXACT ISSUES DESCRIBED ABOVE. ISSUES THAT WERE NEVER PROPERLY REPAIRED WHEN THE FORMER OWNER OF THE VEHICLE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SULLIVAN TIRE YESTERDAY ON 6/17/20 WHEN THE A/C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. THEY INFORMED ME THEY COULD NOT RECHARGE THE A/C BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED AN ENGINE CODE OF P2637 WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTED FROM THEM. THIS CODE SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO RECALL 13S12 (COOLANT BYPASS VALVES). IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT I POINTED THIS OUT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN THOUGH A TOTAL CUT AND DRY ISSUE RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF REPAIRS. FORD HAS BASICALLY SAID IN SO MANY WORDS "WE KNOW THIS IS AN UNSAFE DEATH TRAP, BUT IT'S TOO LATE AND YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF LUCK!" *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329666

2013 FORD ESCAPE STALLING OUT. RUNS AND STALLS ANYWHERE.

NHTSA ODI 11307907

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ( US 82 IN TEXAS), THERE WERE FLAMES SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A SEPARATE VEHICLE PULLED UP BESIDE OUR 2013 FORD ESCAPE, AND YELLED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY SON QUICKLY PULLED OVER, AND HE AND HIS MOTHER QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND BACKED AWAY FROM IT. A FIRE TRUCK CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY WIFE WAS ALSO TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION ON SITE, AND LATER HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS BREATHING. I HAVE CHECKED THE VIN ON OUR VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON OUR VIN. AFTER RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER FIRE ISSUES WITH OTHER VINS. I BELIEVE OUR SITUATION NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, BECAUSE THE RECALL MAY NEED TO BE EXPANDED. WE ARE CURRENTLY UPSIDE DOWN ON OUR CAR NOTE, AND WILL LOOSE ABOUT $4,000 OUT OF POCKET. I BELIEVE OUR ISSUE COULD BE RELATED TO ISSUES OTHERS HAVE HAD WITHIN THE RECALLED VIN'S. THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15TH NEAR SHERMAN, TEXAS.

NHTSA ODI 11281622

ENGINE FIRE ON 9/21/19 WHILE CAR WAS PARKED ON SIDE STREET IT APPEARS AFTER BEING PARKED FOR NEAR 2 HOURS 2013 FORD ESCAPE PURCHASED ON 4/30/13 ENGINE: 2.0L I4 GTDI ECOBOOST ENG MILES: 49400 ALL WORK DONE AT DEALER INCLUDING ALL RECALLS LISTED ON NHTSA FOUR OF WHICH WERE RELATED TO FIRE. ENGINE FIRE VEHICLE TOTALED (PICTURES AVAILABLE) WHILE PARKED ON SIDE STREET IT APPEARS NEAR 2 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES START STOP BACK STREETS AVERAGE SPEED ESTIMATED 25 MILES/HOUR. NO KNOWN ISSUES BEFORE FIRE. NO OTHER DAMAGE NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11280897

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 82, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS NO NOTICE OF A FIRE WITHIN THE CAB. NO SMELL AND NO VISIBLE SMOKE. AFTER BEING FLAGGED DOWN ABOUT IT, WE MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND SAVE JUST A FEW THINGS OUT OF THE CAR, BEFORE THE FRONT HALF OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11280553

CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN

NHTSA ODI 11269905

ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND SAID "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN FIVE MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11258857

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD ARRIVE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AS WELL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER (JENKINS & WYNNE FORD, HONDA, & LINCOLN 2655 TRENTON RD, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040 (931) 542-4886) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A WRITTEN RESPONSE WOULD BE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND REQUESTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A REPORT WITH THEM IN REGARDS TO THE RECALLS THAT WERE ON THE VIN. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 5 NHTSA RECALLS ASSOCIATED TO THE VIN AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE ONE RECALL UNDER THE VIN THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V584000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11229017