Home · 2013 Ford Escape · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,743)Crash / fire / injury (152)Engine (1,264)Transmission & drivetrain (400)Electrical system (340)Steering (302)Fuel system (284)Engine & cooling (174)Speed control (92)Body & structure (87)Brakes (72)Latches & locks (64)

92 of 2,743 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters · page 4 of 4

Mar 21, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngineFire

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

Nov 26, 2013Speed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE FRONT AND KNEE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG, KNEE AND CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,092.

NHTSA ODI 10553864

Nov 8, 2013Engine & coolingSpeed control

THE AUTO STALLS RANDOMLY ON OCCASION. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, HOWEVER, THE DEALER CAN'T GET A CODE SO FORD WILL NOT FIX. FORD CLEARLY KNOWS THIS IS A THROTTLE PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES, AND AS I UNDERSTAND, IT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR A RECALL SEVERAL TIMES. HOW CAN I GET THEM TO FIX IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551574

Oct 17, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 69 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE GEARS HAD ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,700. UPDATED 12/04/13*LJ UPDATED 12/9/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10548265

Sep 3, 2013Speed controlBrakesEngine

WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE-THRU WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, CAR LUNGED FORWARD. IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMEONE HITS YOU FROM BEHIND. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10538461

Sep 3, 2013Speed controlBrakesEngine

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, CAR JUMPS/LUNGES FORWARD. IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMEONE IS HITTING IT FROM BEHIND. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10538462

Aug 26, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,440.

NHTSA ODI 10537326

Aug 20, 2013Body & structureSpeed controlBrakes

THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BRAKE, YOU COULD ALSO BE PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL IF YOU HAVE NORMAL SIZED FEET. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE HARDER WHICH PUSHES DOWN THE GAS PEDAL MORE AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE MORE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10536407

Jul 30, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIR BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10532727

Jul 22, 2013Speed controlEngine

STARTED IGNITION AND AUTOMATICALLY DISPLAYED MESSAGE - ENGINE FAULT SERVICE ENGINE NOW. PULLED OUT OF HOME DRIVEWAY AND WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE GAS, VEHICLE JERKED SEVERELY. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, THE SAME MESSAGE AND JERKING OCCURS. LATER THAT DAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND HAD NO JERKING UPON ACCELERATING. THIS "ENGINE AT FAULT" IS A SERIOUS CONCERN IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. TOOK THE VEHICLE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE TO A DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE SITUATION, HOWEVER THE MESSAGE DID NOT APPEAR ON DISPLAY. THEIR CONCLUSION WAS IF THE ENGINE FAULT MESSAGE WAS NOT ON DISPLAY, THEN THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10526276

Jul 1, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10522627

May 7, 2013Speed controlBrakesEngineCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10510892

Mar 13, 2013Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

I PURCHASED A 2013 FORD ESCAPE IN OCT 2012. IT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT "SERVICE NOW" BUT COMPUTER DIDN'T CAPTURE ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. FIRST TIME DEALER CHANGED THE MASS PRESSURE AIR SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME THEY CONTACT FORD WHICH TOLD THEM TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, THIS TIME I CALLED TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER SEND THE FORD ENGINEER WHICH STATES IT IS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. HE EMAILED FORD FOR THE DIAGRAMS SINCE VEHICLE IS NEW AND NOT AVAILABLE TO THE DEALER (SO THAT IS WHAT I AM BEING TOLD). THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM TRULY IS. FINALLY CONTACT MANUFACTURING WHO STATES IT IS A COMPUTER COMPONENT. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE LUNGING AND HESITATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR. IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO GET YOU OUT OF AN INTERSECTION IF NEEDED. IT LUNGES FORWARD AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE OR THE FUEL INJECTORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502729

Feb 20, 2013Fuel systemElectrical systemSpeed control

2013 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THROTTLE ISSUES AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE RESPONSE ON THE VEHICLE WAS HORRIBLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL HESITATION. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT HAD TO WITH THE NEW 1.6 NO BOOST ENGINE AND THE DELAYED RESPONSE OF THE TURBO. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FIX FOR IT. ALSO, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CLOCK WOULD RESET FOR NOT REASON AND THE PRESET RADIO STATIONS WOULD RANDOMLY GO BLANK. THE DEALER RE-LOADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE DISPLAY TO FIX THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER THE RADIO WENT COMPLETELY DEAD FOR ONE DAY, BUT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY. ALSO, THE GAS MILEAGE WAS NO WHERE NEAR WHERE FORD INDICATED IT SHOULD BE ( 23 MPG CITY, 26 MPG COMBO, 33 MPG HIGHWAY).

NHTSA ODI 10499141

Nov 23, 2012Speed controlCrash

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A FREEWAY EXIT. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN SET TO 65 MPH, AND WHEN I ACCIDENTLY TAPPED THE RESUME LEVER, THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. HITTING THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL/RESUME LEVER IS LOCATED ON THE LOWER LEFT PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS IN A LOW POSITION, AND YOU MOVE YOUR LEFT LEG, YOU CAN ACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL WITH YOUR THIGH CAUSING IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ON A CURVY ROAD LAST WEEK. THIS COULD BE DISASTROUS IF IT OCCURS AT A CROSS WALK. LUCKILY I ONLY HIT A CAR, NOT A PEDESTRIAN, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ELEVATING THE STEERING WHEEL REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10485856

Jul 16, 2012Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED TO THE DEALER WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT HE FELT THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE BUT WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 10465790

Jul 11, 2012Body & structureSpeed controlBrakes

THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE. WHEN I WEAR BIG SHOES, THE BACK LEFT SIDE EDGE OF MY SHOE CATCHES THE BACK SIDE OF THE BRAKE WHEN I LIFT IT OFF THE GAS. SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10465273

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Escape verdict →