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

I have experienced many issues with my vehicle that have been recalled in other vehicles of the same make/model/year but have been denied the assistance in fixing me car and preventing and further damage or risk of my safety due to my VIN not showing any recalls. I do believe that my safety has been disregarded and that my car needs inspection to further show that I should be assisted in getting the recalls identified and fixed to improve my safety and others on the road. The first issue I noticed that was recalled on other 2013 Ford escapes was a recall on the control arm which was caused by the separation of the control arm from corrosion which increased the risk of crash. I had an incident where my car all of the sudden would not return from the right turning position after I heard a clunking noise which caused me to run into a curb. After further investigation it was found that my control arm failed and locked which wouldn't allow me to avoid hitting the curb. I suffered a concussion and had to pay for this to be fixed due to being denied from the recall. Secondly, Ford has issued many recalls on 2013 Ford escape engines due to overheat and cylinder head malfunctions many of them my car has been diagnosed and proven to have. I have pulled codes from my check engine that are direct codes that was recalled about the overheating of the cylinder head causing cracks and leaks into the oil. This code I pulled from my car was P0117 and it was traced to the recall from ford ( 13V583000). Other recalls have been issued by Ford for engine overheating, and my car has been over heating after directly putting coolant into my vehicle and it tends to run out in 1 to 2 days after refilling. My safety and others on the road are at risk from these issues that were not caused by me or other drivers but I am not getting any assistance or anyone willing to look at these recalls and assist in reimbursement or fixing my cars issues. My car needs to be reviewed for the recalls.

NHTSA ODI 11613716

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 owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, she was switching lanes from the right lane to the left lane, and she heard a loud pop from the front end of the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and drove across the lanes and crashed into the highway dividing wall. The contact had no memory of any warning lights being illuminated or hitting the wall. The contact said that a witness reported that the driver's side front tire came off of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that she was told that the air bags had not been deployed. The contact stated that she was unconscious and transported to a hospital. She stated she had no cuts, bruises, or other injuries. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The police were on the scene and the contact was not aware of an incident report was written. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

NHTSA ODI 11464219

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER STEERING IN VEHICLE AT ALL. LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11419445

STEERING CONTROL ROD IS EXPOSED UNDER DASH AND CONTAINS SHARP EDGES. DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL WHICH CAN CUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654857

DRIVER WAS PROCEEDING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT SEVERAL PARKED VEHICLES. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL THE SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY THE TOW TRUCK AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS VISIBLE, THE POINT OF FAILURE WAS QUITE APPARENT. THE BALL JOINT REMAINED COMPLETELY INTACT WHILE THE STEERING KNUCKLE VISIBLY BROKE AT THE POINT WHERE IT MEETS THE BALL JOINT. EVERY OTHER ITEM UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS VISIBLY RIPPED OR BENT EXCEPT THE STEERING KNUCKLE. IT APPEARS AS IF THE STEERING KNUCKLE MATERIAL IS NOT THICK ENOUGH FOR A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. AT THE POINT OF FAILURE, THE METAL IS APPROXIMATELY 5/16" THICK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10592693

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO AN UNDISCLOSED OBJECT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 750.

NHTSA ODI 10543417