FaultScore

2013 Ford Escape driver assist problems

14 of the 3,681 complaints about the 2013 Ford Escape are about the driver-assist systems — 0% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Blind Spot Detection 4 28.6%
Automatic Emergency Braking 2 14.3%
Camera 2 14.3%
Warning 2 14.3%
Camera System 1 7.1%
Back Over Prevention 1 7.1%
Warnings 1 7.1%
Rearview System Braking 1 7.1%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Ford Escape year

2013 14 2.1%
2014 53 8.0%
2015 126 19.1%
2016 195 29.5%
2018 21 3.2%
2020 136 20.6%
2021 20 3.0%
2022 19 2.9%
2023 23 3.5%
2024 54 8.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Pullman, WA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Car has been having problems immediately with the turbocharger which then seemed fine once taken in. Only to turn around and have the transmission go out. Once again, it was taken in and was reported that there is no transmission dipstick. It is going into limp mode due to slippage detected from the B clutch pack. There is a low chance that flushing out the fluid could buy the transmission some more time, but a large amount of clutch material has been worn off the internal transmission clutch packs and is saturating the fluid. Therefore needing an entire replacement of the transmission.

NHTSA complaint #11748007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

New York, NY

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

UNKNOWN

NHTSA complaint #11727763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bolivar, TN

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera displayed a blank image. The contact stated that there was an unknown message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11670896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

My favorite

NHTSA complaint #11668274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

My favorite

NHTSA complaint #11668274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union, MO

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Defective REARVIEW CAMERA. Came upside down and go blank or distorted. Safety Hazard

NHTSA complaint #11624576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norwich, CT

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

Steering Assist Fault sensor comes on which creates total loss of control of the wheel when driving placing anyone utilizing the road in danger as steering is not possible. Has occurred over 25 times. This was part of a recall and has been removed from being a recall now. Warning sensors go off randomly in the car all of the time and are inaccurate creating distractive driving for youth and has created dangerous situations. DMV citation during driving test regarding the sensor malfunctions. Back-Up Camara Broken, and Trunk will not open or close in weather below 40 preventing use in late fall winter early spring.

NHTSA complaint #11514684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norwich, CT

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Steering Assist Fault sensor comes on which creates total loss of control of the wheel when driving placing anyone utilizing the road in danger as steering is not possible. Has occurred over 25 times. This was part of a recall and has been removed from being a recall now. Warning sensors go off randomly in the car all of the time and are inaccurate creating distractive driving for youth and has created dangerous situations. DMV citation during driving test regarding the sensor malfunctions. Back-Up Camara Broken, and Trunk will not open or close in weather below 40 preventing use in late fall winter early spring.

NHTSA complaint #11514684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pensacola, FL

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Backup camera is fuzzy/blurry and screen blacks out occasionally when backing up. I've had "Camera Unavailable, Contact Ford Dealership" pop up on screen. At the same time the safety beeping goes out. I rely on this as it's hard to see with blindspots pulling out of parking spaces. I've almost been hit and almost hit others. First happened in January 2022. I've taken it in to Ford Services and they told me to wait until it stops working altogether before fixing. This is a safety issue. The fuzzy/blurred screen has been this way since I purchased vehicle in 2016

NHTSA complaint #11486954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trenton, NJ

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

Lo normal

NHTSA complaint #11472730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chickamauga, GA

BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM

Backup camera doesn’t work.

NHTSA complaint #11448709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Inman, SC

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

[XXX] October 3, 2021 at 10:09 PM I also have a 2013 Ford Escape SEL 1.6 ECO BOOST. I purchased the car is March 2018. I was permanently disabled from military service so they made me purchase a very expensive warranty and because I couldn’t work my credit had suffered while waiting on my VA and SS. That cost me 18% interest, but we had no vehicle as we had to give it back while recovering from 8 surgeries . Never missed a payment but I think I know why the bank made me pay $1800 for the warranty in cash. Less than a month both drive shafts had to be replaced. $400 out of pocket. Then Ford said I had a leak and replaced a gasket, which triggered a Ford mandated replacement of the flanged fuel line not covered by warranty. $800 out of pocket. Back up camera is a joke. They have no answer. NOW MOST DANGEROUS ISSUSE. When ever we would slow down our car lost power and stalled. The car had to be turned off and restarted. Extremely dangerous for anyone, but with my three Grandchildren we had to get to the bottom of it. Another Ford dealership said it was a bad battery. Charged me $140.00 and didn’t change the battery. We bought a $200 battery but this has not stop the problem. Seems when you let off gas is mainly when. Making Red lights and stops dangerous, your at a stop light or sign you must be aware that the car could stall 50/50. We can’t put our Grandchildren in the car. It’s not safe We paid $400 to replace the fuel something or other, that controls the amount of fuel going into the combustion chamber as I was told, BUT nope hasn’t worked. NOW when the car does take off the RPM shots up before the gears shift. We took it to get the code read and it’s telling us to replace the TURBO. If they said something should be fixed we fixed it. I ask them about recalls on 2013 Ford Escapes and was told straight to my face there were non though I had gotten letters regarding the doors. Also by the way I know that a coolant system is a closed system and we are losing. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

NHTSA complaint #11435325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Inman, SC

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

[XXX] October 3, 2021 at 10:09 PM I also have a 2013 Ford Escape SEL 1.6 ECO BOOST. I purchased the car is March 2018. I was permanently disabled from military service so they made me purchase a very expensive warranty and because I couldn’t work my credit had suffered while waiting on my VA and SS. That cost me 18% interest, but we had no vehicle as we had to give it back while recovering from 8 surgeries . Never missed a payment but I think I know why the bank made me pay $1800 for the warranty in cash. Less than a month both drive shafts had to be replaced. $400 out of pocket. Then Ford said I had a leak and replaced a gasket, which triggered a Ford mandated replacement of the flanged fuel line not covered by warranty. $800 out of pocket. Back up camera is a joke. They have no answer. NOW MOST DANGEROUS ISSUSE. When ever we would slow down our car lost power and stalled. The car had to be turned off and restarted. Extremely dangerous for anyone, but with my three Grandchildren we had to get to the bottom of it. Another Ford dealership said it was a bad battery. Charged me $140.00 and didn’t change the battery. We bought a $200 battery but this has not stop the problem. Seems when you let off gas is mainly when. Making Red lights and stops dangerous, your at a stop light or sign you must be aware that the car could stall 50/50. We can’t put our Grandchildren in the car. It’s not safe We paid $400 to replace the fuel something or other, that controls the amount of fuel going into the combustion chamber as I was told, BUT nope hasn’t worked. NOW when the car does take off the RPM shots up before the gears shift. We took it to get the code read and it’s telling us to replace the TURBO. If they said something should be fixed we fixed it. I ask them about recalls on 2013 Ford Escapes and was told straight to my face there were non though I had gotten letters regarding the doors. Also by the way I know that a coolant system is a closed system and we are losing. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

NHTSA complaint #11435325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Lincoln Park, MI

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the backup camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to a dealer where the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. Recently, the contact stated that the backup camera failed to operate as needed and was completely blank. The contact then took the vehicle to Southgate Lincoln, LLC (16800 Fort St, Southgate, MI 48195) where he had the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that since the vehicle was not under recall, they could not offer any assistance. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000

NHTSA complaint #11428363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2013 Ford Escape problems

← Full 2013 Ford Escape report