2013 Ford Escape Reliability
The 2013 Ford Escape has 2,757 owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
2,757
NHTSA owner complaints
18
Recall campaigns
50
Complaints citing a crash
91
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Ford Escape complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,269 | 46% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 402 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 340 | 12% |
| Steering | 303 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 301 | 11% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 248 | 9% |
| Engine & cooling | 175 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 92 | 3% |
2013 Ford Escape recalls
18 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V319000 | Jul 6, 2012 | Service brakes — pedals and linkages | Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from March 8, 2012 through June 7, 2012. Due to mis-positioned carpet padding the center console trim panel may be pushed outboard of the intended position, reducing clearance relative to… |
| 12V336000 | Jul 18, 2012 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through July 11, 2012, and equipped with a 1.6L engine. These vehicles have an engine compartment fuel line which may split, resulting in a leak.NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 12V431000 | Sep 4, 2012 | Engine & cooling | Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through August 31, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines. The cylinder head cup plug (freeze plug) may become dislodged resulting in significant loss of engine coolant. |
| 12V551000 | Dec 3, 2012 | Engine & cooling | This is an update to a recently announced recall. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through November 26, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines, as well as certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles… |
| 13V085000 | Mar 7, 2013 | Latches, locks & linkages | Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was… |
| 13V584000 | Nov 25, 2013 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through July 11, 2012, and equipped with a 1.6L engine subject to prior safety recall NHTSA 12V-336. In some cases, the engine compartment fuel… |
| 13V583000 | Nov 25, 2013 | Engine | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through June 2, 2013 and equipped with 1.6L engines. The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may… |
| 14V164000 | Apr 2, 2014 | Seats — front assembly / recliner | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014… |
| 14V239000 | May 7, 2014 | Body structure — body / door | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014. Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel, the affected vehicles have… |
| 14V237000 | May 7, 2014 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result in a delayed deployment of the… |
| 14V495000 | Aug 11, 2014 | Electrical system — wiring | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped… |
| 14V597000 | Sep 26, 2014 | Air bags | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5,… |
| 15V813000 | Dec 2, 2015 | Electrical system — wiring | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring… |
| 16V643000 | Sep 6, 2016 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the… |
| 18V471000 | Jul 16, 2018 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and… |
| 20V331000 | Jun 8, 2020 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and… |
| 22V413000 | Jun 10, 2022 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. |
| 26V011000 | Jan 16, 2026 | Equipment — electrical / engine block heater | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Escape years
Verdicts compare these Escape model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,356 | 3 | Steering | Caution |
| 2012 | 619 | 2 | Steering | Solid |
| 2013 (this page) | 2,757 | 18 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 2,090 | 16 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,135 | 9 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Ford Escape on the used market
- 63 of 1,229 2013 Ford Escape listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Ford Escape
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 18 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Ford Escape can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Ford Escape reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Ford Escape reliable?
The 2013 Ford Escape has 2,757 owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Escape model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Escape's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Escape problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Escape are engine (1,269), powertrain / transmission (402), electrical system (340), steering (303). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Ford Escape have recalls?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Escape, including 12V319000 (service brakes — pedals and linkages) and 12V336000 (fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Ford Escape compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 619 complaints and 2 recalls (solid); the 2014 has 2,090 complaints and 16 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 2,757 complaints and 18 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Ford Escape?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Escape research
Other Ford Escape model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Escape, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.