2013 Ford Edge Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Edge, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical85330.5%
- Brakes62822.4%
- Body & structure29910.7%
- Exterior lighting1916.8%
- Engine1796.4%
- Driver assistance1595.7%
- Powertrain (other)1565.6%
- Fuel system1033.7%
- Interior & seats953.4%
- Visibility391.4%
- Steering351.3%
- Airbags200.7%
- Other / unspecified180.6%
- Seat belts70.3%
- Suspension70.3%
- Tires & wheels70.3%
- Transmission20.1%
- Heating & air conditioning10.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
When I put my 2013 Ford edge in reverse the backup camera goes out for about 5 to 10 seconds or it just doesn’t work at all. And also I just paid $672 to have the drivers side door latch replaced because the recall had expired in November of 2025 the door ajar light would stay on and the dash would say place vehicle in park
The safety system back up camera has been malfunctioning for 18 months. At times the image will be inverted, at times it will appear to be zoomed in very close, but most of the time it does not work at all. The alerts (beeping) that should be occurring when identifying a hazard do not work. The horn no longer works. Several times the entire electrical system will shut off and then reset. There have not been any warning lights on the dash to indicate why this is happening. My vehicle has not been examined by a dealer or independent service center.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was inoperative. The contact stated that the vehicle drove for several yards, and the contact was unable to reach the parking brake. The vehicle was shifted into park(P) to attempt to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the shrubs in front of the window at an independent mechanic shop, causing the vehicle to come to a stop right before almost crashing into the shop window, which resulted in minor damage to the front bumper. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags were not deployed. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake booster module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The failure had occurred on several occasions. There were no injuries sustained. A Police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
I am submitting this letter to report a serious safety defect involving the brake system on my 2013 Ford Edge (VIN: [XXX]). The vehicle is experiencing a brake failure consistent with known ABS/HCU pump issues that have affected similar Ford Edge model years. On XXX, the vehicle was inspected at Randall Reed’s Planet Ford 635 in Garland, Texas. Service Advisor Luis Rodriguez confirmed the brake concern and provided a repair estimate of $3,500. The dealership indicated that the failure is related to the ABS/HCU system. The symptoms include: A spongy brake pedal Inconsistent brake pressure Reduced braking effectiveness Increased stopping distance Unpredictable brake response These symptoms match those described in Ford Recall 16C10, which addressed ABS/HCU pump failures on certain 2012–2014 Ford Edge vehicles. Although my VIN is not included in the recall, the failure pattern is identical and presents a clear safety hazard. I have contacted Ford Motor Company multiple times, including through executive escalation channels, but I have not received a response or assistance. Given the nature of this defect and its similarity to a previously acknowledged safety issue, I believe this may indicate a broader pattern that warrants investigation. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this matter to determine whether the existing recall should be expanded to include additional VINs or model ranges affected by the same ABS/HCU defect. Thank you for your attention to this safety concern. I am available to provide additional documentation, including the dealership diagnosis, repair estimate, and service notes. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driver door says Ajar even when shut, inside lights stay on. Fuel indicator says Ajar stays on. Backup camera shows upside down
Rearview Camera display is upside down.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I have several different things going on. First of all my rear turn signals do not work, nor do my rear hazard lights. I've taken it to a mechanic who has extensively looked at this and has determined that it's the body control modular and is suggested replacement. I have been waiting for several months for this part to come in but he keeps telling me it's on back order. Also, my radiator fan/assembly went bad and had to be replaced. Upon the mechanic installing the new fan assembly, I had numerous fuses blown and that is when my blinker and hazard light issue started. This is a major safety concern as signaling the direction that you're turning is very important to other drivers. Additionally, it is against the law not to use signals. I'm constantly in fear that someone is going to rear in me because of my inability to signal when switching lanes and or turning. Additionally, my back up camera stopped working shows a black screen with a notice to contact the dealer. Another issue I have is that my door ajar light is illuminated all the time. I often feel unsafe and fear that the door may just come open at any time, I am unable to lock my doors with the internal lock , which means my doors are left unlocked while I'm in the vehicle. Also, the interior lights stay on for awhile when car turned off, thus putting more strain on the battery, which I've just replaced. Plus, the dome light will not go off until you accelerated to about 20 mph, however, when putting the car in reverse there's no way to get the lights to turn off in this causes visibility issues at night. That in conjunction with my backup camera not working makes it a very dangerous situation when going in reverse. I also detect the odor of gasoline which lingers in my vehicle for some time after getting fuel. I'm scared that there's a leak and if so the potential of a fire is very concerning. And I've noticed that my gas mileage is not really good and I'm not sure if that's related.
I have been having issues with headlights on my vehicle for awhile. We have changed the bulbs several times to try to make it easier to see. The headlights barely light up the street in front of you and is very dangerous to drive like this. I looked up online and apparently I am not the only one that is complaining of the issue. This is extremely unsafe and I'm afraid to drive anywhere at night due to poor lighting. I see people changed bulbs and changed entire headlights costing $300.00 or more a light and the problem is still not resolved. I am very concerned for not only myself and my familie's safety, I am concerned for others safety too. Something needs to be corrected in these vehicles. It is an extremely important part of driving - being able to see in front of you. Please advise.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am filing a consumer complaint against Ford Motor Company regarding a known, severe safety defect in my 2013 Ford Edge 3.5L AWD. The internal water pump has failed, leaking green coolant onto the ground and threatening catastrophic engine failure. Ford designed this vehicle with an internal water pump that dumps coolant into the engine oil when it fails, hiding the defect from consumers until the powertrain is destroyed. Furthermore, the All-Wheel Drive Power Transfer Unit (PTU) is overheating due to a design that labels the fluid 'lifetime' and prevents standard servicing. I purchased this vehicle for $14,400 and have invested $4,000 in maintenance, and I am seeking state consumer protection advocacy regarding Ford's deceptive engineering practices."
I have several different things going on. First of all my rear turn signals do not work, nor do my rear hazard lights. I've taken it to a mechanic who has extensively looked at this and has determined that it's the body control modular and is suggested replacement. I have been waiting for several months for this part to come in but he keeps telling me it's on back order. Also, my radiator fan/assembly went bad and had to be replaced. Upon the mechanic installing the new fan assembly, I had numerous fuses blown and that is when my blinker and hazard light issue started. This is a major safety concern as signaling the direction that you're turning is very important to other drivers. Additionally, it is against the law not to use signals. I'm constantly in fear that someone is going to rear in me because of my inability to signal when switching lanes and or turning. Additionally, my back up camera stopped working shows a black screen with a notice to contact the dealer. Another issue I have is that my door ajar light is illuminated all the time. I often feel unsafe and fear that the door may just come open at any time, I am unable to lock my doors with the internal lock , which means my doors are left unlocked while I'm in the vehicle. Also, the interior lights stay on for awhile when car turned off, thus putting more strain on the battery, which I've just replaced. Plus, the dome light will not go off until you accelerated to about 20 mph, however, when putting the car in reverse there's no way to get the lights to turn off in this causes visibility issues at night. That in conjunction with my backup camera not working makes it a very dangerous situation when going in reverse. I also detect the odor of gasoline which lingers in my vehicle for some time after getting fuel. I'm scared that there's a leak and if so the potential of a fire is very concerning. And I've noticed that my gas mileage is not really good and I'm not sure if that's related.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Back up camera displays upside down image when vehicle is placed in Reverse making it extremely difficult to determine images pertaining to the safe operation of my vehicle while performing backing up or checking for obstacles; i.e. pedestrians, pets, bicycles, nearby vehicles or other objects that can cause damage to my vehicle. My vehicle was purchased in 2025 and was informed that this has been a known issue by Ford but a recall has not been issued yet.
The safety system back up camera has been malfunctioning for 18 months. At times the image will be inverted, at times it will appear to be zoomed in very close, but most of the time it does not work at all. The alerts (beeping) that should be occurring when identifying a hazard do not work. The horn no longer works. Several times the entire electrical system will shut off and then reset. There have not been any warning lights on the dash to indicate why this is happening. My vehicle has not been examined by a dealer or independent service center.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am filing a consumer complaint against Ford Motor Company regarding a known, severe safety defect in my 2013 Ford Edge 3.5L AWD. The internal water pump has failed, leaking green coolant onto the ground and threatening catastrophic engine failure. Ford designed this vehicle with an internal water pump that dumps coolant into the engine oil when it fails, hiding the defect from consumers until the powertrain is destroyed. Furthermore, the All-Wheel Drive Power Transfer Unit (PTU) is overheating due to a design that labels the fluid 'lifetime' and prevents standard servicing. I purchased this vehicle for $14,400 and have invested $4,000 in maintenance, and I am seeking state consumer protection advocacy regarding Ford's deceptive engineering practices."
I am reporting a safety issue involving a 2013 Ford Edge Sport AWD related to progressive brake failure. The affected components include the brake booster and master cylinder. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. In mid-2025, the vehicle developed a gradual loss of braking capability. The brake pedal required increasing force over time to bring the vehicle to a stop. Because the failure developed progressively rather than suddenly, the severity of the issue was not immediately apparent. At the time, the vehicle was primarily driven by my teenage son, a new driver, who continued operating the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal harder to compensate. This created a significant safety risk, as the vehicle did not reliably stop under normal braking conditions, increasing the risk of collision. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, and repairs required replacement of the brake booster, master cylinder, and related components. The vehicle was later discussed with a Ford dealership; however, no warning of coverage or recall applicability was identified at that time. There were no clear warning lights or dashboard messages indicating brake system failure prior to the issue. The primary symptom was a progressive increase in required pedal force. After the repair, I learned that brake booster failure is a known issue for this vehicle platform and has been the subject of prior manufacturer service campaigns. I am concerned that this type of gradual brake degradation may not be recognized by drivers, particularly inexperienced drivers, and could result in unsafe operating conditions. The vehicle has also experienced repeated rear differential failures. Replacement parts are no longer manufactured by Ford, requiring use of used components with unknown condition and lifespan, further affecting vehicle reliability and safe operation. I have attached a receipt for the second time purchasing and replacing the rear differential.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The Gas Cap is defected the light always comes on and you have to pump gas a certain way.
I am filing a consumer complaint against Ford Motor Company regarding a known, severe safety defect in my 2013 Ford Edge 3.5L AWD. The internal water pump has failed, leaking green coolant onto the ground and threatening catastrophic engine failure. Ford designed this vehicle with an internal water pump that dumps coolant into the engine oil when it fails, hiding the defect from consumers until the powertrain is destroyed. Furthermore, the All-Wheel Drive Power Transfer Unit (PTU) is overheating due to a design that labels the fluid 'lifetime' and prevents standard servicing. I purchased this vehicle for $14,400 and have invested $4,000 in maintenance, and I am seeking state consumer protection advocacy regarding Ford's deceptive engineering practices."
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
On Dec 11, 2025, the driver’s heated seat in my 2013 Ford Edge overheated within minutes of activation, causing first- and second-degree burns to the occupant. The vehicle was inspected on March 18, 2026 and escalated for management review, but the manufacturer failed to provide the promised follow-up by March 26, 2026, and the defect remains unresolved, posing an ongoing risk of injury. No problems prior to ever using the heated seats.
The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that her son noticed that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the door sensor alarm activated and failed to turn off, with the door ajar roof light remaining illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal there was an abnormal hissing sound coming from the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal occasionally was hard while being depressed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver’s side door sensor and the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear view camera image suddenly became inverted (upside down) and the guide lines normally displayed disappeared. This defect appears permanent. Due tot the camera malfunction it is easy to be disoriented and collide with object behind the vehicle. On several occasions I ran into parking lot dividers and planters.
Rearview Camera display is upside down.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Since the day I bought my 2013 Edge I have had nothing but problems ranging from Backup Camera always has a distorted image, appears upside down or it will just be blank. For the last year I have had my car looked at, changed everything that could possibly be changed to now my car can be going down the road running 55-60 MPH and the car will just shut down and flash random warnings on the dash but the scariest & most unsafe part is how the steering wheel locks up or I lose power steering making it hard to move or coast off the road to safety. At this point I don't know what else to do. Questions below are asking for dates but unfortunately there are so many dates that my car does this as it happens almost daily so I will put date for the last day I drove it. Right now it has been sitting at a mechanic's place for the last 3.5 weeks.
Car veers to the left or right intermittently while driving. On its own. Gear motor issue. Needs to be replaced. Very dangerous. My grandkids ride in this car.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The airbags did not deploy when the car was in a front and rear end collision on 2/12/26. Injuries occurred. No one has confirmed the problem. The car was taken to a Collison center to be evaluated but am uncertain if that part has been evaluated. There were not symptoms of failure beforehand.
Was going 70 mph (speed limit) and hit a deer, car was totaled. Upon impact my seatbelt locked up and I smelled smoke, but the airbags didn't actually deploy. No warning signs or prior issues known.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I purchased my Ford from a used car lot and only 3 months later without any alerts my brake pedal goes to the floor. It makes a hissing sound like air being released. My brakes and fluid are fine? Why are their recalls on my same year vehicle, but not mine. I understand replacing brake booster, master cylinder will NOT help. Now I am broke from purchasing my Ford, I can't afford to dump more money into a vehicle that can't be fixed. You need to recall the entire car! Now my dash lights go crazy, even ABS once? This car is a freaking lemon and someone is going to get hurt. Then Ford will responsible for their manufactory error?
I had my brakes repaired and since having my brakes repaired, I continued to have issues with the suspension, vehicle handling and imbalance (vehicle not stopping properly). I was dropping my friend girl's grandsons off at school and my brakes went out...almost causing me to have a head on collision with the vehicle in front of me. I was overwhelmed and hysterical! I had taken my vehicle back to the repair shop that replaced my brakes and I tried to explain what happened. I was bewildered because my vehicle didn't have any warning messages of any sort. I remember riding over some bumpy streets and when the traffic slowed down, I pressed my brakes and they were gone. I had to press the brake pedal all the way down to the floor and I wasn't getting any pressure through the brake line at all, which caused me to almost run into the vehicle in front of me. When I pressed the brake to the floor, my vehicle slid rapidly and made a strange noise before I was able to come to a complete stop. We were terrified because I had ran into the curb trying to stop my vehicle! The repair shop mechanic stated that it could be the caliber connected to the brake line, because my vehicle did not have sweaking noises that you usually hear when your brakes need to be replaced. My vehicle is still in need of repairs, I'm afraid while driving it still. I'm bewildered because I honestly don't know what caused my brakes to just go out like that!
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
On April 7th my seat belt receiver (where the seat belt clicks into) broke. It broke with just normal wear and tear, my car has 83K+ miles. The seatbelt would not fully engage and the seatbelt light was coming on every two minutes while driving. I called Downtown Ford (Sacramento) and they said that because my car was outside their 60,000 mile or five year warranty that this part was not covered. I paid to have the part replaced which cost $95.81 for the part and $221 an hour for labor. The total was $324.19
Passenger Seatbelt locks when pulling out to buckle and rear seatbelt behind driver seat will not lock in the seat belt lock.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the car approaching a stop the brake pedal suddenly went almost all the way to the floor. Had to press the brake multiple times to come to a complete stop. It is unsafe when traveling in traffic and unable to slow down fast enough to stop the vehicle which can cause an accident. The vehicle has not been inspected. Contacted a mechanic and described the issue and stated this sound like a master cylinder issue and it is unsafe to drive. This issue did not present warning lights or message to indicate there was anything wrong. We have read many similar complaints online. We believe Ford should fix this issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the front axile and both front struts. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 177,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
245/50R-20 pirelli scorpion weather active xl. Unknown cause. 5/22/2026 found bulge in passenger side front tire outer sidewall. Tire can be kept for inspection
I purchased these tires and they were installed on 1/19/25. I paid $426.20 including the installation fees. After installation we noticed the tires were extremely loud above 40 MPH. We returned and had the tires balanced again and the noise problem continued. It drowned out the cabin and made it difficult to hear anything outside of the vehicle. The poor customer service department made me complete a warranty request which was denied within hours because the warranty doesn’t cover noise. They refused to take any responsibility for this hazardous issue that was previously reported. They claim their tires are quiet on various sites, but this is false. There have been many reports to Arroyo and they are not willing to address the unsafe issue. Various reviews on the internet express the same concerns about excessive noise. I replaced the scary tires with another set and they are very quiet and don’t produce the excess noise like the Arroyo tires. 245/50ZR20 102W
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 FORD EDGE WITH PUSH BUTTON START MODELS EXHIBITS A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE, DISPLAYED WHILE THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK POSITION AND VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND PARKED. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED ON THIS 14 DECEMBER 2017, BUT REPAIR OF SHIFTER KIT -PARK DETECT SWITCH, 2011-2014 EDGE IS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.
BROKEN SHIFTER CABLE. WHILE PARKING MY 2013 FORD EDGE IN MY GARAGE (HOUSE SITS ON A VERY BIG HILL), MY VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING AWAY FROM ME. ATTEMPTING TO GET BACK IN WASN'T POSSIBLE. MY VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A VERY STEEP DRIVE WAY AND COULD HAVE KILLED ANYONE IN ITS WAY! AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND THAT FORD RECALLED 504,000 ESCAPE AND FUSION VEHICLES. I DID NOT FIND WHERE FORD EDGE WAS MENTIONED. THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN FORD EDGE! MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED FOREVER IF SOMEONE WAS KILLED OR SEVERELY HURT! AFTER TALKING TO THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED MY VEHICLE, HE TOLD ME THIS INCIDENT WASN'T MY FAULT, THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS BROKE AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING ON ITS OWN RIGHT AT HIS SHOP. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR IN THE PARK POSITION. MY VEHICLE DOOR AND FENDER WERE DESTROYED UPON LEAVING MY GARAGE BECAUSE I OPENED THE DOOR TO TRY AND GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND MY HOUSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DROVE FOR OVER 8 HOURS WITH THE SEAT WARMER ON HIGH AND I LITERALLY BURNED MY BOTTOM. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO TO AN URGENT CARE A FEW DAYS LATER WHERE THEY PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS AND A PRESCRIBED OINTMENT. IT HAD A BUG BLISTER WHICH BROKE AND NOW OPEN WOUND. IT IS DEFINITELY A BURN AND NOW TREATING FOR WOUND CARE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .