2013 Ford Escape Body & structure Problems

Right passenger door came unlatched while driving. Had to manually keep the door shut while driving.

NHTSA ID

11676641

Incident

Jul 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his foot was depressing the accelerator pedal, the back of the contact’s foot would strike the brake pedal due to a reduced clearance between the accelerator and brake pedals. The contact stated that failure restricted the ability to properly depress the brake pedal while driving at highway speeds. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V319000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Structure); and related the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11670169

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

Mileage

124,000 mi

The trunk of the vehicle was open. Without warning/reason, a support bar that helps hold up the open liftgate popped off and the liftgate swung closed rapidly with its full weight, not supported by anything. The support bar that had popped off obstructed the path of the falling liftgate, causing damage to the trunk panel. The speed at which the liftgate fell at full force could have caused severe injury or death. This has not been confirmed by a dealership or anyone else- this just happened today and I have not had it looked at by anyone yet.

NHTSA ID

11654378

Incident

Apr 13, 2025

*car shakes as it brakes *coolant leaks (i see in the ford escape recalls there is one for coolant leaking) *upon opening doors it feel a slight stuck before opening. the doors don’t feel intact properly. *rubbers around windows appear loose. windows may not be secured.

NHTSA ID

11605806

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

The rear door latch does not latch and keep the door closed. There are other recalls for this issue on 2013 Ford Escapes but according to my specific VIN there is no recall. Those other recalls are NHTSA Campaign ID 20V331000 and 16V643000.

NHTSA ID

11602733

Incident

Jul 14, 2024

Drivers side rear door failed to close after opening/ would not latch. Took the car to a local dealership and after a week of being told it was being fixed was then told the parts were not available until 5 weeks later and that no loaner car was authorized by the dealer. So 7 weeks wait for parts is not reasonable by any std for a domestic car made within the past 10 years.bad faith, no repair no remedy offered.

NHTSA ID

11502865

Incident

Jan 6, 2023

While driving on I-64 with direction to Lexington, KY, the hood of the car flew back and smashed the windshield. I was going at 70mph on I-64, driving in the middle lane and with my 3yo son seated in the back in his carseat. I managed to keep control of the car, slowed down and pulled to the right side of the road. The car was non drivable, so AAA had to tow us. My insurance company, Kentucky Farm Bureau, has checked the car and stated that is totaled. I have never heard of a car's hood smashing the windshield and the latch not working. There is no police report as they stated that with no collision, there can't be a report. There was no warning lamp about this problem. When going back, the hood ripped the latch from the body of the car. Thankfully both my son and myself were not injured and no one on the road was affected by this.

NHTSA ID

11470469

Incident

Jun 19, 2022

There is VERY advanced rust on the bottom of the drivers side passenger door, I did some searches online and it looks like this is common on escapes from this year. I think Ford must have had a manufacturing issue because I have never seen rust develop this quickly on vehicle that is not that old and wonder if it's developing other places I can't see. Very disappointed, there is clearly and issue with these fords.

NHTSA ID

11463857

Incident

May 9, 2022

The door latches were recalled on the 2013 ford escape but now the hatch isn't staying shut. Why was only the doors recalled & not the hatch as well?

NHTSA ID

11430123

Incident

Aug 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V239000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11427886

Incident

Aug 5, 2021

cannot open passenger side back door from inside or outside safety hazard if one has to exit the vehicle quickly just happened looked on internet, it is a common problem for this vehicle no warning

NHTSA ID

11427362

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

MY VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY RECALL SINCE JUNE 2020 BUT UNTIL NOW, THEY HAVEN'T TAKE ANY ACTION WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

11403608

Incident

Mar 17, 2021

2013 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INOPERABLE DOOR CODE ON DRIVERS DOOR AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE HANDLE ABOVE THE DOOR TO GET IN THE VEHICLE, IT SNAPPED. THE CONSUMER FELL TO THE GROUND AND BROKE HER FOOT. ALSO, THE INSTUMENT PANEL AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERABLE. *JS

NHTSA ID

11382703

Incident

Feb 7, 2020

FORD LATCH RECAL SELF INSPECTION SITE , IS UNAVAILABLE TO CHECK IF LATCHES HAVE BEEN DONE .

NHTSA ID

11349237

Incident

Aug 14, 2020

I HAD MY SAFETY RECALL RESOLVED, BUT IT IS STILL SHOWING ON THE REPORT AS STILL INCOMPLETE

NHTSA ID

11339693

Incident

Jul 13, 2020

THE PAINT ON MY 2013, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IS WEARING OFF IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT LOOKS AS THOUGHT A POOR JOB WAS DONE APPLYING THE PAINT AS MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $2500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. IT SEEMS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. AS SOME OF THESE SPOTS ALSO HAVE STARTED TO RUST, I WILL NEED TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF SOONER THAN LATER SO THE PROBLEM DOESN'T BECOME EVEN BIGGER.

NHTSA ID

11339371

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERLINING UNDER THE VEHICLE BECAME LOOSE AND WAS HANGING DOWN NEARLY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MULTIPLE SCREWS THAT SECURED THE UNDERLINING WERE LOOSE. THE LOCAL DEALER SAHARA MOTORS (597 US 6 DELTA UT) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS INACCURATE.

NHTSA ID

11320521

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

Mileage

40,000 mi

I FILED A COMPLAINT SOMETIME LAST WEEK ABOUT MY CAR HAVING COOLANT LEAKS AND OVERHEATING DUE TO THIS LEAK. WELL I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND WAS OUT 400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS. THE SHOP ENDED UP HAVING TO ORDER TWO OF THE SAME PARTS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL FAULTY. A WEEK LATER MY CAR IS FIXED. WORKED FOR 2 DAYS AND THE PART THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM FORD WAS FAULTY AGAIN. CAR ALMOST BLEW UP ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE COOLANT WAS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THERE WAS LITERALLY NONE IN MY CAR. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BECOME IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO FIX? WHEN THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED? I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH CAME ON SAYING ENGINE TEMP DANGEROUSLY HIGH. TURN ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY BUT BY THIS POINT I WAS ALREADY SMOKING OUT THE HOOD, IT SMELLED LIKE COOLANT INSIDE MY CAR, I PULL OVER AND GET OUT AND I SEE MY TIRED ARE SOAKED, THE WHOLE SIDEWALK UP UNDER ME WAS PUDDLED, MY ENGINE WAS COVERED IN COOLANT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.

NHTSA ID

11277737

Incident

Nov 2, 2019

I BOUGHT MY CAR THIS YEAR AND THE HANDLE NEVER WORKED. IT STAYS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE PASSENGER DOOR FLYS OPEN WHILE DRIVING EVERY TIME. I HAVE ALSO HAD COOLANT PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR. THESE ARE ALL SHOWN ON A RECALL LIST FOR MY MODEL CAR BUT WHEN I CHECK WITH MY VIN IT SAYS I HAVE 0 RECALLS. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORD SUCH AS EXPEDITIONS AND EXPLORERS BUT I AM NOT A FAN OF THIS ESCAPE AND ALL IT'S PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING, IT WILL GO HIT AND SAY LOW COOLANT AND I HAVE TO REFILL COOLANT EVERY WEEK OR SO. IT'S CUTE OFF ON MY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT READS WORDS AND NOT CODES. IT SAYS ASSOCIATION OF 'SOMETHING'. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT IT APRIL 2019 AND I'M FED UP. MY KIDS CAN FALL OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE DOOR OR I CAN HAVE BIG PROBLEMS WITH THESE COOLANT ISSUES AND MOTOR ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11270407

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE, WHILE DRIVING SATURDAY 9/14/2019 APPROXIMATELY 7:30 PM MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR FLEW OPEN. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND HAD NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. I TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CLOSE THE DOOR, BUT IT WILL NOT CLOSE. I HAVE HAD TO TIE THE DOOR CLOSED (A PICTURE IS ATTACHED). THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL BACK IN OCTOBER 2016 #16S30 AND WAS FIXED ON 5/15/2017. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. I HAVE ATTACHED THE RECALL NOTICE AND PRICE QUOTE FOR ME TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11256374

Incident

Sep 14, 2019

Mileage

63,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LEFT REAR DOOR OPENED UP. PULLED OVER TO SHUT THE DOOR.. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT. MY SON WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND THANKFULLY ALWAYS WEARS HIS SEAT BELT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE CAN BE KILLED WITH THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11220248

Incident

Jun 14, 2019

Mileage

111,752 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 52 YESTERDAY EVENING MY FORD ESCAPE 2013 CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AFTER IT SEIZED (BRAKES QUIT IN THE PROCESS) AND HAD TO JUMP OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AS THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND ENGULFING THE DRIVER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11207404

Incident

May 13, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE BACK DOOR LATCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I CANNOT OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THERE WAS A RECALL AT ONE TIME & MY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT IT STILL ISN’T OPENING. CAN I TAKE IT BACK IN W/O A CHARGE TO ME

NHTSA ID

11192858

Incident

Nov 12, 2018

Mileage

87,000 mi

DOORS WILL SHUT AND REMAIN SHUT EVEN WHEN DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND CHILD LOCKS ARE DISENGAGED. A DOOR THAT IS NOT SECURELY LATCHED OR LATCHED INDEFINITELY COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION INCREASING THE RISK OF AN INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11182404

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE STICKS 75% OF THE TIME, WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11181919

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi