2013 Ford Escape Brakes Problems

The anti-lock brake system is no longer available. When I start the car, a warning comes on that the Uphill assist is unavailable. Other lights come on concerning the brakes. I have contacted my repair shop and they have contacted the FORD dealership and have been told that presently there is no fix available. I understand this failure may be on other Ford Escape 2013 since I was told there are at least 400 vehicles awaiting this replacement part at this time and I would not know how many failures there were in the past.

NHTSA ID

11741327

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

VDP TEST

NHTSA ID

11727773

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

test

NHTSA ID

11727768

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

When I change gears to P or R the car shut down , also it shakes when I break

NHTSA ID

11694447

Incident

Oct 15, 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

While coming to a stop sign the vehicle was going about 3MPH when the master break cylinder failed causing the breaks to fail and the car to hit another vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11669368

Incident

Apr 16, 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 contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that an independent mechanic had performed a replacement of the inner and outer tie rods, the wheel bearings, and other unknown parts. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the ABS, traction control, Hill Assist, and instrument panel warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she was unable to drive uphill, and the vehicle swayed while coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS sensor had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under Ford Campaign Number: 14N02. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11552819

Incident

Oct 24, 2023

Mileage

230,000 mi

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 ID

11532521

Incident

Jul 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, he depressed the brake pedal however, the brakes failed to engage. No warning lights were illuminated. As a result, the contact’s brother swerved off the road but was able to engage the parking brake. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 161,905.

NHTSA ID

11500182

Incident

Dec 21, 2022

Mileage

161,905 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that coolant was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The coolant detector would not accurately detect the coolant level. The coolant reservoir needed to be refilled weekly. The ABS warning system would chime and illuminate whenever the vehicle was started, and the vehicle would fail to move. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle several times, the ABS warning light turned off and the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping out of the park(P) into drive(D). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the wheel hub bearing needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the wheel hub bearings were replaced four times and the front axles were replaced twice; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11496553

Incident

Dec 8, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

UNKNOWN, There are not any warning lights on, my cars rpm jumps when I try to accelerate. As I push the gas it acts as if it does not want to drive and won’t. I’ve had to pull over with hazards and wait for someone to come assist.

NHTSA ID

11494922

Incident

Nov 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was hard while being depressed. The contact placed both feet on the brake pedal and shifted the vehicle into neutral(N) and was able to safely pull to the side of the roadway while the vehicle slowed down. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11485543

Incident

Aug 19, 2022

Mileage

113,000 mi

I picked my car up tonight from Haley’s in FarmVille va they fixed my door latches due to recall on latches. I told Them prior to dropping it off that the ABS light and traction control light and engine coolant light keeps coming on. When I pulled out the parking lot I almost got rear ended because the car didn’t want to go it was moving so slow I had to slowly make myself across the road into kfc parking lot without getting hit. Haley refuses to fix these problems bc the light automatically goes off on its own and they say it’s got to physically be on for them to fix it through recall but it keeps coming on whenever I have the car In my possession and it’s very dangerous

NHTSA ID

11483599

Incident

Sep 8, 2022

We have had to replace vacuum pump 4xs ,had multiple engine repairs done, turbo replaced ,jumped time 3xs, replace ABS sensor 2xs, wheel bearings 2xs, CV axels 2xs, since day 1 has been blowing lights in turn signals and brake lights, wiring issue, have replaced control arms,tie rods,tie rod ends, and so much more, have had transmissions since day one, needs evap system repaired again, transmission replaced a second time, having power reductions, and this vechiile has costed us over 12,000, Have been informed of 2 recalls Time frame 12/2015 to current date.

NHTSA ID

11479208

Incident

Aug 14, 2022

Lo normal

NHTSA ID

11472730

Incident

Apr 10, 2022

The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that her daughter related to her that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started independently braking without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact’s daughter stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear driver’s side wheel speed sensor and ABS sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11472384

Incident

Jun 2, 2022

Mileage

105,000 mi

My 2013 ford escape has electrical problems, the biggest issue the gears are jumped. I put it on drive and it gets stuck and then it slows down no power to engine.

NHTSA ID

11471486

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist after the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with ABS failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11468443

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

Mileage

40,000 mi

ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS SENSORS.

NHTSA ID

11437478

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal would extend to the floor causing the stopping distance to delay. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,280.

NHTSA ID

11429007

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Mileage

113,280 mi

BEFORE HAVING A ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES I HAD ISSUES WITH THE TURBOCHARGER OVERBOOSTING AFTER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT I STILL HAVE THE TURBOCHARGER OVERBOOSTING. ON TOP OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKE PEDAL MISS MESSAGE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TCM AND LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE ECM

NHTSA ID

11413422

Incident

Apr 22, 2021

Mileage

87,516 mi

EVERY WINTER WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE INFO SCREEN DISPLAYS "HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE AND ABS ICON FLASHES. THE RADIO ALSO GOES OFF AND ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TO GET THIS CORRECTED AND I AM TOLD THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY CODES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORDS I AM LYING. I AM SURE BY CHECKING WITH OTHERS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN THIS WILL EFFECT ANYTHING ELSE.

NHTSA ID

11385669

Incident

Dec 23, 2020

Mileage

80,000 mi

LAST NIGHT LEAVING FROM WORK, IN THE DARK AT 9;30PM, STARTED CAR AND STARTED TO PULL OFF THE SHOULDER ONTO THE ROADWAY, PRESSED ONTO GAS PEDAL AND CAR WENT SLOW THEN THE ABS SENSOR CAME ON AND A SHORT DISTANCE LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON ALONG WITH HILL ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE. I HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM EARLIER THIS YEAR, ONLY THE ADDITION OF THE 4WD NOT BEING AVAILABLE AND IT WAS A BAD ABS SENSOR. I HAD IT REPLACED AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL LAST NIGHT. THEN THIS MORNING, I HAD TO BACK UP TO GO TO WORK AND THE REAR END STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD THERE NOT BEEN ENOUGH ROOM I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO GO FORWARD THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, SHORT DISTANCE LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO PARK THE NO HILL ASSIST CAME ON. NOTHING VISIBLIY WRONG AGAIN. APPOINTMENT IN THE MORNING TO HAVE THE CODES READ AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11361783

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

154,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2020, WITH ROUGHLY 45,000 MILES THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BURST. THIS APPEARED TO HAVE HAPPENED DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS, AS THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT AN ISSUE THE PREVIOUS DRIVING OCCASION. THIS CAUSED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF RUST WHEN INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN.

NHTSA ID

11360860

Incident

Sep 23, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi