Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 388 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 388, in the owner's own words
The shifter wouldn't go into park or start in park had to put in neutral to start it, was at a gas pump and the car started moving on its own had to jump in and pull the emergency brake to stop it and the vehicle was off, also the backup camera is upside down had it fixed but it goes right back upside down.
Transmission stopped working. It completely disengaged and i was unable to move the vehicle in the middle of an intersection. This created a potentially fatal breakdown.
My wastegate solenoid in my turbo is over-boosting. I have replaced it once and it’s still an issue. I also am leaking coolant heavily. Ive seen 2013 ford escapes engine’s like mine have recalls stating 1.6L Engine Overheating & Fire Risk: A major recall involved 1.6L engines where a cylinder head cup plug could fail, causing coolant loss and potential fire. Another recall addressed fuel lines that could leak, causing fire risks. I’ve looked on Carfax, NHTSA.gov, and Ford.com to see if my car has the recall alert and it says it does not but I have the same exact issues.
My 2013 Ford Escape had safety recall 22S43 (NHTSA 22V413000) completed by a Ford dealer in January 2023. That recall was supposed to fix a defect in which the shift cable bushing can detach from the transmission, potentially allowing the transmission to remain in gear even when the shifter shows “Park.” After the recall repair, the same issue has occurred again — the bushing has disconnected from the transmission lever, creating the same roll-away risk that the recall was intended to correct. When this happens, the gear selector shows “Park,” but the vehicle can still move. Ford Motor Company Customer Service told me that because more than 12 months or 12,000 miles have passed since the recall repair, they will not cover it again. However, this is the same safety defect reoccurring after the recall remedy. It appears that the recall repair did not permanently correct the problem, and the part may still be defective or the cable end may have worn prematurely. I am submitting this report because the defect has returned after the recall was supposedly completed, and I believe other owners may also experience repeat failures that pose a roll-away safety risk.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
My 2013 Ford Escape, bought in September 2022 with a new engine, has been problematic. It initially worked well but lost transmission power less than a year later. I managed to drive it home, but it hasn't worked since. Two repair shops confirmed a needed new transmission, costing $6,000, and found metal shavings in the fluid. There were no warning signs before the failure. Before the transmission issue, the car needed repairs for a significant oil leak. I haven't driven it for two years due to high repair costs, yet I pay $500 monthly, causing financial strain. The dealership advised against a warranty, saying the new engine's warranty would cover issues for three years. I declined the warranty, but when the transmission failed, the dealership refused coverage, reflecting poorly on their practices. Similar complaints from other owners suggest a systemic issue, possibly warranting a recall. The lack of warning signs indicates a design or manufacturing flaw. This situation has caused financial hardship and inconvenience, turning the promise of a reliable vehicle into a nightmare. I pay $500 monthly for a non-functional car, money that could be used elsewhere. The dealership's refusal to honor the warranty feels like a betrayal, prioritizing profits over customer satisfaction. The pattern of transmission failures across vehicles suggests a need for a recall to address safety concerns and help affected owners. In conclusion, my experience with my 2013 Ford Escape has been frustrating and disappointing. From the oil leak to the transmission failure, the vehicle has been troublesome. The lack of warning signs, high repair costs, and the dealership's refusal to honor the warranty have worsened the issue. I urge Ford to take responsibility and initiate a recall for customer safety and satisfaction.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was diagnosed that the flywheel and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to Custom Trans, Inc., where 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 approximately 40,000.
Steering wheel locked up hard to turn wheel Consuming(burning) way more gas than normally would
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced because metal fragments were found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a gas station and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for several minutes, and the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The contact parked the vehicle at the gas station. The vehicle was not yet towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
I was driving, with my children in the car, we were at a redlight - first in line - and when the light changed, my car would not go - it was like it was stuck - I put the car in park, and then put the vehicle back into drive - and then it would go, but in a "joltlike" manner. I was able to get to the side of the road, where I put the car in park, turned the vehicle off, and then put it back in drive. seemed okay, until the next morning. the next Morning, I had to take my kids to school, after I dropped them off, the car was doing the same thing from the previous evening, although more "dramatic" I had to pull off to the side of the road and turn it off and on twice... I then got the message "transmission fault service now" I turned the car on and off again. it seemed okay again, I was on my way to work. it was driving normally, then randomly it started revving really loud, and jolting. I made it to the parking lot, where I then on my lunch break that day, called the dealership. I took my car to the dealership and a day later they called me saying that the transmission needed replaced for $8000.00. I called Ford and they didn't tell me anything worthwhile, I asked for an email contact, and was told the number I was calling was how to contact Ford.
I have had car a month bought used and saw the recall for the transmission shifter bushing which I had done today at the Ford place . But it didn't fix the shifting problem .so took had hooked up to a machine to tell me it's the transmission solenoid b that's inside the trans mission and not covered by the recall which is insane because it's the main reason these cars are having this problem so now I can't get it fixed have had car a month and will be parking it as junk because Ford can't fix under the recall. This needs to be changed this is the main culprit not the bushings.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to reverse(R), the vehicle failed to respond, and the gear shifter was stuck in reverse(R). The contact was able to move the gear shifter to park(P) after several attempts, and the contact turned off the vehicle with the ignition key. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to Strictly Transmissions, where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable to the transmission had detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for the VIN to be added in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 197,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and 22V413000 (Power Train) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
On February 4, 2019, my 2013 Ford Escape experienced a problem where it would only move in reverse when trying to leave a parking lot after work. I called for roadside assistance and was towed to a service center. The work at the service center revealed a leak of transmission fluid, which was caused by a broken cooler line from the transmission to the radiator. Prior to the repairs, I contacted Ford to see if this issue was covered under warranty, but I was told that I needed to cover the cost of the work. Faulty bushing was likely an issue, which Ford acknowledged and issued a recall for in 2022 to cover this problem (3 years later). However, the damage and repairs had already been done. Unfortunately, the repairs did not fully resolve the problem, and subsequent issues have further deteriorated my car's performance and decreased its value. This has impacted my decision-making when planning to replace the car, as further repairs are not financially feasible. The work performed on my car, as well as cost of repairs, is attached.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The transmission has completely gone out. On this car model, there isn't a dip stick for the owner to check transmission fluid levels. While pulling out of a parking space the car hesitated on going into first gear and then jerked really hard before continuing to move. While still in the parking lot of a retail store, the car continued to hesitate between gears and then a low coolant message appeared. After going to the next store, a large grocery chain, in the same parking lot I proceeded to purchase a funnel that would allow me to top off the coolant, which was barely low to begin with. When I tried backing out of the space to go home, the car hesitated on going into reverse, jerked really hard again and that's when I proceeded to pull the car back into the parking spot at the grocery store and ordered a Lyft to take me and my groceries home. The message "transmission failure" did not come on until I was pulling the car back into the parking space before ordering a Lyft. I had the car towed to my mechanics shop where he proceeded to tell me I would need a new transmission. However, 6 to 7 months prior to that, the car was at the authorized dealer where it was purchased originally from to have the safety recall repair done to the gear shifting cables and bushings, which were replaced. The service worker now informed me that they never checked the transmission fluid levels or any other fluid in the car to make sure that the car was in good condition and ready to drive. Seeing that there is no dip stick for an owner to check the transmission fluid level and the "gear shifting cable" and bushings directly effect the transmission and 6 months later the transmission goes out completely has caused me great concern and duress. I am caring for both my elderly parents and we are now without a car with doctors appointments coming up and their ongoing and increasing medical issues, this has really left us in a huge bind.
Within a years time, I’ve found a transmission fluid leak, had the shift bushing cable break and be replaced with warranty, and now my car stalled on my way to work with an alert for the transmission. It’s had a coolant leak somewhere nearly the entire time I’ve owned the car, 3 years. And oil is burning, you can smell it, but I’m not loosing oil.
This is the second time that I have had issues with a coolant leak leeching onto my engine. The coolant leaks out and causes toxic fumes in the cabin that have repeatedly caused me and my passengers severe damage to our mucus membranes resulting in coughing and difficulty breathing. I have literally had to drive with my windows down in the cold autumn air because I cannot breathe in my vehicle. There has been no warning or check engine light that has come on at all in either of these experiences. It has been my mere experience of health issues that has resulted in me needing to bring the vehicle in. As of right now there has been no recalls but evidently this has been a recurring issue and problem per my local mechanic as well as the forums that I find online. This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed to Ford customers.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact became aware that the vehicle responded as needed while shifted into reverse. The contact also stated that a message was displayed, alerting the contact of an air bag deployment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 22V413000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.
The vehicle had been almost overheating and warning lights to shut off engine would kick on. I took it to my mechanic and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt. I was informed that Ford Company is fully aware that that the transmission in the Ford Escape is an ongoing problem. Why has the NHTSA not required a recall? This is not fair to consumers, and the work/parts/labor of this type of replacement are extremely expensive. Shutdowns on the highways or local roads can cause accidents and loss of life.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced hard shifting and hesitation while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who discovered metal shavings in the transmission fluid, and a burning odor coming from the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while test-driving the vehicle at various speeds with the vehicle in sport(S) mode, the vehicle jerked, was hesitating, and failed to shift as intended. The dealer advised the contact to not drive the vehicle in sport(S) mode. The contact followed the instructions; however, the failure persisted while driving. The dealer was notified, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that there was stagnant water in the spare tire wheel well in the trunk. The contact also noticed that there was water leaking on the front driver's side seat belt and on the front driver's side floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an intensive water entry testing was performed, and unknown related repairs were made. The vehicle was taken to several transmission specialists, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stationary at a stop sign, there was an abnormal rumbling coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front of the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that the failure persisted while stationary or while reversing. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed a failure with the transmission valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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