Most common 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Escape Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Escape Hybrid years: 2013, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 2021, 2022, 2009. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid:
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Loss of Motive Power
On July 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate alleged instances of sudden stalling without warning on model year (MY) 2013 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI turbocharged engines. Complaints alleged that vehicles stalled due to engine overheating, resulting in a delayed or no restart condition.
Door Latch Failure
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine coolant indicator illuminated and the engine began to overheat. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking from the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to notify a Ford dealer. The dealer (huntersville Ford, 13825 statesville rd, huntersville, nc 28078) was notified and informed the contact that the failure was not due to any recall. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 12V551000 (engine and engine cooling) as a possible cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000. The VIN was not available.
My 2013 Ford Escape had no heat (blowing cold air ) in jan 2019 so I checked the antifreeze it was low so I added to it .the heat started working .March 30th it started blowing cold air again driving home from cleveland in a snow storm then a warning... Engine over heated safely pull over . I had to have the car towed 29 miles at 11:30 at night. I have read there are lots of complaints about this . We drove 30 miles elyria oh to cleveland oh . Parked and worked a charity event for 3 hrs the car was parked in the parking garage . When we left we were driving about 10 minutes. I was driving on i71 south (highway )when the warning came on . I pulled over immediately .we were on the side of a busy highway at 11:00 pm in a snow storm
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid a good car?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Escape Hybrid rates better than average: 93% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escape Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the best Escape Hybrid years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (1) and air bags (1).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Escape Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2008, 2021, 2022 and 2009. See the full Ford Escape Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Escape Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.