Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. While driving 20 MPH, an abnormal burning odor entered through the engine compartment and the oil warning indicator illuminated. The contact managed to pull the vehicle over into a parking lot. The contact and passenger exited the vehicle and observed smoke under the vehicle and oil leaking profusely from under the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The local dealer (crown Ford, 420 merrick rd, lynbrook, ny, 11563, [phone]) did not diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact mentioned that the oil had just been changed two weeks prior at chatham Ford (781 main st, chatham, ma, 02633, [phone]). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The vehicle continuously sputters, and then dies while in driving mode - normally pulling out into traffic. We have been almost hit numerous times. In an hour time span, yesterday, it happened 10 times, today in a 15 minute timespan, 3 times. Am an uber driver and cannot put their lives in jeopardy - going to get someone killed. This happens in all situations - whether idling in line to pull out into traffic at a light, or while driving. Has even happened while traveling down the highway. It starts to sputter, and then just shuts off. Sometimes you can place in neutral and restart, but other times, you must coast to side of street, place in park, and then try to restart. There are 100s of incidences on the internet showing the same symptoms. Please help resolve this. …
I was driving my family from houston, tx to san antonio,tx on July 5th 2019 for the holiday weekend in my 2013 Ford Escape sel with the 6f35 transmission. We were about 1 hour & 30 minutes into our trip, 108 miles, from our home near the city of flatonia, tx when our transmission horrifically failed. While I was driving I noticed the transmission had a made a hard shift into 6th gear. It had jumped a couple of times until I accelerated and then it finally shifted into 6th gear. The next sign of trouble was when the dash screen told us the lane change sensor was failing. Next we started noticing a faint burning smell coming into the cabin, we weren't sure what it was. A minute later all the warning lights turned on in the dash screen. …
Today after 10 minutes of successful, normal suburban driving, and a stop for lunch, my ABS, traction control, hill start assist, and auto 4wd systems all threw warnings of malfunction. The warnings appeared after having been waiting in a drive-through line for about 20 minutes, and power off in the vehicle for about 30 minutes thereafter. Audible and physical indications of problem were thumping noise in right-rear wheel, and difficulty in making forward motion at low speed in a zero-slope parking lot. Visual check found no problems with tire inflation or obstacles in straight path of travel. Manual check of lug-nuts by hand without tools found none loose. After conferring with a local shop I trust, I was able to travel 1/2 mile without incident to their location. Audible and physical indications were present at the beginning of the trip, but all cleared after I got underway. …
My car is a 2013 Escape and since I took it to service and to fix one recall that was causing my car to overheat and shut off engine 1.- (recall no. 13s12) risk of localized overheating of the enginecylinder head that May lead to oil leak filters. And .some other recalls, like 2.- (recall no. 13y03 fuel line jumper), 3.-(recall no. 14so4 reprogram restrains control), and 4.-(recal no.14s03 exterior door handle) since that day ive called many times to service manager ivan regarding this. My car has been malfuntioning overheating in the freeway, and in the streets, most of the times, even when it was right out of the service, I was going on a vacation with my family, where I even had d to pay to replace engine coolant bypass valve, $330.18 dlls because my car is over 30,000 miles but not yet 3 years .and at this time they performed another recall ????? Yes... …
As many other Ford Escape 2013 owners, my car stopped working properly putting my life and those of my wife and kids at risk. It started when the engin began to cut off when idle. At the begining, there were no check engine light. Car will restart but a 150 m later the engine will start fighting to stay on and most of the time the engine lose the battle. So I restart again until ( after 2, or 3 times) the engine stays constantly on. My big concern was with the hazardous and risky situations I found myself in, specially while getting inro a busy road or a high way and having the engine to shut down andlet I didn't have time when the engine let me out of power. Some drivers are in hurry and might not have the time to stop their vehicle before hitting me. That's why I always parked my car on the sidewalks while in distress. …
My check engine light came on and I received an error reading stating my engine coolant is low. I checked coolant and it is full. My car started to stall while I was driving it. I looked up info on this website which mimicked my issues exactly. The Ford recall campaign number is 12s41. I called Ford motor compay customer relationship center and asked them about my car and explained the problems and how they mimicked the recall listed above. They said my car was not included in that. I informed them that it was a 2013 Escape which shows to fall under it and they told me that my car probably didn't get made with the same parts and May have been made at a different time. I will now have to pay out of pocket and I have a hard time doing that since obviously the symptoms mimic the recall. My vehicle is in motion when it stalls out and tells me my system is overheating and to pull over. …
My vehicle is telling me my coolant is low but it is not its also telling me im due for an oil change and has been coming off and on for the past 10 months ive had it serviced numberous(8) times had my coolant flushed and sensors checked. Had it serviced at the place I bought it and at airport Ford. Even had my motor replaced 5 months ago. This issue is keeping me from driving my vehicle because once its (hot) it will shut the vehicle down..I can get in it start it after not driving it for hrs and pull out of my driveway and it says its over-heating. And will say stop safely. And the vehicle will shut down. Ive been stranded 3 times from this happening. I check the coolant and its not low or over full. I really hope nothing happens while im driving or when I have my 3 yr old daughter in the car with me. …
Engine warning light first began to appear at approximately 35,000 miles. Initially the warning light came on and off after a few weeks, then stayed on permanently until I took it into the dealer. After I left the dealer, the engine light reappeared after approximately a month while I was driving and stayed on steady at approximately 40,000 miles. The dealer stated it had to do with fueling the car. I took particular care in noticing when this current engine light appeared. It was no where near fueling of the car. It was during the operation of the vehicle. Thank god it has not been associated with any "real" issue other than the fact that I can't use the clicker to auto-start my car during what has up until now been a relatively mild winter. This car has been in the shop so many times, I am on a first name basis with the Ford staff. Buy Japan.
Last night leaving from work, in the dark at 9;30 pm, 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.
Traction Control complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2013 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2013 Ford Escape, 1% of the model year's 2,751 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Escape traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2013 Ford Escape, though it has 18 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Escape traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.