Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, it inadvertently started rolling while the engine was not running. The contact's wife was in the vehicle while rolling. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle; however, he was stuck between the driver's door of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged its front bumper because the nearby vehicle was backed in at the parking lot. The driver's door was bent up to the front fender and the passenger door was damaged, in addition, to the possible front driver-side fender. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags were not deployed. There were no police on the scene, or report filed. The contact was taken to the emergency by a family member. The contact also damaged his eyewear. …
The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact had just parked the vehicle, and as she was exiting was backed over by the vehicle. The contact was knocked over by the open driver's side door and pulled under the vehicle by the tires. The contact suffered a "grade 2" concussion, facial lacerations, and multiple abrasions and bruises over her body. The contact had three broken ribs on the right chest area and two ribs on the left side. Additionally, the contact had severe bruises on her right clavicle and right shoulder. The contact was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The vehicle had rolled into a neighbor's yard and crashed into a fence, which resulted in minor scratches to the back bumper. The contact stated that the fence had sustained no damage. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her husband was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. Additionally, the gear shifter was stuck, and the contact's husband was unable to change gears. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband veered to the right lane and the vehicle stopped independently after several yards. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward while parked. The contact's husband restarted the vehicle and drove to the nearby residence. However, upon driving the vehicle to the dealer the following day, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) was completed; however, the failure reoccurred the same day. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH uphill, the shifter cable fractured, and the vehicle started to reverse. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal; however, the vehicle continued to reverse. The contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle and then attempted to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was unable to restart. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local auto body shop and diagnosed with shifter cable failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was towed to another local mechanic due to the check engine light being illuminated, and also because the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was then towed to another local mechanic who replaced a fuse and the battery. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive (D), the gear shifter moved to sport (S) unintendedly. The contact stated that at second attempt to shift into drive (D), the gear shifter moved to park (P) unintendedly, and the gear shift indicator displayed that the transmission was in neutral (N). The contact engaged the electronic parking brake to park the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she then watched a video online, where she was informed to lift the gear shifter cover panel and to move a switch, so the gear shifter could respond as needed. The contact followed the instructions with assistance, and was able to drive to the residence, where she shifted into neutral (N) and engaged the electronic parking brake to park the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a railroad stop, she depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that after several attempts, the vehicle accelerated at a slow speed. The contact pulled into the parking lot of a transmission shop and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was inspected by a technician and the contact was informed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that prior to the failure, upon taking the vehicle for an oil change, she was informed by the technician that there was a leak in the transmission and that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle in park(P), the vehicle began to roll forward. The contact immediately engaged the parking brake. The contact then attempted to shift into drive(D) however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's daughter called an independent mechanic who was able to assist over the phone. The contact unscrewed the shifter panel and pulled the lever while the daughter adjusted the cable bushing from underneath the hood. The contact and her daughter performed the fix each time to shift the vehicle into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was then taken to an unknown dealer where they informed her that part for the recall would not be available until July or August of 2022. …
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 contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle emitted abnormal sounds and surged continuously upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys who retrieve a code for the check engine warning light. The contact then added additives in the fuel tank and the check engine warning light disappeared. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the cause of the failure was not yet determined. However, the dealer informed the contact that the failure could be associated with the engine or the transmission. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was overheating while driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on separate occasions while his granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that while he was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact then stated that he was able to turn off and restart the vehicle. The service transmission light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the fluid was darker than normal and needed to be flushed and refilled. The transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The vehicle was then taken to another transmission shop where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Related recalls
Power train › Shift linkage/cable/rod
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Transmission complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 401 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Ford Escape, 15% of the model year's 2,751 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › lever and linkage › floor shift (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Escape transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-413 (shift linkage/cable/rod, Jun 10, 2022); NHTSA recall 18V-471 (floor shift, Jul 16, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Escape transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 7 fires and 12 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.