2013 Ford Escape electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 15V813000Dec 2, 20159,017 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured January 11, 2012, to April 1, 2013, and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles manufactured May 03, 2012, to October 14, 2013. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).

  Risk: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17-S1.

• Recall 14V495000Aug 11, 2014133,227 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).

  Risk: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.

What owners say

1. Filed Feb 25, 2026NHElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown

   I took my car in for a safety recall for the bushing on the transmission. A short time after getting it back my cabin filled with smoke when I used the remote start. I had never had this problem until it came back from the dealer. so I stopped using the remote start! but after that the car's cabin began filling with acrid smoke whenever it idled for more than a minute. It now fills with smoke when sitting at a stop sign or in slow traffic, so i have to open the windows to…

   NHTSA complaint #11720463 · source
2. Filed Feb 18, 2026160,000 miILElectrical SystemEngine

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger seated in the front passenger's seat became aware of smoke inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the engine cover had cracked and that there was an oil leak coming from the engine. The independent mechanic cleaned up the oil from underneath the engine and…

   NHTSA complaint #11718886 · source
3. Filed Jan 30, 2026FLElectrical SystemEngine

   Im having the same issues as the current recall and have been having nonstop issues with my 2013 ford escape that dealerships/mechanics can't seem to figure out or won't figure out, but it says that mine isn't part of that recall, but I believe it should be. Now I have a newborn so these issues worry me even more.

   NHTSA complaint #11714377 · source
4. Filed Jan 23, 2026WIElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown

   I was parking vehicle & noticed from center console burning smoke coming from heater vents & middle console. I turned it off right away, waited a while & it stopped, driving at 60mph a back & forth forward & back hesitation or vibration. Shifting back & forth, No check engine light, but I feel that this vehicle has the recalls that are listed for this same year model & it has never being corrected. I need to bring this vehicle to a Ford dealership to get it checked. I'm in…

   NHTSA complaint #11712836 · source
5. Filed Jan 22, 2026NEElectrical SystemEngine

   This is a known issue with 1.6L engine 2013 Ford Escapes and they have not issued an official recall on all VINs. The coolant tubing is faulty, causing several leaks and engine overheating, also leading to additional computer failures of the temperature gauge.

   NHTSA complaint #11712714 · source
6. Filed Jan 21, 2026WIAirbagsElectrical System

   I bought a 2013 escape 3-4 months ago. It had a clear car fax as well as clean on Ford.com. recently the air bag light has been flashing on and as time has gone on, it is staying on longer. I just had it diagnosed at a Ford Dealership and was told it was an air bag sensor, with a cost of over $2000. After digging deeper, I discovered that the Air Bag and sensors were replaced in 2016 under the recalls at the time. I understand that this was done and I am only asking for some…

   NHTSA complaint #11712338 · source
7. Filed Jan 13, 2026WIElectrical SystemEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   Was opening the moon rooftop And I noticed smoke started coming from the middle of the radio / navigation system, all through vents smoke coming out something was burning I shut the vehicle, and waited about 10 minutes till it went away Don't know why this happened, but I'm curious that the recalls that coming up for this vehicle are very significant, running hesitation & smell of burning, vibration in front of vehicle

   NHTSA complaint #11710574 · source
8. Filed Oct 18, 2025TXElectrical SystemOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers

   In many words the wires are all mess up the AC buttons off it puts on the air and back wipes and the coolant system keep lossing coolant it smell the wiring have too it twice to where my extender warrant told me to they too 200 hund. For deductible and Labor 641.00 twice and the card is still with electric problems I m a senior citizen on SSI take care of two boys 5 and 8 alone with no help and thas the only means of transportation scare all the time that wires going catch…

   NHTSA complaint #11694288 · source
9. Filed Aug 30, 2025KSElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11684132 · source
10. Filed Jul 9, 2025SCElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

    While driving the engine seems to "go out" which is a risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists near by because it is not expected and can happen anywhere (two lane road, major highway, while turning, etc.). You are able to press the gas and hear the engine but the car does not move - it acts as if it were in neutral. There are no safety or warning lights on the dashboard before or during this issue meaning that there is no way for the driver to prepare. There have…

    NHTSA complaint #11672244 · source
11. Filed Jul 7, 2025SCFireElectrical SystemEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    On June 24, 2025 at approx 4:45 pm, my wife and I were driving home. The car was running fine, no lights, gauges were normal, no info on screen, when all of a sudden the engine shut down, info on screen stated steering assisi unavailable, and smoke started coming from vents. We were aproaching a sharp curve in the road, so I had to manhandle the steering to keep from crashing. Then used the emergency brake to stop after insuring we cleared the curve. By that time, we were…

    NHTSA complaint #11671672 · source
12. Filed Apr 20, 2025SCElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    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…

    NHTSA complaint #11655660 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology