Ford’s newest crossover can’t escape the curse of safety recalls. The latest issue on the 2013 Ford Escape affects about 7600 vehicles built between October 2011 and August 2012.
The Problem: In Ford Escapes with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine, a cup plug in the engine cylinder head could come loose and allow coolant to leak over the engine. If engine coolant leaks on a hot component like the exhaust, it could start a fire. Ford hasn’t received any reports of this issue from customers, but one 2013 Escape at a dealership caught fire after a test drive, before it was delivered to a customer.
The Fix: Ford will add more plug sealant and a secondary plug cover to help prevent coolant leaks. Performing the repair takes about three and a half hours.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: The problem affects 7600 vehicles, of which about 6150 were sold in the U.S. and another 1300 were sold in Canada.
The 2013 Ford Escape was also recalled twice in July because the carpeting could impede proper use of the brake pedal, and because damaged fuel lines could start an engine fire.
Source: Ford
