2013 Ford Escape Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2013 Ford Escape, 2% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 69,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “side door” (23% of reports).
- 65latches/locks/linkages complaints
- 69,500median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Side door: mentioned in 15 of 65 complaints (23%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 8 of 65 complaints (12%)
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 30 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 65 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Ford Escape latches/locks/linkages complaints by model year
| Model year | Latches/locks/linkages complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Escape | 2 | 2% | 30,000 |
| 2022 Escape | 1 | 0% | 5,000 |
| 2021 Escape | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2020 Escape | 54 | 3% | 46,884 |
| 2019 Escape | 1 | 0% | 57,598 |
| 2018 Escape | 5 | 0% | 64,800 |
| 2017 Escape | 8 | 0% | 43,000 |
| 2015 Escape | 29 | 3% | 98,000 |
| 2014 Escape | 65 | 3% | 84,500 |
| 2013 Escape | 65 | 2% | 69,500 |
| 2012 Escape | 8 | 1% | 90,000 |
| 2011 Escape | 4 | 0% | 25,745 |
| 2010 Escape | 2 | 0% | 64,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 1 | 0% | 53,900 |
| 2008 Escape | 2 | 0% | 100,850 |
| 2007 Escape | 3 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 6 | 0% | 75,700 |
| 2004 Escape | 4 | 1% | 36,758 |
| 2003 Escape | 7 | 1% | 116,500 |
| 2002 Escape | 20 | 2% | 53,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 30 | 3% | 117,000 |
| 2000 Escape | 1 | 20% | 64,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
Latches/locks/linkages
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Risk: The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway, the front passengerâs side door suddenly came ajar. The "Passenger Door Ajar" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and 22V413000 (Power Train) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the rear liftgate door erroneously became unlatched and opened. The contact later discovered that the rear liftgate locking mechanism was faulty and the liftgate door would not remain closed. The cause of the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Escapes have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 65 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the 2013 Ford Escape (2% of the 2,750 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Ford Escape latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list latches/locks/linkages. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems start?
The median reported mileage is 69,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2013 Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “side door”, in 15 of 65 complaints, followed by “rear passenger” (8).
Other 2013 Ford Escape problems
- Engine problems (1,265)
- Power Train problems (401)
- Electrical System problems (339)
- Steering problems (302)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (247)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (175)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (92)
- Structure problems (87)
See all 2013 Ford Escape problems or latches/locks/linkages problems across all Escape years.