2013 Ford Escape Wipers & Visibility Problems
30 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (30)
We replaced new battery and the wiper arms and motor act up and destroy the wiper arm and motor for 2nd time and now I have to order new one arms and motor and I think ford should recall that wiper motors and arms
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in rainy weather, the front driver’s and passenger side windshield wipers failed to operate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiper motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,500.
I was driving in the snow and the wipers had stopped completely . The passenger doesn’t move at all. The drive side goes up and stays completely up. As I’ve done research I’ve noticed a ton of 2013 escapes have wiper problems. I took it to the dealership. They arnt 100 percent sure what is wrong with it. They think it’s the wiper switch. I’m gonna take it to ford aswell tomorrow. No warnings, just started happening & seems to be a common issue with ford.
Both of my windshield wipers completely stopped working. The cost would be over a grand to fix it. Seems like a common issue with this car. Beyond dangerous! My car has 74,000 miles on it.
Windshield wiper malfunction While granddaughter and children were driving in rain on freeway, wipers started malfunctioning by working out of synchronization then failing forcing her to pull into emergency lane and stopping. After restarting engine they started wiping for a short time than quit. It was extremely dangerous. Research showed me this was a re accuring problem with other people that has caused dangerous situations, expensive and sometimes unsuccessful solutions.
The contact owns a 2013 FORD Escape. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motors lost functionality. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that the Vin was not under recall regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
I was driving when my panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded. It sounded like a gunshot. Glass was everywhere.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH LINK FORD AND RV RICE LAKE (2700 DECKER DR, RICE LAKE, WI 54868) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
MY WIPERS HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING MULTIPLE TIMES AT THIS POINT EVEN AFTER REPLACING 2 MODULES MEANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE WIPER LOCATOR SENSOR KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING AFTER STARTING THE CAR.
WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION. WIPERS STOP WORKING RANDOMLY MAKING IT DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WIPERS BECOME UNALIGNED AND DON'T WORK IN UNISON CAUSING ISSUES WITH THE WIPERS PERFORMANCE AND AT TIMES WIPERS STOP WORKING AT ALL MAKING IT UNSAFE TO USE VEHICLE AT ALL. WIPERS STOP WORKING AT ANY TIME DURING DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPERATIONS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE CAN BE SEEN IN MANY DIFFERENT FORD ESCAPES AND HAVE BEEN A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE BY MANY DIFFERENT FORD OWNERS. THIS MATTER MUST BE ADDRESSED. THE ISSUE IS NOW CONSTANT AND MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WORKING WIPERS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH PERFORMED ON MY PART I HAVE SEEN THIS AS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG FORD OWNERS BUT WITH NO SOLUTION.
WIPER STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORMY DAY, IN ROUTE TO MY HOUSE.
BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS WORK AT THE SAME TIME. VERY OFTEN ONE OR THE OTHER WILL COMPLETELY STOP IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THEY HAVE COLLIDED A FEW TIMES AND ONCE THE WIPER BLADE FLEW OFF FROM BEING HIT BY THE OTHER WIPER. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS IN LIGHT RAIN, HEAVY RAIN, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STOPPED. THE WIPERS HAVE STOPPED COMPLETELY IN HEAVY RAIN CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. TWO NEARBY DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD US THAT NO CODE COMES UP AND THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS WITNESSED IN THE PARKING LOT BY STAFF, IT COULDN'T BE REPLICATED IN THE SHOP. THEREFORE, THEY COULD DO NOTHING. WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW AND THE PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING WORSE. THANKFULLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. A RECALL WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED ALL OVER HER AND MY DAUGHTER. SHE WAS IN AN AREA WHERE NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON IT. SHE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WILL RANDOMLY STICK IN THE UP POSITION. THIS CAUSES BOTH WIPERS TO STOP WORKING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START WORKING AGAIN. SOMETIMES ON IT'S OWN, OR SOMETIMES I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND GIVE IT A PUSH. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THEN THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IN A MINUTE OR TWO, OR NOT AT ALL THAT DAY. I DON'T SEEM TO SEE ANY PATTERN IN WHAT MAKES IT STOP, HIGHWAY OR CITY, WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT OR NOT, IN THE RAIN, OR ONCE JUST TRYING TO WASH THE WINDOWS BY SQUIRTING THE FLUID. IT SEEMS COMPLETELY RANDOM.
TAKATA RECALL DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WINDSHIELD JUST CRACK AND THE NEXT WEEK ANOTHER CRACK WASNT HIT OR ANYTHING. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND MY BACK WINDSHIELD MADE A POPPING SOUND AS A BASEBALL SIZED PIECE OF GLASS FELL OUT. THEN IT STARTED MAKING A CRACKLING SOUND AS THE REST BEGAN TO SHATTER AND SLOWLY FALL OUT. THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND TO THROW ANYTHING AT IT. IT WAS VERY COLD OUT, BUT THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT ON. *TR
RAIN SENSING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WONT TURN ON 60,700 MILES DEALER SAYS SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS
MY WINDSHIELD FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE BACK ONE WORKS FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY WANT $100.05 A HOUR FOR THREE HOURS JUST TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. THIS PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY REPAIRS. IF IT IS ELECTRICAL, ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE?
IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AUG. 5, 2015. IT WAS RAINING THAT EVENING, AND THE WIPER QUIT WORKING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 FORD ESCAPE SEL IN A PARKING LOT. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET IT WORKING AND HAD TO CHANGE VEHICLES UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED THAT NIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD ALREADY GONE BAD. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S EMPLOYEE INDICATED THE CAR'S EUROPEAN STYLE WIPERS WERE MORE PRONE TO FAILURE. ON THIS VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER ROTATES RIGHT TO LEFT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ROTATES LEFT TO RIGHT.
ON DECEMBER 20, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM WE WERE DRIVING ON I15 - INTO SALT LAKE CITY - 19 MILES SOUTH OF I-80. PASSENGER MOON ROOF SHATTERED WITH A LOUD BANG! SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. IT RAISED UP THE GLASS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 41 DEGREES OUTSIDE & 71 DEGREES INSIDE CARE. MY HUSBAND & I WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE CAR. WE WERE IN 5-6 LANES OF TRAFFIC & DID NOT STOP UNTIL WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY. RAIN WAS COMING SO WE TOOK PICTURES WITH OUR CAMERA & I PHONE & TAPED UP THE ROOF OVER THE CRACKS & COVERED IT WITH A TARP. WE RETURNED TO BOISE AREA THE FOLLOWING DAY. WE PARKED IT IN OUR GARAGE UNTIL WE COULD DELIVER THE CAR TO LITHIA FORD IN BOISE ON 12/22/14. (WE PURCHASED IT FROM LITHIA FORD) THE SERVICE TECH SAID HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT FORD & GET BACK WITH US. WE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM & SAW IN THE PAST THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. FORD MADE THE DECISION, IT WAS SOMETHING WE DID & WE THEREFORE HAD TO TURN IT INTO OUR INSURANCE & WE HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. WE BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE COVERED THIS DAMAGE, NOT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS MOVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS FAILURE WAS 13,500. UPDATED 12/03/14*LJ UPDATED 10/1/15 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY UNTIL THE HEAVY RAIN SUBSIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED EACH TIME. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S STARTED TO INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED INTO TRAFFIC BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE BEING UTILIZED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO THE WIPERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,850.
VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THE DESIGN. WHEEL WELL ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE ICE AND SLUSH THEY ARE TOO SMALL AND CAN'T REMOVE DEBRIS. WIPERS IN THE FRONT IS NOT THE GREATEST. LOSES CONTACT ON WINDSHIELD HAVE A HEARD TIME SEEING WHERE I AM GOING. TERRIBLE WIPERS WHEN PURCHASED NEW WIPERS REQUIRED. ENGINE HAVING REALLY ODD NOISE AND SLUGGISH. I SUPPOSED THEY REPLACED THE INJECTORS. HAD SOME TORQUE BUT SOUNDS LIKE TIMING CHAIN LOOSE OR LIFTERS ISSUE. SEATS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE IN THE REAR. NOT ENOUGH CUSHION. WINDOWS BARELY WENT UP AND DOWN. LOTS OF GIVE... TOO MUCH REPLACED FRONT WINDOW MOTORS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND, NO OVERPASSES, ETC. MOONROOF EXPLODED OVER MY HEAD. GLASS WAS FACING UPWARDS LIKE A VOLCANO. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF OVER MY HEAD. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THIS DEFECT. CAR IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD. *TR
THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS A WAVE IN THE GLASS THAT MAKES VIEWING VERY DIFFICULT. I'VE HAD IT REPLACED TWICE, SO IT MUST BE AN INTENTIONAL PART OF THE MIRROR, BUT IS NAUSEATING DURING DRIVING... *TR
ON TITANIUM MODELS, THE HVAC VENTS HAVE A CHROME SURROUND. THIS CHROME SURROUND CAUSES A BAD REFLECTIVITY PROBLEM WITH THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON DAYS WITH STRONG SUNLIGHT, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO USE THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE MIRRORS ARE AFFECTED. THE CORRECT SOLUTION WOULD APPEAR TO BE CHANGING THE CHROME SURROUND FROM CHROME TO MATTE BLACK. *TR
LAST WEEK I NOTICED WHEN I WAS IN PARK THAT I SPRAYED MY WIDOWS AND THE WIPERS DID NOT TURN ON. I HAD TO LIFT THE WIPERS AND SLAP THEM AGAINST THE WINDOW AND THEN GO BACK INTO THE CAR AND THEY WORKED FINE. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE. TODAY DRIVING TO WORK I HAD ANOTHER ISSUE. WHEN I INITIALLY STARTED THE CAR THE WIPERS WORKED FINE TO CLEAN OFF THE RAIN DROPS AND I SHUT THEM OFF. WHEN I WAS ON FREEWAY I USED THE SPRITZER AND THE WIPERS DID NOT START. I MOVED THE SWITCH TO ALL SETTING AND STILL NOTHING HAPPENED. I SPRITZED THE WATER 2 MORE TIMES AND STILL NOTHING OTHER THAN I WAS BLINDED BY THE WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL ON THE SHOULDER AND GET OUT OF THE CAR AND LIFT THE WIPERS OFF THE WINDOW. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR THEY STARTED UP FINE AND AGAIN WORKED AS THEY SHOULD. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS THIS MORNING. I CALLED SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT THEM. *TR
THE RAIN SENSOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN THE WIPERS ARE USED IN THE 'INTERMITTENT' SETTING. THE OPERATION OF THE WIPERS WHEN USING THE INTERMITTENT FEATURE ARE VERY UNPREDICTABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE DELAY SETTING USED. THE WIPERS WILL OFTEN NOT ACTIVATE ALLOWING RAIN TO ACCUMULATE ON THE WINDSHIELD TO THE POINT OF IMPAIRING VISIBILITY DRASTICALLY. AT OTHER TIMES THE WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE WHEN RAIN WATER IS NOT COLLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD, SUCH AS WHEN STOPPED UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. *TR