Fire Escape: Ford Says To Stop Driving 2013 Escapes Immediately, We'll Come And Pick Them Up

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Ford is recalling 11,500 new 2013 model Ford Escape SUVs with 1.6-liter engines. The company also warned drivers to stop driving them immediately due to a risk of engine fire. “It is extremely rare for an automaker to warn drivers to stop driving their recalled vehicles,” Reuters says in a flash report.

The matter is so serious that owners are told to contact their local Ford dealers immediately, whereupon a loaner vehicles will be delivered and their Escapes will be brought to the dealership, presumable on the back of a truck.

A fire can happen due to a fuel line that can split and leak fuel. Ford said no injuries have been reported due to the issue. Dealers were told to stop selling 2013 Escapes with 1.6-liter engines until they are repaired. Meanwhile, TTAC test editor Michael Karesh says that the recall also affected his testing of an Escape 2.0T:

“First they delayed it a day, saying it unexpectedly needed an oil change . Today they cancelled the loaner, saying they wanted to inspect the fuel line even though the recall only covers the 1.6T, not the 2.0T in the review vehicle.”

Ford said no injuries have been reported due to the issue. The new Escape was launched last month, some 11,500 have been sold so far. Only the 1.6 liter engine is affected, there is no fire risk for Escape trucks with the 2.0- and 2.5-liter engines, the company says.

The Escape is a strategic model for Ford. According to Edmunds, the Escape was the best-selling SUV for June 2012. It was the best-selling SUV (all sizes) for 2011, since 2006, the Escape is consistently in the top 2. Says Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Michelle Krebs:

“Since the Escape is one of Ford’s highest volume models, it is critically important that it addresses the problem quickly and properly, which is what it appears to be is doing. The Ford Escape plays in a competitive segment – a segment that it has at times dominated – but is now up against a strong competitor with the redesigned 2013 Honda CR-V, which also was recalled today for a smaller issue.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • FJ60LandCruiser FJ60LandCruiser on Jul 20, 2012

    Ford's new releases have all been plagued by recalls. As the proud owner of a Fiesta that I had to lemon law, I can only say this is becoming quite commonplace for their new cars. I wonder how many new car launches they will botch before people get the message.

    • See 9 previous
    • Jimmyy Jimmyy on Jul 20, 2012

      @TrailerTrash "What ever happened to the B&B?" Does B&B mean "Beavis and Butthead"?

  • Some of the comments on this post are asinine. It's a scored fuel line and it could crack. Ford would rather have the bad PR upfront by getting the Escapes temporarily off the road and repairs than risk having one actually catch fire and injure and kill someone. I see broken and leaking fuel lines all the time. It has NOTHING to do with underhood temps or big box/little engine. Geesh.

  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
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