Ford recalls 2013 Escape ‘lemon’ for 11th time

Decades ago the running joke was that F-o-r-d stood for Fix Or Repair Daily. Then they got better. Let's hope this is not a sign of things to come. Ford Motor Co. has issued its 11th recall on the 2013 Escape crossover, this time because a wiring problem could cause the engine to hesitate or stall.

The recall covers 159,395 Escapes and Focus ST hatchbacks from the 2013 and 2014 model years with turbocharged 2.0-liter engines in North America. Ford said the engine wiring harnesses may have “splices that were insufficiently compressed during the supplier manufacturing process," which can affect engine performance by sending incorrect signals to the powertrain control module.

The defect could result in problems including stalling, reduced engine power, hesitation or illumination of the engine-malfunction indicator light, Ford said. No injuries or crashes are linked to the problem. Dealers are being instructed to replace the wiring splices.

Flaws that other recalls on the Escape have addressed include fluid leaks that could cause an engine fire, doors that can open while the vehicle is moving and rollover airbags that may not deploy quickly enough.