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2013 Escape Leaking Roof


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Its been a long time since I last posted, but I get emails from the forum when people post to this thread. I'm sorry for all the troubles people keep having. Our Escape leaked from day one. I took it back on day two and told the dealer to go pack sand. They gave us a new car, but I think that was mostly due to the fact that we bought the car on Friday and the cashiers check hadn't even been processed yet. It also helped that my wife came waddling in the following Monday very pregnant and very emotional to talk to the manager.

 

We never found out what the cause was, and I think we were the first case. The dealer said that Ford came and took the car. From the location of the stains, I could tell that there was no way the window seals were the culprit. What bothers me is that Ford dealers keep taking peoples windshields out. I've read a number of threads here elsewhere with the same story: The dealer replaces the windshield seal, and it still leaks. The problem isn't fixed until they take a look at the roof rack. The problem is caused by the forward roof rack mount.

 

The new car hasn't been trouble free either although it doesn't leak. We had an exhaust smell in the cabin. The smart key seat settings seem to be reversed. The car locked itself and locked my wife out. The suspension creaked for a while. The door handles stick. The BLIS/parking sensors occasionally go nuts, and now we have the phantom lift gate opening problem as well. We've taken it to the dealer and for every problem they "could not duplicate." MFT is a glitchy slow mess. Now its out of warranty. We'll keep our fingers crossed. My father always said "never buy a first model year car".

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My father always said "never buy a first model year car".

Your father is a wise man, and I follow this advise. No matter how much people want to say the quality and reliability is so much better today, 1st and even many 2nd MY of a redesigned vehicle still have many kinks to be worked out. Not willing to put my hard earned cash down and be the beta.

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Your father is a wise man, and I follow this advise. No matter how much people want to say the quality and reliability is so much better today, 1st and even many 2nd MY of a redesigned vehicle still have many kinks to be worked out. Not willing to put my hard earned cash down and be the beta.

 

Yeah, this is the second time we did this. The first time worked out well. We bought an Infiniti G37 right when they came out and never had any problems with that car. I figured that there was so much platform sharing going on at Nissan that it really wasn't totally new. I thought the Ford would be the same sort of situation because of the Kuga in Europe. Nope. Pushed my luck too many times.

The thing is, we really like this car. Most of the problems are infrequent and minor annoyances, but they happen just enough that it reduces confidence in the vehicle at least for me. My wife drives it all the time and seems satisfied. I'm the one who has OCD over this kind of stuff.

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Okay- so they replaced the seal on my windshield and they say it's fixed. When I went to pick the car up I noticed that the headliner where it meets the windshield is frayed and there is a large gap. I also noticed that there was a part of it that was indented.

 

Long story short they fixed the indentation but then the shop foreman called me to say that they would try and get ford to approve a new headliner. And because he says it doesn't look a whole lot different than how they look new he told me I would just have to live with it, and then when I tried to ask a question he interrupted me and said, "can I finish?!" and then proceeded to talk to me rudely and with an attitude.

 

Awesome.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally got my car back on Monday. After the second time they fixed it, a ding magically appeared on my roof. Of course the dealer said it was a golf ball that did it, that just so happens to be exactly where the did the work(front driver side roof rack), but they agreed to fix it. There ding specialist could repair it, so it had to go to the body shop. Got it back and it looks good. The jury is still out if I still have a leak. I'll let the board know after I get a good rain storm.

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  • 1 month later...

Okay folks- after they replaced the windshield they gave me the car back and said all was well. Next snow storm and it leaked! So I brought it back in, they replaced some seal, said it is definitely fixed. A week later, it snowed and it leaked again!!!

 

So now it's back in the shop, and they promise to fix it. Just like they promised to fix it last time.

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Okay folks- after they replaced the windshield they gave me the car back and said all was well. Next snow storm and it leaked! So I brought it back in, they replaced some seal, said it is definitely fixed. A week later, it snowed and it leaked again!!!

 

So now it's back in the shop, and they promise to fix it. Just like they promised to fix it last time.

The latest greatest thing I heard was that it was some sort of self-leveling compound they they use during assembly was the culprit. I have no idea what this is or where they use it, but would love to find out. So to date the windsheild seal has been blamed. Then the roof racks. Then the Pano roofs. Now this. Beats me. Maybe its all 4 things are at fault.

Edited by Escapism
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The latest greatest thing I heard was that it was some sort of self-leveling compound they they use during assembly was the culprit. I have no idea what this is or where they use it, but would love to find out. So to date the windsheild seal has been blamed. Then the roof racks. Then the Pano roofs. Now this. Beats me. Maybe its all 4 things are at fault.

 

Have they stopped using this stuff? This is absurd.

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I don't know what's going on, but here is the story from another site.

 

I purchased a 2014 Ford Escape two weeks before thanksgiving at which time it rained heavily. I had leaks at both the driver and passenger columns. I returned the vehicle and it was replaced by the dealership. It rained the day after I received my replacement, and that Escape also leaked. I was told by the service department that they could not locate the source of the leak, however, upon retrieving my vehicle from the service dept. not only was the headliner wet, the carpeting on the passenger side was wet as well. It was only through my own diligence that I was able to have the service dept. take a closer look at the vehicle. Apparently, this is a manufacturing issue with the vehicle regarding some sort of self-leveling adhesive that is used in the run-off sections of the doors. I have escalated this issue to Ford Motor Company, and am waiting on a reply.

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I purchased a 2014 Escape Titaniumtwo days ago (01/12) and today noticed water stains on both A pillars. I have an appt with the dealer tommorow to check it out. After reading thru this thread, I am not confident that a repair fix will work. As was stated early in this thread,

 

"Repair is out of the question because we have no idea when the water intrusion began. The vehicle sat in a holding lot at the factory for a month. We have no idea what internally has been affected by the water. Also we noticed the problem on the second day, with 30 miles on the odometer. How far is the dealership going to have to tear the vehicle apart to replace effected components and make sure they have caught everything? The obvious area of the headliner that has the stain is a massive piece. They will basically have to strip the interior to get it out. It will probably not go back together like it was new and will possibly introduce new problems. As for my confidence in the vehicle, that really is not an issue. Stuff happens. My main concern is that Ford corrects the problem with my vehicle. I have no doubt that they will investigate this vehicle to determine the root cause of the issue."

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I purchased a 2014 Escape Titanium two days ago (01/12) and today noticed water stains on both A pillars. I have an appt with the dealer tommorow to check it out. After reading thru this thread, I am not confident that a repair fix will work. As was stated early in this thread,

 

"Repair is out of the question because we have no idea when the water intrusion began. The vehicle sat in a holding lot at the factory for a month. We have no idea what internally has been affected by the water. Also we noticed the problem on the second day, with 30 miles on the odometer. How far is the dealership going to have to tear the vehicle apart to replace effected components and make sure they have caught everything? The obvious area of the headliner that has the stain is a massive piece. They will basically have to strip the interior to get it out. It will probably not go back together like it was new and will possibly introduce new problems. As for my confidence in the vehicle, that really is not an issue. Stuff happens. My main concern is that Ford corrects the problem with my vehicle. I have no doubt that they will investigate this vehicle to determine the root cause of the issue."

Update. My dealer inspected my Escape and without hesitation agreed to replace it with a new one. Picking it up tomorrow. Anyone in the Puget Sound region should go to Evergreen Ford to purchase their car. Ask for Ken in the internet department. He'll take good care fo you.

 

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Update. My dealer inspected my Escape and without hesitation agreed to replace it with a new one. Picking it up tomorrow. Anyone in the Puget Sound region should go to Evergreen Ford to purchase their car. Ask for Ken in the internet department. He'll take good care fo you.

 

And he has a GREAT deal on a lightly used 2013 Escape! ;)

 

I kid. I kid!

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  • 2 months later...

Got in my car this morning to go to work and I had a wet headliner and wet carpet on the driver side. We had heavy rain all night last night. My car is going to the shop on Tuesday anyway for other issues but I hope this didn't damage anything. We are supposed to get another round of severe weather with heavy downpours all night again tonight in Mississippi. Hopefully this won't flood the inside of my car!

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  • 2 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...

I recently (1 month) purchased a 2012 Escape with 34,000 miles on it, VIN#1FMCU0EG1CKB27240. I am headed back to the dealership today for the third (3) time to try and stop the water leak in this vehicle. The roof rack has been removed and replaced and I am not sure what else has been done, but every time it rains.....I have water inside. Currently it seems to be running down the pillar on the passenger side and puddles on the floor and SOAKS the passenger seat belt. This is my LAST attempt to allow them to TRY and fix this problem. The dealership has had my car almost as much as I have, and I am making the payments. Hope that this is my last trip for this problem.

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  • 3 months later...

Well, I see that this thread has died. Problem is still there though. My 2013 Escape. No panoramic roof has leaked since day 1. Same place Driver's side a pillar headliner.

In the workshop now for the 5th time.

1st time they popped the windshield and re seated it. Still leaked. Then they sealed around the roof rack (Twice) Seemed to fix it. Then 2 years later March 2015 it was back.

In for repair again. Sealed around the roof rack again, they said there was cracked caulk.

Less than a week later, leak back again!

In again and they cannot find the leak. Doesn't seem to do it all the time.

Ford less than helpful. They don't acknowledge that this has been a problem anywhere else. Not listed as a known problem.

I'm about to trade the damn thing back in. Even if it does get fixed I will always be looking for the leak. It's like PTSD. Hope there hasn't been a problem with the 2015 Escape. I do like the vehicle.

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