FORD: THE LOW TO HIGH BEAM OR HIGH TO LOW BEAM IS AN INTERMITTENT TRANSITION AND WOULD NEED THE AFFECTED HID 13008 HEADLAMP HOUSING REPLACED. MODEL 2013-2014 ESCAPE, 2013 EXPLORER, F150.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Escape lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Escape have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 72,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Escape | 3 |
| 2013 Escape (this page) | 9 |
| 2014 Escape | 9 |
| 2015 Escape | 9 |
| 2016 Escape | 4 |
| 2017 Escape | 28 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: SOME VEHICLES, WITH TRAILER TOW PACKAGE, MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH NEW MODEL TRAILERS DUE TO LED LIGHTING. MODEL 2013 ESCAPE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2013 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2013 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 42,000 and 138,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,000; a quarter make it past 138,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.