2013 Ford Escape Recall: Affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine…

The defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through June 2, 2013 and equipped with 1.6L engines. The affected vehicles may experience localized overheating of the engine cylinder head which may cause cracks that could allow oil to leak.

The risk

Leaking engine oil may come into contact with a hot engine surface potentially resulting in an engine compartment fire.

The fix — what to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shielding, cooling and control systems, free of charge. An interim notice will be mailed to owners during January 2014. The recall began on April 9, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13S12.

For some of the vehicles included in this campaign, this recall is in addition to NHTSA recall 12V-551.All covered vehicles, regardless of being inspected and repaired under the earlier recall, require an inspection and a remedy for this campaign.Owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.