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2012 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

413 reports with mileage · 185 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 137 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 137 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports3 fire reports18 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

42 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2026
Electrical SystemSteering

Vehicle: 2012 Ford Escape Issue: Loss of steering assist while driving While operating my vehicle, the power steering assist suddenly fails, making the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. This creates a dangerous driving condition and significantly increases the risk of an accident. This issue appears to match known p…

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Vehicle: 2012 Ford Escape Issue: Loss of steering assist while driving While operating my vehicle, the power steering assist suddenly fails, making the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. This creates a dangerous driving condition and significantly increases the risk of an accident. This issue appears to match known problems with the electric power steering system in this vehicle, which has been the subject of recalls for similar model years. However, my VIN is not currently included. The failure has occurred while driving and has now made the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am requesting investigation into this issue and expansion of the recall to include additional affected vehicles, as this is a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI #11734932

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2024
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

This is a second car so don't drive it every day -- first incident occurred back in 2023 driving in town and car stopped!! Rolled to side and it started back up -- this happened several times and was very hesitant to drive on any highways. Several days the car would not start -- looked on line trying to figure out what was wro…

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This is a second car so don't drive it every day -- first incident occurred back in 2023 driving in town and car stopped!! Rolled to side and it started back up -- this happened several times and was very hesitant to drive on any highways. Several days the car would not start -- looked on line trying to figure out what was wrong and saw many people were having similar issues but nothing resolved -- battery tested fine but got a new battery from AAA but the next day battery was dead again. My husband did some more research and decided to pull the fuse for the radio and the front display module and the car has not stalled nor the battery been dead since but have been driving without a radio. I had to go on a five hour drive (both ways) last weekend and not fun driving that long without a radio. Stopped by a AAA repair shop yesterday and they said they had many complaints about the radio causing this problem (two actually that morning) and to call Ford to see if there was a recall. I called Ford this morning and the answer was NO! They told me to take it to a Ford Dealer (which is not convenient) and to have it diagnosed but again from what I have read Ford does not have any solutions to this problem. Wanted to get on file to let other people with this same issue to try removing the radio fuses (#14, #28, #39) but they would have no radio either. If I get the radio replaced not sure if that would create other issues and what affect it would have on the anti-theft system.

NHTSA ODI #11584012

110,000 miles · Oct 31, 2023
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling in the restaurant drive thru line, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the battery cable had failed and needed to be replaced. The battery cables were replaced, and the vehi…

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The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling in the restaurant drive thru line, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the battery cable had failed and needed to be replaced. The battery cables were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11552885

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2023
Electrical SystemSteering

My grandmothers vehicle has had an intermittent loss of power steering while driving at slow speeds and is a serious safety concern, the safety recall I had found "14S05" is exactly what's goin on with her vehicle and it matches up exactly to the recall down to the assembly plant other than her vehicle was assembled a year after…

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My grandmothers vehicle has had an intermittent loss of power steering while driving at slow speeds and is a serious safety concern, the safety recall I had found "14S05" is exactly what's goin on with her vehicle and it matches up exactly to the recall down to the assembly plant other than her vehicle was assembled a year after the recall, but yet these symptoms of this recall is exactly what she is having. She has brought it to multiple ford dealerships and they turn her away unless she pays them over $200? I would fix it as a consumer, but no lights come on or even point me in a proper direction of repairs. There's no warning lights or anything and the only way it can be repaired is by the dealer so how can my grandmother be liable for this if the car tells me nothing is wrong? I have found several accident reports concerning this exact situation with her vehicle, I genuinely fear for her safety. It's been a problem for over 6 months and she just got back to driving again after a surgery and her vehicle has this issue. It was addressed a while back and they claimed there was nothing wrong at a local dealership. I can't fix this vehicle of my grandmothers unless the computer is telling me there is something wrong..... I have had the issue happen myself several occasions just starting the vehicle in place with absolutely no power steering and no check engine light/codes. It's happening intermittently to my grandmother who only drives in the city under 40 mph. She claims it happens multiple times while driving and she has to pull over in the middle of the street to shut her vehicle off and then proceed to restart the vehicle and there's no issues, but then often comes back continuously throughout driving and yet there's no lights or anything. My grandma doesn't have hundreds to spend on diagnosis and the dealer isn't willing to address the safety concern without her spending money. She has kept all documents in case of accidents as she is in fear of one happening.

NHTSA ODI #11549651

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2023
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesUnknown Or Other

Warning on the dash panel intermittently says Lift gate/back glass is ajar even though it is closed. This causes the interior lights to turn on and off. I believe this is due to a manufacturer defect in the gasket that allows water/condensation to seep into the lift gate and cause corrosion of the electrical wires

NHTSA ODI #11516130

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2022
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

Power steering suddenly went out on right turn onto residential street at approx 10 mph. No warning lights. When car was restarted, power steering back on. Paid dealer to scan. Failure code B2278-2F. Replace steering shaft torque sensor (internal to steering column), steering shaft must be replaced, too, due to play. Just two pa…

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Power steering suddenly went out on right turn onto residential street at approx 10 mph. No warning lights. When car was restarted, power steering back on. Paid dealer to scan. Failure code B2278-2F. Replace steering shaft torque sensor (internal to steering column), steering shaft must be replaced, too, due to play. Just two parts: part cost $2272, labor $886. Part back-ordered for unknown period. Have not yet told dealer service to order parts. Asked dealer if car was safe to drive: they said "probably not."

NHTSA ODI #11497180

37,000 miles · Feb 27, 2020
Electrical SystemStructure

DRIVER DOOR SEAL (TOP) LEAKS TO THE POINT OF THERE BEING 2 INCHES OF WATER ON DRIVER FLOOR. ALSO WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE DOOR, WHICH IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AT DEALER & LEAK STILL EXISTS. THIS IS CAUSING MOLD & RUST IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE INEXCUS…

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DRIVER DOOR SEAL (TOP) LEAKS TO THE POINT OF THERE BEING 2 INCHES OF WATER ON DRIVER FLOOR. ALSO WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE DOOR, WHICH IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AT DEALER & LEAK STILL EXISTS. THIS IS CAUSING MOLD & RUST IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE INEXCUSABLE REPAIR WORK OF ATLANTIC AUTOMALL, BUT IT'S BECOMING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE & ATLANTIC AUTOMALL HAS BEEN REFUSING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR EVEN RESPOND TO MY CALLS

NHTSA ODI #11311785

135,000 miles · Oct 6, 2019
Electrical System

THIS MORNING I WAS RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AND WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I STARTED BRAKING MY ESCAPE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS HEADING AND AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. ALL TOGE…

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THIS MORNING I WAS RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AND WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I STARTED BRAKING MY ESCAPE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS HEADING AND AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. ALL TOGETHER MY ESCAPE HAD STALLED 6 TIMES IN A 5 MILE STRETCH, TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ONE OF THOSE TWO TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHTS FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED GREEN. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DAY I HAD PICKED IT UP FROM THE LOT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN OR EVEN SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF MECHANICAL ISSUES UNTIL TODAY AND OF COURSE IT COULD NOT JUST HAPPEN ONE TIME OR IN A PLACE THAT WAS A LITTLE SAFER TO TRY AND PULL OVER. A COUPLE OF THE TIMES I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I HIT THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. KIND OF CRAZY HOW MY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT THIS MORNING AND BY THE AFTERNOON I WAS JUST A SITTING DUCK JUST WAITING TO GET REAR ENDED AND WITH NO PRE WARNING SIGNS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. 2 TIMES I WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT STALLED AND THE REST OF THE TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH. THE FAULTY PART SEEMS TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND SOME VEHICLES WILL HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT ON AND PRODUCE ERROR CODES AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES WILL NOT HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT POP UP AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND GET THE SAME RESULTS AFTER IT IS FIXED. HOW CAN SOME VEHICLES HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON WHEN THE ISSUES START OCCURRING WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND OTHER VEHICLES NOT HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS? SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES SHOWING UP IN THE ESCAPE SOON.

NHTSA ODI #11266629

59,200 miles · Apr 23, 2019
Electrical System

GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY GAUGES DROPPED, EXCEPT FOR FUEL. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I'D LOST ENGINE POWER. I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER, THANKFULLY. SINCE THEN, W/O ANY WARNINGS THE GAUGES WILL DROP, AND ALL THE SENSOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADVANCED A…

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GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY GAUGES DROPPED, EXCEPT FOR FUEL. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I'D LOST ENGINE POWER. I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER, THANKFULLY. SINCE THEN, W/O ANY WARNINGS THE GAUGES WILL DROP, AND ALL THE SENSOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS, AND HAD THEM TO PUT IT ON THEIR MACHINE TO SEE IF IT WOULD CODE. IT CODED FOR P-1602. BATTERY TESTED FINE. LOOKED UP ON YOU TUBE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FOUND THIS VIDEO. IN THE VIDEO IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2012 ESCAPE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=M0ZZ0DFESSK LOOKING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION THE OWNER OF A 2010 ESCAPE, SAID THAT FORD REPLACED 3 INSTRUMENT PANELS, AND THE FACTORY FORD TECHNICIAN FINALLY FOUND THAT IT WAS COLD SOLDER JOINTS. IF YOU HIT THE DASH WITH YOU FIST, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES COME BACK UP, SO SEEMS TO BE IN THE WIRING, NOT BATTERY RELATED. MILEAGE, AND INFORMATION CENTER, STILL HASN'T CAME BACK UP. THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING, AND WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM FORD IF THIS IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11203069

110,350 miles · Dec 19, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR…

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WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR STORE GLENBROOK HYUNDAI IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11162388

Official recalls

1

16V777000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 26, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding to the limited limp home mode.Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems