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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 · Oct 26, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeat Belts

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE SEAT BELTS, THEY DO NOT RETRACK BY THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES THEY LOCK UP EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT STOP SUDDENLY., ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WITH MY DASHBOARD THE LIGHTING GOES DIM AND THEM BRIGHT WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR NO REASON I CAN TELL, THIS IS ALL DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL…

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I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE SEAT BELTS, THEY DO NOT RETRACK BY THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES THEY LOCK UP EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT STOP SUDDENLY., ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WITH MY DASHBOARD THE LIGHTING GOES DIM AND THEM BRIGHT WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR NO REASON I CAN TELL, THIS IS ALL DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #11039919

64,000 miles · Aug 11, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING. MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION IS STARTING IN 5TH GEAR. JERKS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. UPON GOING 45 MPH ENGINE REVS TO 3 RPM. CANNOT TAKE OFF FAST, VERY SLOW MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #11014725

62,000 miles · Mar 12, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I COULDN'T HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, AND IT RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE THIS TO ME A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY CAN…

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WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I COULDN'T HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, AND IT RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE THIS TO ME A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. THE FORD DEALERSHIPS OFFER TO "TAKE A LOOK AT IT" FOR A HIGH PRICE, AND CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG EITHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND/OR FUEL SYSTEM, BUT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF THE FORD ESCAPE TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS STATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES IDENTICAL TO THIS, ALL OF THEM STATING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BAD ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG OR FIX THEIR VEHICLES. AS CONSUMERS, WE PAY A VERY HIGH PRICE FOR VEHICLES THAT WE DEPEND ON DAILY TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. FORD SHOULD STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SATISFACTION OF ITS CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10960242

63,000 miles · Nov 21, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

AUTO DOOR LOCK / UNLOCK FEATURE WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO ESCAPE FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER IS INCAPACITATED.

NHTSA ODI #10927154

75,000 miles · Oct 27, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CO…

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I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE ABOUT IT AND THEY MADE A CASE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ME AND SAID THEY MUST WORK WITH CORPORATE TO HELP ME. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. I HAVE CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I'M BACK AT SQUARE 1.

NHTSA ODI #10919352

74,500 miles · Oct 22, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SEPT 12, 16 WHILE I WAS HEADED TO WORK. WHILE ACCERLERATING FROM BEING IN PARK, THE THROTTLE BODY/ POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD AND A LOT OF SQUEAKING COMES FROM TH…

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I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SEPT 12, 16 WHILE I WAS HEADED TO WORK. WHILE ACCERLERATING FROM BEING IN PARK, THE THROTTLE BODY/ POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD AND A LOT OF SQUEAKING COMES FROM THE CAR. SO, I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE EGNITION. ONCE I TURN IT BACK ON IT GOES BACK TO DRIVING NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES WITHIN 45 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10918097

61,000 miles · Oct 11, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A LOOSE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS AND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A LOOSE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS AND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10915286

18,000 miles · Oct 5, 2016
Electrical System

THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE RANDOMLY WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS APPARENTLY A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WITH IT FAILING TO ENGAGE AND START THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10913880

51,000 miles · Jul 13, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DESTROYED THE WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SENSOR AND THE FUEL CAP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DESTROYED THE WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SENSOR AND THE FUEL CAP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10884650

58,000 miles · Jul 4, 2016
Electrical System

THE DOORS LOCK AND WON'T UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS AT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH OF THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS. SOMETIMES THEY BEGIN UNLOCKING A WEEK OR SO LATER OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T UNLOCK EVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SOME DOORS THEN UNLOCK, BUT NOT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10882472

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