← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Steering complaints

137 reports
Clear category filter
116,000 miles · Dec 6, 2018
Steering

MY POWER STEERING IS RANDOMLY GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP AND HAVING IT INSPECTED THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER FORGOT HOW TO DRIVE IN A WAY. SO THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THAT NIGHT MY ESCAPE DID THE SAME THING ON MY WAY TO WORK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF WORK IN THE MORNING AND IT W…

Read full complaint

MY POWER STEERING IS RANDOMLY GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP AND HAVING IT INSPECTED THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER FORGOT HOW TO DRIVE IN A WAY. SO THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THAT NIGHT MY ESCAPE DID THE SAME THING ON MY WAY TO WORK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF WORK IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS FINE. THEN TODAY IT WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART IT AND AFTER THAT IT WAS FINE AGAIN. I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS AND THERE WAS SOME FOR 2011 MODELS BUT I'M WONDERING IF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO THE 2012 AS WELL?

NHTSA ODI #11156499

66,000 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE ON OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE AT APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ON A SERIES OF WINDY BACK ROADS, SHORTLY AFTER SETTING OUT, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT WAS POSSIBLE BUT DIFFICULT AND VERY UNSAFE. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT YET ON THE HIGHWAY. RECALLS E…

Read full complaint

POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE ON OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE AT APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ON A SERIES OF WINDY BACK ROADS, SHORTLY AFTER SETTING OUT, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT WAS POSSIBLE BUT DIFFICULT AND VERY UNSAFE. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT YET ON THE HIGHWAY. RECALLS EXIST FOR PREVIOUS YEARS THAT DOCUMENT THE SAME ISSUE BUT ONE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL, LEAVING MANY UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD. PARTS ALONE FOR THE REPAIR WERE QUOTED AT $900.

NHTSA ODI #11154568

100,000 miles · Nov 24, 2018
Steering

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING GARAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. I STARTED THE CAR ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER AND IT WAS FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TORQUE SENSOR. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THE 2011S AND THE GUY BLEW IT OFF...THANKFULLY THEY …

Read full complaint

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING GARAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. I STARTED THE CAR ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER AND IT WAS FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TORQUE SENSOR. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THE 2011S AND THE GUY BLEW IT OFF...THANKFULLY THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2500.00. INSTEAD IT ONLY COST ME 775.00.

NHTSA ODI #11153499

105,000 miles · Nov 20, 2018
Electrical SystemSteering

POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO WARNING. IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE, ALTHOUGH VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PRESENTS A MAJOR HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. A RECALL EXISTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 2008-2011.

NHTSA ODI #11152912

143,557 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING GETS REALLY HARD TO TURN. IT LOOSES POWER ASSIST. IT WILL QUIT IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS THE SAME COMPLAINT INVOLVED IN ANOTHER RECALL BUT THIS TRUCK IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL... 1500 DOLLAR REPAIR TO REPLACE PARTS FROM FORD

NHTSA ODI #11152413

158,900 miles · Nov 18, 2018
SteeringSuspension

STARTED LAST YEAR . PROBLEM OCCUR FORWARD OR BACKING UP. STEERING WILL BECOME HEAVY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL GET LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL SIMULTINEOULY STOP BUT ENGINE STAYS ON. I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR TO OFF AND TURN BACK TO ON. THEN I RESUME DRIVING UNTIL IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED…

Read full complaint

STARTED LAST YEAR . PROBLEM OCCUR FORWARD OR BACKING UP. STEERING WILL BECOME HEAVY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL GET LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL SIMULTINEOULY STOP BUT ENGINE STAYS ON. I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR TO OFF AND TURN BACK TO ON. THEN I RESUME DRIVING UNTIL IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER THEY DECLINED ANY RECALLS. THEY CLAIMED RECALLS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PRIOR YEAR 2011. THE COST TO REPAIR COULD BE UP TO $1300 AS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SYMBOL DIAGNOSIS CODE THAT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. STRTED A YEAR AGO WITH MILEAGE AROUND 135,000 AND CONTINUE TILL TODATE . WHEEL BEARING WERE EXCHANGED BY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS UNKOWING TO ME OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11152343

99,000 miles · Nov 12, 2018
Steering

TURNED ON TO ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY, POWERING STEERING FAILED. HARD TO TURN WHEEL TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULLED TO COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. WAITED FIVE MINUTES AND TURN VEHICLE BACK ON AND POWER STEERING WAS WORKING ONCE AGAIN. DROVE HWY 14 MILES AND TOOK OFF-RAMP AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISS…

Read full complaint

TURNED ON TO ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY, POWERING STEERING FAILED. HARD TO TURN WHEEL TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULLED TO COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. WAITED FIVE MINUTES AND TURN VEHICLE BACK ON AND POWER STEERING WAS WORKING ONCE AGAIN. DROVE HWY 14 MILES AND TOOK OFF-RAMP AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11151046

74,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Steering

EPAS (POWER STEERING COLUMN) WENT OUT, NOT COVERED IN PAST RECALL - MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING POWERING ISSUES WITH THESE FORDS... SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!

NHTSA ODI #11150102

65,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLF MILL FORD (9401 N MILWAUKEE AVE, NILES, IL 60714, (847) 470-9800), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLF MILL FORD (9401 N MILWAUKEE AVE, NILES, IL 60714, (847) 470-9800), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #11150063

98,691 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESET THE POWER STEERING AND RETURNED IT TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESET THE POWER STEERING AND RETURNED IT TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. PRIME FORD (LOCATED AT 857 PORTLAND RD, SACO, ME 04072, (207) 282-0300) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,691.

NHTSA ODI #11149931

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