NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
137 reportsClear category filter84,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringCrash
AT RANDOM POINTS IN TIME WHEN CAR IS ON, DOESNT MATTER WHAT SPEED, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO BE MOVED UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I JUST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN BRATTLEBORO VT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS FROM COLLEGE WHEN I WENT RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SNOWBANK. AIR…
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AT RANDOM POINTS IN TIME WHEN CAR IS ON, DOESNT MATTER WHAT SPEED, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO BE MOVED UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I JUST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN BRATTLEBORO VT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS FROM COLLEGE WHEN I WENT RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SNOWBANK. AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND NOBODY WAS HURT AND LUCKLY I DIDNT HIT ANY OTHER CARS OR PROPERTY. CAR IS BEING TOWED BACK HOME TO A MECHANIC. I HAD GONE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE, IN MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND AFTER PAYING A $100 DIAGNOSIS FEE, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH SINCE THEN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES BUT NOT ON THE 2012 MODEL.
NHTSA ODI #11055453
90,650 miles · Dec 14, 2017
Steering
WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE ON MY TOWN STREETS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED AWHILE AND RESTORED THE VEHICLE. JUST AS SUDDENLY AS IT OCCURRED THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AND I WAS…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE ON MY TOWN STREETS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED AWHILE AND RESTORED THE VEHICLE. JUST AS SUDDENLY AS IT OCCURRED THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE POWER STEERING. MY FORD DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THAT THEIR COMPUTER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED.
NHTSA ODI #11054825
40,000 miles · Nov 16, 2017
SteeringCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY STEERED LEFT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK INJURIES, BROKEN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY STEERED LEFT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK INJURIES, BROKEN RIBS, A BROKEN LEFT HAND, AND FRACTURES TO THE SKULL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI #11046580
62,000 miles · Nov 15, 2017
Steering
AS I TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I MANAGED TO COMPLETE THE TURN & PARK THE CAR. (10/4/17) THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. (11/10/17)
NHTSA ODI #11046393
72,000 miles · Nov 12, 2017
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE HAD 3 SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE 2012. FIRST, TWICE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING AT ONLY ABOUT 30-40 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECR…
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I HAVE HAD 3 SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE 2012. FIRST, TWICE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING AT ONLY ABOUT 30-40 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT FIXED IT. SECOND, ON 11/11/17, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT ON A MAJOR ROAD, AND UPON ACCELERATING AND TURNING, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GO OUT ON ME. IT BECAME MUCH HARDER TO STEER. I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE ROAD AND AGAIN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH AGAIN SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS WHERE THESE TWO ISSUES ARE BEING REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME RESULT. MECHANICS CAN'T SEEM TO RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND THEREFOR CAN'T OFFER A FIX AT THE MOMENT. THESE 3 INCIDENTS THANKFULLY DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURY, BUT THEY EASILY COULD AND SEE TO BE SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT ARE GOING UNADDRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #11045500
123,000 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Steering
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING, MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED IN MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THIS MORNING IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY KIDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ENTERING AND EXITING THE PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES, I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP FROM HITTING OTHER CARS. I HAVE READ OTHE…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING, MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED IN MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THIS MORNING IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY KIDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ENTERING AND EXITING THE PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES, I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP FROM HITTING OTHER CARS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE WHERE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2012 MODELS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11034089
107,000 miles · Oct 3, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE INC (275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE INC (275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11031553
130,400 miles · Jan 26, 2017
Steering
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW NOVEMBER 2011. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10947865
95,058 miles · Jan 14, 2017
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES IN 3 HOURS. TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREEETS, ONCE LEAVING A PARKING SPOT
NHTSA ODI #10945290
30,700 miles · Sep 16, 2016
Steering
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE STEERING THAT PLAGUED THE PRIOR YEAR MODELS, DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATE $1-$2K IN REPAIRS, THIS IS A EXTREME CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THE 2008-2011 MODELS. I'…
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THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE STEERING THAT PLAGUED THE PRIOR YEAR MODELS, DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATE $1-$2K IN REPAIRS, THIS IS A EXTREME CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THE 2008-2011 MODELS. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO REPLY BACK.
NHTSA ODI #10907098
NHTSA investigations
2PE13003 · 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.