IllustrationI EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE ON JULY 7, 2018 WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY USING THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S MAILBOX. I FINALLY SHUT OFF THE CAR TO MAKE IT STOP.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
800–25K
8825–50K
9850–75K
5375–100K
67100–150K
27150K+
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
69 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE OR SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED VERY HIGH BEFORE THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORT AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED VERY HIGH BEFORE THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS POSITIONED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORT AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (TED BRITT FORD IN FAIRFAX, VA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
SUDDEN DECLERATION AND STALL WHILE IN HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY, LIKELY DUE TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.
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.
THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REDUCES SPEED CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL! AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND WHILE HOLDING UP TRAFFIC, I TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAR RESUMES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY!
I WAS IN A TURN LANE TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER. I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I COASTED THROUGH THE TURN AND HAD TO COAST ACROSS A LANE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE WRENCH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT H…
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I WAS IN A TURN LANE TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER. I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I COASTED THROUGH THE TURN AND HAD TO COAST ACROSS A LANE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO GET PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE WRENCH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT YET BUT FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT SOUNDS LIKE THE THROTTLE BOX, WHICH FORD HAD UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY'VE HAD WITH IT. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED??? IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO LOSE ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON IT YEARS AGO!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO CHOKE DOWN. I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 25 MPH BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP. I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I CRUISED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I NOTICED A WRENCH LIGHT COME ON AND I THEN TURNED THE…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO CHOKE DOWN. I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 25 MPH BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP. I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I CRUISED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I NOTICED A WRENCH LIGHT COME ON AND I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I HAD SOMEONE THERE TO FOLLOW ME HOME, I CRANKED MY CAR BACK UP AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY THE REST OF THE WAY(3 MILES MAX) TO MY HOUSE. THE CAR DID TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO CRANK BUT SEEMED TO DO FINE ON THE TRIP HOME. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT SOMETIME TODAY.
Official recalls
116V777000 · 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
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.