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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

69 reports
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56,000 miles · Sep 6, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

THIS OCCURS SPORATICALLY - THE GAS WILL STOP RESPONDING AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY DECELERATE WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE WRENCH SIGN APPEARS AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR SPUTTE…

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THIS OCCURS SPORATICALLY - THE GAS WILL STOP RESPONDING AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY DECELERATE WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE WRENCH SIGN APPEARS AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR SPUTTERS A BIT, AND IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10542292

47,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE, MY FORD ESCAPE JUMPED FORWARD AND THEN SLOWLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10541834

39,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI #10538610

34 miles · Aug 19, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR WON'T GO. AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536112

39,041 miles · Aug 9, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BEGAN JERKING FORWARD PARKED IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS AND PUT CAR IN PARK AND AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND AGAIN IT DID NOT ACCELERATE. BACKED OUT AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM WHERE I HAD PARKED AND AGAIN …

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I HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BEGAN JERKING FORWARD PARKED IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS AND PUT CAR IN PARK AND AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND AGAIN IT DID NOT ACCELERATE. BACKED OUT AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM WHERE I HAD PARKED AND AGAIN IT JERKED FORWARD AND DID NOT ACCELERATE. TRIED MOVING A SECOND TIME WITH THE SAME RESULTS. PARKED IT AND TURNED IT OFF TO CALL A WRECKER. TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND TURNING IT ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WORKED; ACCELERATED WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, DID NOT JERK AS IT HAD PREVIOUSLY. DROVE IT WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER IN WHARTON, TEXAS WHO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT CAME UP WITH NO CODE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE FORD ESCAPES AND FUSIONS HAD A THROTTLE PROBLEM AND HE WAS SURE THAT WAS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HE REPLACED IT AT A COST OF $484.60. ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST PURCHASE THE CAR, USED ON JULY 13, 2013 AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN, THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE. I FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT SEEING THAT I AM A WOMAN, HIS BOTTOM LINE WAS PROFIT AT ANY COST, HE DID NOT INFORM ME. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE FORD ESCAPES ARE RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR BUYING AMERICAN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534473

56,000 miles · Jun 20, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

ON THE FIRST OCCASION, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND INTO TRAFFIC. MY TRUCK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I MANAGED TO SHUT IT OFF, RESTARTED AND IT WAS FI.E. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY TOLD ME A BUG PROBABLY GOT IN MY AIR FILTER. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFF…

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ON THE FIRST OCCASION, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND INTO TRAFFIC. MY TRUCK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I MANAGED TO SHUT IT OFF, RESTARTED AND IT WAS FI.E. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY TOLD ME A BUG PROBABLY GOT IN MY AIR FILTER. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC DOING 75. I ALMOST GOT SMASHED IN THE REAREND. MANAGED TO RESTART. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I PICKED IT UP AND DROVE IT HOME, ALMOST CAUSE A 4 CAR PILEUP ON THE INTERSTATE. MY GUARDIAN ANGEL IS WORN OUT! FINALLY GOT A CODE TO POP UP AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. NO RECALL ON THIS PART EVEN THO IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520955

48,000 miles · Jun 17, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED INCIDENTS OF STALLING WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE INITIAL FAILURE OR PRIOR TO SUBSEQUENT FAILURES. I AM AFRAID THAT IF THIS CONTINUES IT COULD END UP IN A WRECK WITH SOMEONE GETTING INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520292

50,000 miles · Jun 3, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE FELL ON ITS FACE WHILE CRUISE WAS SET AT SEVENTY, SEVERAL MECHANICS ARE DUMBFOUNDED! !! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514875

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS MORNING I SAW THE CNN NEWS TICKER STATING YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THE FORD F150'S FOR ECO-BOOST ACCELERATION ENGINE STALLS. I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND THIS VERY SAME THING HAS OCCURRED TO ME 3 TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATES, BUT IT HAS BEEN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY 2012. I TOOK THE CAR TO…

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THIS MORNING I SAW THE CNN NEWS TICKER STATING YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THE FORD F150'S FOR ECO-BOOST ACCELERATION ENGINE STALLS. I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND THIS VERY SAME THING HAS OCCURRED TO ME 3 TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATES, BUT IT HAS BEEN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY 2012. I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN & WAS TOLD "IT WAS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM, SOFTWARE REPLACED." I HAVEN'T HAD ANYMORE MORE EPISODES OF "STALLING WITH ACCELERATION" BUT IT'S VERY EVIDENT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO DECELERATE OR SOMETIMES "JERK" WITH ACCELERATION. I'M CONCERNED NOW THAT YOU ARE ONLY INVESTIGATING THE F-150'S & SHOULD BROADEN THE SCOPE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE ESCAPES OR ANY VEHICLE WITH ECO-BOOST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513614

20,000 miles · Apr 4, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS REPEATEDLY SURGING WITHOUT WARNING OR STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. OFTEN DURING TURNS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE BUT SUSPECTS THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507062

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