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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.

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

What owners actually said

598 reports
26,000 miles · Dec 6, 2014
Service Brakes

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE REAR BRAKES MAKE A RUBBING SOUND LIKE HAVING A FLAT SPOT ON THE DRUMS. ITS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME SOUND. THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. 1 YEAR BEFORE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT NEVER SOUNDED THAT WAY. EVEN WHILE PARKED AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT STILL SOUNDS LIKE SPRINGS ARE GOING TO SN…

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WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE REAR BRAKES MAKE A RUBBING SOUND LIKE HAVING A FLAT SPOT ON THE DRUMS. ITS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME SOUND. THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. 1 YEAR BEFORE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT NEVER SOUNDED THAT WAY. EVEN WHILE PARKED AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT STILL SOUNDS LIKE SPRINGS ARE GOING TO SNAP. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662548

44,915 miles · Nov 23, 2014
Power Train

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN THE CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP AND STARTED MAKING A JERKING MOTION. I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH POWER TO STAY IN TRAFFIC SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE AND SHUT IT OFF. BY THIS TIME THE WRENCH SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASH. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT SEEMED OK SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE MY MECHANIC OWNS.…

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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN THE CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP AND STARTED MAKING A JERKING MOTION. I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH POWER TO STAY IN TRAFFIC SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE AND SHUT IT OFF. BY THIS TIME THE WRENCH SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASH. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT SEEMED OK SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE MY MECHANIC OWNS. IT SLOWED DOWN AGAIN AND STARTED JERKING ON THE WAY. I SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND DROVE 2 MORE BLOCKS TO THE GARAGE. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THEIR COMPUTER AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE SENSOR. IT WORKS FINE AGAIN AFTER A BILL OF $455.68. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660375

50,000 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Structure

AFTER DARK ONE NIGHT (I COULDN'T SEE THAT THE HOOD WAS CRACKED OPEN) WHILE ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY THE HOOD BLEW OPEN-SAFETY CATCH DID NOT HOLD HOOD SHUT. IT BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD, I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND LUCKILY WAS NOT KILLED IN A CRASH. BODY SHOP INSTALLED NEW HOOD AND LATCHES AND SAFETY CATCH ETC. LESS THAN …

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AFTER DARK ONE NIGHT (I COULDN'T SEE THAT THE HOOD WAS CRACKED OPEN) WHILE ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY THE HOOD BLEW OPEN-SAFETY CATCH DID NOT HOLD HOOD SHUT. IT BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD, I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND LUCKILY WAS NOT KILLED IN A CRASH. BODY SHOP INSTALLED NEW HOOD AND LATCHES AND SAFETY CATCH ETC. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE SAFETY CATCH STOPPED OPERATING. I TIED IT DOWN WITH ROPE TO THE FRAME AND DROVE IT FOR A WHILE. I COULDN'T GET TO THE BODY SHOP BECAUSE I NEVER GOT OUT OF WORK ON TIME. WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE LATCH MECHANISM AND COULDN'T SO HE ORDERED A NEW ONE, INSTALLED IT AND CHARGED IT TO THE BODY SHOP. THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE ARE INCHES APART FROM EACH OTHER WHICH IS A POOR DESIGN, BUT REGARDLESS WHEN THE HOOD IS POPPED THE SAFETY CATCH SHOULD PREVENT IT FROM OPENING. A RELATIVE WHO DROVE MY VEHICLE KEPT POPPING THE HOOD ACCIDENTALLY BECAUSE HE WEARS A LEG BRACE WHICH CAUGHT ON THE RELEASE HANDLE. LUCKILY I HAD THE HOOD TIED OFF. I MAY ALSO TIE THE HOOD WITH ROPE AGAIN AS I DON'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THESE PARTS. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE HAPPEN TO ME. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE HOOK THAT CATCHES THE HOOD SEEMS TO LOOSEN UP FROM ITS ASSEMBLY AND FALL FORWARD TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR THEREBY NOT ALIGNING WITH THE HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653172

66,350 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH I LOST POWER STEERING. ALMOST IN ACCIDENT WITH BARRIER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT CAR SHUT OFF, BUT REALIZED COULD STILL STEER WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD ECU WAS BAD, $1050 FOR REPAIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE 2008-2011 WAS ON A RECALL FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE. CALL FORD TO NO A…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH I LOST POWER STEERING. ALMOST IN ACCIDENT WITH BARRIER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT CAR SHUT OFF, BUT REALIZED COULD STILL STEER WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD ECU WAS BAD, $1050 FOR REPAIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE 2008-2011 WAS ON A RECALL FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE. CALL FORD TO NO AVAIL. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED, NOR DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. DEALER FOUND CODE STATING THE ECU WAS BAD? WAITING ON PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653112

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10653056

80,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
EnginePower Train

CAR MAKES A JUMP WHEN ACCELERATING WAS TOLD THERE IS A EXTENDED COVERAGE ON THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT ITS POSSIBLY THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE JOLT, BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX UNDER THE EXTENDED COVERAGE RECALL UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648896

83,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR BEHAVED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO SHUT DOWN. THE "WRENCH" INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE LIGH…

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MY CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR BEHAVED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO SHUT DOWN. THE "WRENCH" INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAR WAS RESPONDING TO THE GAS PEDAL. I STILL FELT THAT THE CAR WAS "DRAGGING". I THINK IT IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648835

32,737 miles · Oct 4, 2014
Power Train

THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO US A BEING CAPABLE OF BEING TOWED BEHIND A MOTOR HOME. DURING THE TOWING PROCESS, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME SO HOT THAT COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVE TRAIN MELTED AND LIQUEFIED AS DETERMINED BY FORD. THIS PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND THERE WOULD BE NO WAY WE WOULD HAVE…

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THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO US A BEING CAPABLE OF BEING TOWED BEHIND A MOTOR HOME. DURING THE TOWING PROCESS, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME SO HOT THAT COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVE TRAIN MELTED AND LIQUEFIED AS DETERMINED BY FORD. THIS PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND THERE WOULD BE NO WAY WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION OR WORSE. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT FORD, WITHOUT TELLING US, ISSUED A BULLETIN STATING THAT THE CAR CAN NOT IN FACT BE TOWED. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND NONE OF THE FORD DEALERS WE TALKED TO WERE AWARE OF IT. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE WEBSITES FROM MOTOR HOME MAGAZINE AND EDMONDS AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT STILL LIST THE 2012 ESCAPE AS A GOOD CHOICE FOR MOTOR HOME TOW VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641460

51,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING RUMBLING NOISES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS IF WERE TRYING TO SHUT OFF, I TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS SO IT WOULDN'T STALL BUT WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SURGES OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I CONTACTED MIKE DAVIDSON …

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING RUMBLING NOISES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS IF WERE TRYING TO SHUT OFF, I TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS SO IT WOULDN'T STALL BUT WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SURGES OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I CONTACTED MIKE DAVIDSON FORD WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY ACTED AS IF THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT AND TRIED TO SCHEDULE ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT $89 TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S CRIMINAL, THIS CAR SHOULD BE REPAIRED QUICKLY AND AT THEIR EXPENSE! IF THIS HAPPENS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE IT WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638996

10,760 miles · Sep 18, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP. AND AT TIMES WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HAVE GIVEN THE CAR GAS TO ACCELERATE AROUND A CAR ONLY FOR THE ENGINE TO BOG DOWN HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. HAVE GOTTEN FORD INVOLVED BUT STILL RECEIVE NO SATISF…

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LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP. AND AT TIMES WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HAVE GIVEN THE CAR GAS TO ACCELERATE AROUND A CAR ONLY FOR THE ENGINE TO BOG DOWN HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. HAVE GOTTEN FORD INVOLVED BUT STILL RECEIVE NO SATISFACTION. AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637292

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