2012 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 600 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 37 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 26 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpOct 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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 16V777000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, wheel bearingJun 3, 2015
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Campaign 15E045000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
78 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Mar 25, 2014
HAD TO HAVE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE HEAVILY SHAKING. ALSO WINDSHIELD WAS REMOUNTED AT SAME TIME TO DUE LOUD NOISE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 10, 2014
VEHICLE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROX 5-10 SECONDS, POWER CAME BACK SLOWLY AND THEN HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER FOR 5-10 SECONDS. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 19, 2014
IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 9AM AND I HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY (BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MIN) AND I TOOK A RIGHT OFF THE EXIT RAMP ONTO A SECONDARY STREET. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 AND STARTING TO SLOW DOWN FOR A YELLOW LIGHT, WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED. NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS (THAT I REMEMBERED, BECAUSE I PANICKED), NO SOUNDS. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND SO I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO START THE CAR. NOTHING. NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. I THEN TURNED ON MY FLASHERS. TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, NOTHING. I WAITED ABOUT 3 MIN. AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. IT HAS NOT DONE IT IN THE 2 DAYS SINCE, BUT I AM NOW TO SCARED TO DRIVE ME CAR AFRAID THAT IT WILL DIE AND I WILL CAUSE A CAR PILE UP. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO FORD AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 31, 2013
WHEN PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE LOAFING FORWARD THEN STALLING OR ENTERING SAFETY MODE LOW IDLE MANEUVERABILITY WITH WRENCH LIGHT ON. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, PLACE IN PARK THEN RESTART ONLY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LURCH THEN SHUT OFF OR RETURN TO SAFETY IDLE AGAIN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE STREET SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN TROUBLE CODE P2111 "CURRENT" FAULT THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - STUCK OPEN AND CODE P2112 " PENDING THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - STUCK CLOSED. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 10, 2013
THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED ONTO A STREET AS I ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. I HAD MY FOOT AS LOW AS THE PEDAL WOULD GO AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I SWITCHED IT TO PARK TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED UP AND WAS FINE AT ACCELERATING. SO THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN MY ESCAPE SLOWED DOWN AND COMPLETELY STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET. I PUSHED SO FAR ON THE ACCELERATOR THAT THE PEDAL WAS AS LOW AS IT COULD GO BUT STILL NO MOVEMENT. I QUICKLY SWITCHED IT INTO PARK TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON BUT IT JUST MADE THE NOISE LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START. SO I TRIED AGAIN AND IT FINALLY TURNED ON, SWITCHED TO DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STREET AS A SEMI WAS FLYING UP BEHIND ME. VERY SCARY MOMENT IN MY LIFE. I GOOGLED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON REGARDING THE THROTTLE ON 2012 ESCAPES. I THINK MY VEHICLE MAY BE A PART OF THIS. *TR
Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 6, 2013
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I HAD TO TRY TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN BACK ON. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AS THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FIXED IT EACH TIME.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 15, 2013
NOTE, THIS HAS OCCURRED AT VARYING TIMES/DATES SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 2012, HAS NOT JUST OCCURRED AT THE DATE LISTED. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A PROLONGED HESITATION AND EVEN A LOSS IN SPEED WHEN SWITCHING VIA THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, NOT RANDOMLY. ALSO, WHEN GETTING UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, THERE IS A HESITATION IF YOU TOUCH THE GAS TO ACCELERATE UP TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED; IT WILL HESITATE A FEW SECONDS BEFORE KICKING INTO ACCELERATION MODE. *TR
Engine, Jun 30, 2013
AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN UP AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON - I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED - I LATER TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED THE FORD TECHNICAL HOTLINE AND ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE - THIS IS THE 3RD STALLING INCIDENT THE SECOND AT THE SAME LOCATION AND THE 1ST AFTER THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY - THE VEHICLE HAS AROUND 11,000 MILES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 20, 2013
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
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 17, 2013
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
Engine, Jun 7, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE TO ENGINE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MOUNT BOLT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,600.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2013
VEHICLE FELL ON ITS FACE WHILE CRUISE WAS SET AT SEVENTY, SEVERAL MECHANICS ARE DUMBFOUNDED! !! *TR
Engine, Apr 29, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS FOUND. SIX MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND AGAIN, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,500.
Engine, Apr 3, 2013
AS WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR STALLED AND STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE THROTTLE SURGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *TR
Engine, Mar 17, 2013
ENGINE STALLS AND DOES NOT RESPOND AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *TR
Power train, Engine, Mar 17, 2013
WHEN MY ESCAPE IS IN THE RUNNING MODE, THE ENGINE DOES NOT SOUNDS LIKE A GAS RUNNING VEHICLE, BUT IT RUNS LOUD LIKE A TRUCK. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS I HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE MOVING AT A GOOD SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO GEARS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Mar 15, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,371. UPDATED 04/10/13*LJ THE DEALER STATED THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER A PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/18/13 UPDATED 11/19/13*LJ UPDATED 11/26/2013 *JS
Engine, Mar 1, 2013
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 35-40 MPH, MY FORD ESCAPE JUST STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, PUT IT IN PARK, AND IT STARTED UP ON THE FIRST TRY. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN (IT HAS BEEN 6 DAYS). THE FORD DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND HAS INSTALLED A RECORDER TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 2 WKS. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE AND I AM NERVOUS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SOMETHING LIKE THIS, COULD HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME. *TR
Engine, Feb 26, 2013
WHEN DRIVING TO PICK UP MY MANUAL IRONICALLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP, PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT AND LOWERED SPEED TURNING INTO LOT AND ENGINE STALLED...ALSO WHEN I WOULD BACK UP OUT OF MY WORK PARKING LOT SPACE, PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND HAVE ALMOST HIT THE PARKED CARS NEXT TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR 2012 FORD ESCAPES AS WELL...ENGINE AS SURGED AND STALLED AND HESITATES WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS...THANK YOU... *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 25, 2013
AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON - I PUT IT IN PARK TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED - I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE CONCERN - THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 6, 2013
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS FREEWAY SPEEDS. PRESSING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE RECOVERS ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT 325 MI. ON THE ODOMETER AND "NO VEHICLE PROBLEM FOUND". VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EIGHT FREEWAY INCIDENTS OF STALLS IN 3908 MI.ON THE ODOMETER, THE STALLS HAVE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OR VEHICLE MANEUVERS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 20, 2012
VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC ON BUSY INTERSTATE (I-635E) DALLAS, TX ON SUNDAY 11/18 AT APPROX 11 AM. VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN DRIVEN 10-15 MILES WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. TACHOMETER SHOWED 1000 RPM AND ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO NEXT OFF-RAMP THOUGH INTERSTATE WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONCRETE BARRIERS DENIED ACCESS TO SHOULDER. AFTER COASTING TO OFF-RAMP I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE EMISSIONS INDICATOR WAS LIT AND I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED AND TRIED TO PROCEED. THE ENGINE LURCHED AND STALLED AND THE MAINTENANCE INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. FORCED TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY (FOMOCO PN DS7Z-9E926-A) AND CLEARED THE ODBC CODES. VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN FINE WITH NO ISSUES FOR NEXT 100 MILES. PERSONAL NOTE: FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT HAPPENED CLOSE ENOUGH TO AN OF RAMP I COULD EXIT THE BUSY INTERSTATE. THE CONSTRUCTION HAD CONCRETE BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE PREVENTING SHOULDER ACCESS. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN OFF RAMP THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN STALLED IN A MULTI-LANE INTERSTATE LIKELY RESULTING IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 15, 2012
FORD I NEED HELP...MY SENIOR PARENTS JUST PURCHASED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND IT HAS AN INTERIOR CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. AND WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO TEST FOR CARBON DIOXIDE LEAK. MY PARENTS GOT DIZZY AND GOT SICK FROM THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. WE HAVE A FORD WARRANTY AND NOW I FEEL WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND. WE HAVE BEEN LEAVING MESSAGES FOR [XXX] AT THE FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. WE JUST LEFT A ANOTHER MESSAGE AND WE WERE TOLD SHE IS OUT TO LUNCH. MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF THE FORD STORE OF SAN LEANDRO- SERVICE MANAGER NAMED [XXX]SAYS TO JUST COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO CHECK FOR THIS LEAK.. I DO NOT WANT MY PARENTS TO DIE IN A CAR WITH A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. IF YOU CAN HELP LET ME THIS IS HOW FORD TREATS SENIOR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. PLEASE HELP A CUSTOMER WITH A FORD CAR THAT HAS A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK,.,,,,,,,,,,,,, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 13, 2012
1. WHILE HIGHWAY CRUISING AT CONSTANT SPEED, ENGINE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO IDLE SPEED AND VEHICLE SLOWED RAPIDLY, UNTIL GAS PEDAL WAS LIFTED AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN. ENGINE HESITATED AND SURGED. PROCESSED KEPT REPEATING AT VARIABLE INTERVALS. 2. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES EXCESSIVELY ON FIRST TO SECOND UPSHIFT WHILE ENGINE DROPS TO IDLE SPEED. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT, NEITHER IS REGULAR OR CONSTANT. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG AND NO FAULT CODES ARE RECORDED. PROBLEM #1 IS VERY INFREQUENT . PROBLEM #2 MUCH MORE COMMON. BOTH MIGHT BE RELATED TO SUMMER TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY #1.
Engine, Oct 12, 2012
AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM - (ABOUT 1 MILE INTO THE DRIVE) - WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN UP A HILL THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AND RESTARTED AND DROVE BACK HOME - I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP - AFTER RUNNING TEST AND DRIVING IT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *TR