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: fuel/propulsion system
137 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 29, 2014
WHEN MOVING FORWARD FROM A DEAD STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OF A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE AUTOMOBILE ENGINE HESITATES OR SEMI STALLS AND WILL NOT PICK UP NORMAL SPEED IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF APPROACHING,ON COMING AND FOLLOWING VEHICLES. AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES WE WERE ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY VEHICLES BEHIND US, OR HIT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE'S HESITATION WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS OR MAJOR HIGHWAYS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT "NO PROBLEM" WAS FOUND, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I GUESS WHEN A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS SOMETHING WILL BE DONE! *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 27, 2013
AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I FELT A JOLT OR THRUST FORWARD. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD I NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. I TRIED TO GIVE THE CAR GAS AND IT WENT NO WHERE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND LOOK UP THE LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT SAID IT WAS A POWER TRAIN/THROTTLE BODY FAULT. AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES FOR A TOW TRUCK I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND IT STARTED NORMALLY. THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY THE REST OF THE DAY. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED THE NEXT MORNING. THEY EVENTUALLY TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED/SHORTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS 700 MILES OVER. AFTER FILING A CASE WITH FORD AND DOING RESEARCH, I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 18, 2013
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND WAS A POP AND I HAD NO GAS AT ALL. I HAD TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY. THE REPAIR BILL WAS OVER $400.00 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT IS NOT COVERED IN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *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
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 2, 2013
THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T STOP TO COMPLETION. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND STARTING IT BACK UP AGAIN, THE CAR FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY AND ASKED ME TO PAY OVER $600 FOR THE REPAIR, AS THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GLITCH BUT THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. *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.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 6, 2013
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.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 19, 2013
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
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
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
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
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD REFUEL, HE COULD SMELL AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY THE TIME HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE NEWER FORD ESCAPE MODELS WERE BEING MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A FUEL CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.