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: power train
66 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 19, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Sep 4, 2013
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.
Power train, Jul 31, 2013
LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER, PUTTER AND WOULD NOT TAKE GAS. WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THE WRENCH LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WHICH WAS THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 7/30/2013. ON 7/31/2013, THE SAME PROBLEM BEGAN ALL OVER AGAIN AND I HAD TO RETURN THE SUV TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED, I WAS FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE. *TR
Power train, Jul 16, 2013
I PULLED OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT ONTO A TWO LANE ROAD AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MY VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING ON ITS OWN EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS CREEPING ALONG, BARELY MOVING, AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO ME PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED A LOT BUT NEVER COMPLETELY STALLED. POWER STEERING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, ETC., WAS ALL WORKING FINE. THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT ON SHAPED LIKE A WRENCH. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND CONTINUED COASTING IN THIS MANNER TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE SPOT I COULD PULL OVER. AFTER PULLING OVER, I TURNED OFF THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, AND THEN IT SEEMED TO BE IDLING AND RUNNING FINE. THE WARNING LIGHT SHAPED LIKE A WRENCH IS A "THROTTLE/POWERTRAIN" ISSUE INDICATOR. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES INDICATING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES. THE NORTH CAROLINE CONSUMERS COUNCIL RECOMMENDED OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE FILE A COMPLAINT. I FELT LUCKY THAT I DID NOT PULL OUT INTO A BUSY ROAD AND LOSE THROTTLE POWER LIKE THAT AND BE AT RISK OF GETTING T-BONED BY ANOTHER CAR. I AGREE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *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
Power train, May 30, 2013
THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT GEARS SMOOTHLY UPON ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BECAME DANGEROUS TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED RESPONSE. I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD AS I WAS BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN SEVERAL SECONDS LATER. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH DIFFERENT RESULTS EACH TIME. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT NO ISSUE WAS FOUND THE FIRST TIME AND THE ISSUE WAS DETERMINED TO BE RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS THE SECOND TIME. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE 2ND SERVICE VISIT AND TOOK THE CAR BACK A FEW DAYS LATER. (I DROVE MY MINI CAR IN THE INTERIM BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE ESCAPE.) THIS TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RESPONSE IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE, BUT NOT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY. *TR
Power train, May 13, 2013
TRANSMISSION ISSUE- I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESPAPE 6 CYLINDER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED (20MPH) THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT IN THE RIGHT GEAR, IT MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT WANTS TO CHANGE GEARS BUT CAN'T. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO PROCEED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR, THEN IT LUNGES FORWARD INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE DEARLERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM,BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I HAD 8402 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 9400 AND I AM STILL RETURNING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT CAN POSSIBLY BE THE ADAPT SHIFT STRATEGY, WHICH IS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TO LEARN THE DRIVER. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE THEY STATE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T DO IT. WHEN I PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT ABOUT 26-30 MILES. I KNOW IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND I FEEL FORD IS NEGLECTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PERFORMING BETTER THAN THE 2005 FORD ESCAPE (4 CYLINDER) I PREVIOUSLY OWNED, AND WAS SATISFIED WITH. THIS 6 CYLINDER HAS NO POWER TO GO. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN IDLE MODE IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL VEHICLE THAN A REGULAR GASOLINE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Apr 16, 2013
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION LAGS, OR SHIFTS HARD, SLIPS, HESITATE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS TOLD THE COMPUTERS WERE NOT COMMUNICATING THE WAY THEY SHOULD, THE SECOND WHICH WAS TODAY, WAS TOLD IT WAS A QUART LOW? VEHICLE NOW HAS 32000 ON IT DOES NOT LEAK FLUID, AND WAS LOW ON FLUID WHEN BOUGHT NEW FROM DEALER WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF LOW FLUID, BUT I AM NOT BUYING THAT. AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER. *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
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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEARS THEN ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. AFTER DEPRESSING AND HOLDINGTHE ACCELERATOR DOWN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS TO REPLICATE IT TWICE WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,100. UPDATED 11/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE THERE A DEFINITE STRONGHESITATION AROUND 20 MPH. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM AT HIGHER SPEEDS.
Power train, Engine, Sep 20, 2012
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEB 2012...DRIVE IT AN HR OR SO 1 WAY EVERYDAY TO WORK...IN JULY STARTED TO NOTICE IT WOULD LAG WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS...AT START AND IN BETWEEN GEARS. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE THEY HAD IT FOR LESS THEN 3 HRS AND SAID THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG BUT RESET THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER PROBLEM SHOULD GO AWAY. IT GOT WORSE TOOK IT BACK 2 WKS LATER FOR SAME ISSUE TRANSMISSION TECH DROVE IT WITH ME IN THE CAR, FOUND NO ISSUE...TOOK IT BACK 3 WKS LATE SAME ISSUE A DIFFERENT PERSON TOLD ME THAT'S NOT NORMAL THEY DROVE IT SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT FORD SAYS IT'S NORMAL FOR A HARD SHIFT ON A COLD START. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK NOW FOR A 4TH TIME TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT......CAR HARD SHIFTS NOT JUST ON COLD START AND IF THIS WAS THE CASE I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FROM DAY 1 NOT 5 MONTHS INTO DRIVING........THIS DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I AM TOLD I HAVE TO GET USED TO IT...... *TR
Power train, Engine, Aug 27, 2012
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 55-60 AND THEN COASTING COMING TO A STOP, ONCE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HITS AROUND 35-40...VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD...CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR...I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE BEHAVE LIKE THIS AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER THAT NORMAL.. *TR
Power train, Structure, Jun 24, 2012, crash
VEHICLE WAS BEING PREPARED TO BACK OUT OF LEVEL GARAGE ONTO DRIVEWAY WITH MILD DOWNHILL SLOPE. VEHICLE WAS STARTED, EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PLACED IN REVERSE, DRIVER'S FOOT ENGAGED BRAKE. DRIVER REALIZED WALLET WITH DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS LEFT INSIDE HOUSE. TRANSMISSION PLACED IN PARK, DRIVER REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND EXITED VEHICLE. VEHICLE NOT NOTED TO BE MOVING WHEN DRIVER EXITED. DRIVER ENTERED HOUSE THROUGH GARAGE ENTRY, RETRIEVED WALLET. WHEN GARAGE WAS RE-ENTERED VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE ONTO DRIVEWAY ON ITS OWN. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CATCH UP TO VEHICLE ON FOOT AND ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL. VEHICLE BACKED DOWN FULL LENGTH OF DRIVEWAY (APPROX. 100 FEET) AND BACKED ACROSS ROAD AND DOWN FAIRLY STEEP EMBANKMENT ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE THEN BACKED INTO A LARGE TREE ABOUT 10-15 FEET FROM ROAD AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED, AND AN ADJACENT TREE WAS SIDE-SWIPED BY THE REAR/LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED, SCANT DAMAGE TO 2 LARGE TREES. DRIVER ASSESSED THE DAMAGE, RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE. DRIVER CANNOT DEFINITIVELY RECALL WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN WHEN VEHICLE WAS RE-ENTERED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND MOVE IT ACROSS THE ROAD AND BACK ONTO DRIVEWAY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 03/16/12*LJ UPDATED 05/03/12