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: steering
138 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Dec 21, 2015
THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED, FORCING THE WHEEL TO TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND TRYING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE TO RE-CENTER THE WHEEL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE WHEEL, EVEN WHEN PARKED, THE WHEEL WOULD RAPIDLY ROTATE BACK TO THE LEFT MOST POSITION. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TO AN EXPECTING VICTIM, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY TURNED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND/OR FLIPPED.
Steering, Dec 5, 2015
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING COULD NOT STEER AT ALL! COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, FINALLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND MY STEERING RETURNED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2008-2011 YEAR MODELS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN DONE ON THE 2012 MODEL?
Steering, Nov 16, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Steering, Aug 6, 2015
I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF 23 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANUEVER. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE AND LOOKED TO SEE IF ANY BELTS HAD COME OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO APPEARANT EVIDENCE OF A LOOSE OR BROKEN BELT. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. I LOOKED INTO SEVERAL COMPLAINT BLOGS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT FORD SHOUDL BE LOOKING INTO FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. I RESEARCHED SEVERAL BLOG AND CAR COMPLAINT SITES AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2012 ESCAPE AS WELL. I AM ONE MONTH OUT OF MY 3YR/36000 WARRANTY. THE THREE YEAR PART CAME FIRST. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS FAIR FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUED RECALLED ON THE ESCAPE.
Steering, Mar 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A PROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,781.
Steering, Air bags, Jan 11, 2015, crash
JUST AFTER LEAVING A 4 WAY STOP, AS I TRIED TO ROUND THE CURVE THE STEERING IN OUR 2012 ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I JUST KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, I SLOWED DOWN WITH THE BRAKES BUT THE ESCAPE CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND DOWN A 50+ FT EMBANKMENT. EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE CAR ANYWHERE! THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AND THEN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT- THAT WAS WAY TOO MUCH! *TR
Steering, Nov 6, 2014
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
Steering, Jul 29, 2014
TOOK MY 2012 ESCAPE TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZED RECALL REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE SENSOR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. BACKED IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NO CODES WERE THROWN. THIS IS AN ESCAPE BUILT FEBRUARY 2012 IN KANSAS CITY. *JS
Steering, Jan 16, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AT AVERAGELY ABOUT 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING ON THE FORD ESCAPE 2012 JUST FAILS. THIS MAKES IT INCREDIBLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUT OFF THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST AND IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY EVEN AFTER BEING TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AT WHICH THEY CLAIM EACH TIME THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I REALLY HOPE FORD TAKES TIME TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND THERE IS A HUGE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON DIFFERENT FORD MODELS ACROSS MULTIPLE YEAR MODELS. *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.
Steering, Traction control system, Service brakes, Dec 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO BE RESTARTED AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF
Steering, May 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 468.
Steering, Nov 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND IT BECMAE EXTREMELY DIFFICUTL FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 235. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.