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: vehicle speed control
69 reports, newest first. Show all
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.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 3, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
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
Vehicle speed control, Aug 9, 2013
I HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND BEGAN JERKING FORWARD PARKED IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS AND PUT CAR IN PARK AND AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND AGAIN IT DID NOT ACCELERATE. BACKED OUT AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM WHERE I HAD PARKED AND AGAIN IT JERKED FORWARD AND DID NOT ACCELERATE. TRIED MOVING A SECOND TIME WITH THE SAME RESULTS. PARKED IT AND TURNED IT OFF TO CALL A WRECKER. TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND TURNING IT ON AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WORKED; ACCELERATED WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, DID NOT JERK AS IT HAD PREVIOUSLY. DROVE IT WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER IN WHARTON, TEXAS WHO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT CAME UP WITH NO CODE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE FORD ESCAPES AND FUSIONS HAD A THROTTLE PROBLEM AND HE WAS SURE THAT WAS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HE REPLACED IT AT A COST OF $484.60. ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST PURCHASE THE CAR, USED ON JULY 13, 2013 AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN, THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE. I FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT SEEING THAT I AM A WOMAN, HIS BOTTOM LINE WAS PROFIT AT ANY COST, HE DID NOT INFORM ME. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE FORD ESCAPES ARE RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR BUYING AMERICAN! *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
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
Vehicle speed control, May 27, 2013
THIS MORNING I SAW THE CNN NEWS TICKER STATING YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THE FORD F150'S FOR ECO-BOOST ACCELERATION ENGINE STALLS. I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND THIS VERY SAME THING HAS OCCURRED TO ME 3 TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATES, BUT IT HAS BEEN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY 2012. I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN & WAS TOLD "IT WAS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM, SOFTWARE REPLACED." I HAVEN'T HAD ANYMORE MORE EPISODES OF "STALLING WITH ACCELERATION" BUT IT'S VERY EVIDENT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO DECELERATE OR SOMETIMES "JERK" WITH ACCELERATION. I'M CONCERNED NOW THAT YOU ARE ONLY INVESTIGATING THE F-150'S & SHOULD BROADEN THE SCOPE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE ESCAPES OR ANY VEHICLE WITH ECO-BOOST. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 4, 2013
VEHICLE IS REPEATEDLY SURGING WITHOUT WARNING OR STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. OFTEN DURING TURNS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE BUT SUSPECTS THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. *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
Vehicle speed control, Mar 2, 2013
I WAS DRIVING MY ESCAPE ABOUT 15 MPH AND WENT TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, THE TOTAL CAR DID NOTHING. I JUST HESITATED AND STUMBLED THEN FINALLY ACCELERATED. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEM THEY USE NOW. THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS IF IN A SUDDEN AVOIDANCE SITUATION AND CAN'T AVOID IT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS HOWEVER, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WAS A TWENTY SECOND DELAY IN VEHICLE RESPONSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,900.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 26, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ENGAGE IN LIMP MODE AND THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A SWITCH THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE TO PREVENT ERRONEOUS ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF
Vehicle speed control, Dec 20, 2012
WHEN DRIVING (APPROX 30 MPH), MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND WAITED A MOMENT. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND IT STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. TODAY, NEARLY 3 MONTHS TO THE DATE LATER, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON ALLOWED ME TO GET HOME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Dec 12, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED HESITATION AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77. UPDATED 1/15/13* CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED ON 12/13/12. HIS RIGHT FOOT WAS TOUCHING THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS NORMAL AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ACCUMULATE APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE LUNGING FAILURE TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS
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.
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