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
600 reports, newest first.
Structure, Sep 24, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50-55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE HOOD FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS IN VARIOUS HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE SAFETY LATCH FAILED TO CATCH IT. SMOOTH ROAD.
Steering, Sep 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAMEROW FORD (12325 SW CANYON RD, BEAVERTON, OR 97005, 800-732-8633) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A STEERING SENSOR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2018
2 ISSUES. REAR WINDOW LEAK AND SHORTED OUT THE MTOR TO ALLOW THE LIFT GATE TO OPERATE, REMAINS SHUT. SECOND ISSUE, REAR WIPER MOTOR OVERHEATS AND BURNED OUT. MOTOR CONTINUES TO RECEIVE ELECTRICITY AND OVERHEATS WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD
Electrical system, Structure, Sep 7, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL WATER INTRUSION AROUND THE SEALS, WHICH AFFECTED THE LIFTGATE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIFTGATE HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR. ALSO, THE LIFTGATE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN. THE DEALER (FRED BEANS FORD OF BOYERTOWN, 525 PA-100, BECHTELSVILLE, PA 19505, (610) 367-2081) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2018
SUNROOF LEAKS AND LEAKS INSIDE OF MY CAR
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 22, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NICK ABRAHAM FORD ELYRIA (1115 E BROAD ST, ELYRIA, OH 44035, (440) 366-3673) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Structure, Aug 17, 2018
RUSTING OF THE REAR INNER WHEELS WELL AND FENDERS OVER BOTH WHEELS. IF NOT REPAIRED COULD LEAD TO EXHAUST MIGRATING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE CAR.
Power train, Aug 8, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH; DRIVING STRAIGHT WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE I HAD RAN SOMETHING. THE VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE A RUBBER BAND UNWINDING AND BEGAN VIBRATING SEVERELY AT RIGHT FRONT. IT APPEARED I MIGHT LOSE CONTROL. I DE-ACCELERATED AND SAFELY EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I COULD SEE NOTHING WRONG WHEN VISIBLY INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A DAMAGED CV BOOT, CV JOINT AND THREE FRACTURED BOLTS FOR THE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TWO OF FRACTURE SURFACES APPEARED THEY HAD BEEN FRACTURED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE THIRD BOLT HAD A FRACTURE SURFACE THAT WAS ROUGH AND CRYSTALLINE IN APPEARANCE ) ALLUDING TO INSTANTANEOUS FRACTURE OF THE BOLT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 7, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (SMITH CAIRNS FORD LINCOLN, 900 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY 10704, (914) 377-8100) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Engine, Aug 6, 2018
2012 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STALLING ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. *JS
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 1, 2018
IN MOTION - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED 02 SENSOR UPSTREAM. GETTING 8 MPG AFTERWARDS. TOOK IT BACK TO SERVICE DEPT AND NO CODES PRESENT, LIVE DATA SHOWED PURGE SOLENOID WOULD STICK OPEN SOMETIMES, REPLACED SOLENOID, NOW GETTING 12 MPG, MORE RATTLE NOISE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER; $700.00 AND NO BETTER THAN IT WAS.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 29, 2018, crash
I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE ON JULY 7, 2018 WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY USING THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S MAILBOX. I FINALLY SHUT OFF THE CAR TO MAKE IT STOP.
Structure, Jul 29, 2018
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON I575 ON-RAMP WHEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND BLOCKING ALL FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE HOOD DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF BEING UNLATCHED, SUCH AS RATTLING, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SAFETY LATCH DID NOT STOP THE MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE BREAK-DOWN LANE AND AVOID A COLLISION WITH MERGING TRAFFIC. THE HOOD WAS SEVERELY BENT BUT WAS ABLE TO BE SECURED SUFFICIENTLY TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER ELK GROVE FORD (9645 AUTO CENTER DR., ELK GROVE, CA 95757, 916-478-7000) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Jul 13, 2018
THE FIRST TIME MY POWER STEERING FAILED WAS ON JANUARY 27TH 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY (696) GOING 75 MPH. I CALLED MY FORD SERVICE CENTER THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY AND WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THAT "GLITCHES HAPPEN". IN 128 DAYS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED 30 TIMES (I STOPPED KEEPING TRACK AFTER JUNE 4TH BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN). EVERY TIME IT FAILED, IF I RESTARTED MY CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. 10 OF THE 30 TIMES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THE REST OCCURRED AT THE START OF THE ENGINE. THE TIMES IT HAPPENED AT THE START OF THE ENGINE, 5 OF THE TIMES IT FAILED TWO TIMES IN A ROW. SOME TIMES AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND SOME TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. SOMETIMES THE WEATHER WAS COLD (10 BELOW), SOME TIMES HOT (90 DEGREES). SOME DAYS THERE WAS PRECIPITATION AND OTHER TIMES IT WAS DRY. TRY AVOIDING POTHOLES ON MICHIGAN SURFACE STREETS WHEN YOUR POWER STEERING GOES OUT! SOME TIMES I WAS 10 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE AND OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING 2 HOURS. (I HAVE VERY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION ON ALL 30 OCCASIONS BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE CHARACTERS). WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE EXACT POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT ALL OF THE FORD ESCAPE MODELS HAD PRIOR TO 2012. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. MY CAR, A 2012, WAS FABRICATED IN JUNE OF 2011 AND HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURES AS THE PREVIOUS YEARS. I ONLY AM CURIOUS AS TO HOW MY 2012 COULD BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A YEAR THAT WAS RECALLED. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED 3 DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES OF FORD AND NOT ONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT AN SPECIFIC INFORMATION OF THE RECALL FOR THE OTHER MODEL YEARS.
Power train, Jun 26, 2018
VEHICLE HAS HARD DOWN SHIFTS JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING HAS BEEN IN SHOP TWICE GOING AGAIN ON 6-27-18 AFTER ABOUT 150 MILES OF DRIVING IS WHEN THIS OCCURS
Other or unspecified, Jun 26, 2018
DRIVER SIDE DOOR ALERT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SHUT TIGHT AND LOCKED. UPON PLACING KEY IN IGNITION DINGING IS CONSTANT AND DOOR ICON STAYS ON. WHEN LOCKING VEHICLE UPON EXITING WITH REMOTE IT DOUBLE BEEPS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY LIT. WHEN LOCKING DOORS WITH POWER LOCKS FROM INSIDE VEHICLE THEY AUTOMATICALLY POP BACK UNLOCKED. DOOR LATCH IS FINE. DOOR WILL SHUT AND LOCK THROUGH MANUAL MEANS. SENSOR IS MISREADING ACTIONS AND CAUSING SAFETY ISSUE WITH UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS WHILE DRIVING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 21, 2018
RECALL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE
Steering, Jun 18, 2018
THE STEERING COLUMN FREEZES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING IN MOTION. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT COMPLETE A FULL TURN.
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAYTIME. HAWK FORD IN OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS REPLACED THE HEADLAMP CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT FIND ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,850.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BABBITT FORD LINCOLN, 11 N VERDE ST, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001, (928) 7745-063) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 13, 2018
WHILE THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN ACTIVE RECALL NOTICE SINCE JANUARY 2018, THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNWILLING/UNABLE TO SECURE THE PART TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. RECALL NOTICE 16S41 / NHTSA 16V-777
Vehicle speed control, Jun 7, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE OR SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2018
I GOT THE NOTICE FOR THE RECALL. I CALLED MY FORD DEALERSHIP FERMAN FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN PART CAME IN. I CALLED BACK ASKING THEM AND THEY STATED THAT FORD ONLY SENDS RECALL ITEMS WHEN THEY WANT AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO CONTROL OVER IT. I CALLED FORD HEAD OFFICE THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL DIAGNOSED. I TOLD THEM IT IS A RECALL. THEY STATED THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING TILL DIAGNOSED. I STILL DON'T HAVE THE RECALL DONE. I NEED HELP I GETTING THIS DONE FOR MY CAR.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (FLOOD FORD LINCOLN, 21 WOODRUFF AVE, NARRAGANSETT, RI 02882, (401) 515-2700) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PART WAS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.