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.
Engine, Jun 30, 2013
AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN UP AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON - I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED - I LATER TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED THE FORD TECHNICAL HOTLINE AND ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE - THIS IS THE 3RD STALLING INCIDENT THE SECOND AT THE SAME LOCATION AND THE 1ST AFTER THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY - THE VEHICLE HAS AROUND 11,000 MILES. *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
Engine, Jun 7, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE TO ENGINE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE MOUNT BOLT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,600.
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, 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
Equipment, May 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE CONDENSER EXHIBITED A HOLE AND WAS LEAKING COOLING FLUID. THE CONDENSER WAS UNPROTECTED AND EXPOSED, ALLOWING ROAD DEBRIS TO ENTER AND PUNCTURE THE CONDENSER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY OFFERED TO COVER 50 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
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
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
Engine, Apr 29, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS FOUND. SIX MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND AGAIN, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,500.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 19, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ONLY HAD TWO SPEEDS SETTINGS AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *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
Suspension, Apr 5, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHENEVER A POTHOLE WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING SEND THE SHOCKS TO FORD'S ENGINEERS TO BE INSPECTED SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. *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, Apr 3, 2013
AS WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR STALLED AND STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE THROTTLE SURGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *TR
Engine, Mar 17, 2013
ENGINE STALLS AND DOES NOT RESPOND AT DIFFERENT TIMES. *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
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
Engine, Mar 1, 2013
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 35-40 MPH, MY FORD ESCAPE JUST STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, PUT IT IN PARK, AND IT STARTED UP ON THE FIRST TRY. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN (IT HAS BEEN 6 DAYS). THE FORD DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND HAS INSTALLED A RECORDER TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 2 WKS. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE AND I AM NERVOUS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SOMETHING LIKE THIS, COULD HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME. *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.
Engine, Feb 26, 2013
WHEN DRIVING TO PICK UP MY MANUAL IRONICALLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP, PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT AND LOWERED SPEED TURNING INTO LOT AND ENGINE STALLED...ALSO WHEN I WOULD BACK UP OUT OF MY WORK PARKING LOT SPACE, PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND HAVE ALMOST HIT THE PARKED CARS NEXT TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR 2012 FORD ESCAPES AS WELL...ENGINE AS SURGED AND STALLED AND HESITATES WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS...THANK YOU... *TR
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
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 25, 2013
AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STALLED - THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON - I PUT IT IN PARK TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED - I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE CONCERN - THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. *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