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.
Steering, Feb 1, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE TORQUE SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,009.
Steering, Jan 29, 2021
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING A FEW TIMES. FORD SERVICE CENTER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM, WOULD VISIT ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER. RECALL SEEMS TO BE ISSUED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR SAME MODEL, MANUFACTURED AT SAME FACILITY AROUND SAME TIME. HOWEVER THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RECALL FOR THIS VIN. PLEASE ADVISE
Steering, Jan 11, 2021
LOST POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING WHEN I TURNED LEFT AROUND AN ISLAND ON A BUSY STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY.
Steering, Jan 11, 2021
TURNING THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY STRENUOUS/HEAVY WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS (INTO PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAYS, ETC). DIFFICULTY TURNING IS NOTICED MOSTLY DURING RIGHT HAND TURNS. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WILL NOT TURN ITSELF BACK AFTER MAKING A TURN. ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE POWER STEERING RECALL WHICH ONLY INCLUDED FORD ESCAPES UP TO 2011.
Steering, Jan 4, 2021
2012 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING.*JS
Steering, Dec 18, 2020
ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING GOES OUT BUT THE CAR IS STILL POWERED. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION BUT SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON LOCAL CITY STREETS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO HIGHER SPEEDS AND THE DANGER OF CRASH AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. ONCE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN, THE POWER RETURNS. THE CAUSE FOR THIS IS UNKNOWN, EXCEPT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE STEERING RECALLS FOR THE 2008-2011 FORD ESCAPE MODELS PREVIOUSLY.
Steering, Nov 25, 2020
DRIVING ON A OFF RAMP SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING NO WARNING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND COULD BARELY CONTROL/MANEUVER THE VEHICLE THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE HENCE THE RECALL ON 2009-2011 MODELS WHY AREN'T THE 2012 MODELS INCLUDED, THIS VERY UNSAFE!
Other or unspecified, Oct 23, 2020
WHERE THE SUNGLASS HOLDER IN THE VISOR IS: IT POURS IN WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WATER STAINS ON VISOR & HEADLINER. GETS THE SHIIFTER CONSOLE WET; WITH POOLS OF WATER IN CUP HOLDERS & SOAKS DRIVERS SEAT. VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAS MOON ROOF - SO I CHECKED THAT & ITS COMPLETELY CLOSED.WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY RAIN STORM. CONCERNED IT WILL FREEZE AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER & CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO INCLUDE WINDSHIELD FRACTURE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 2, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE 2012 ESCAPE IT LOST EXCELLORATION A WENCH LIGHT LITE ON DASH THE TRUCK JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC . THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN GIVEN GAS. TURNED VEHICLE OFF RESTARTED WRENCH LIGHT WENT OUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME TOOK TO DEALER THEY STATEED THEY FOUND NOTHING.A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS PROBLEM HAS ACUURED FOR SOME TIME IN THIS MODLE PLEASE THIS IS DANGEROUS
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 5, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.
Structure, Aug 4, 2020
EVERY TIME IT RAINS WATER SEEMS TO BE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THROUGH A FAULTY WINDOW SEAL OR DOOR SEAL.
Steering, Jul 30, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKS UP. I HAVE TO PULL THE CALL OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. WHY WAS THIS NOT A RECALL?
Service brakes, Jul 23, 2020
WITHIN THE PAST 2 YRS THE ABS HAS GONE OUT COMPLETELY ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS AND TRAUMATIZING...
Latches/locks/linkages, Engine, Jun 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CLOSED BUT FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LATCH FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR LATCH WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,685.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 12, 2020
AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE WAS RACING SO I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK WHICH HAD NO EFFECT SO I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT FULL SPEED SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONGOING ISSUE. IN JULY 2018 I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WITH A FORD FACTORY PART. HERE IT IS TWO YEARS AND 11 THOUSAND MILES LATER AND IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. FORD, SHAME ON YOU. *TR
Steering, Jun 8, 2020
2012 FORD ESCAPE - KANSAS PLANT. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 10 DAYS. HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING LOT / PARKING SPACE. SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF IF CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 16, 2020
THE SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN PARK. I WAS STUCK AT THE GYM PARKING LOT FOR AWHILE UNTIL A FRIEND STOPPED TO HELP ME. AN WE GOOGLE WAY TO GET IT IN DRIVE BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT. *TR
Steering, Apr 18, 2020
WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK, AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT DAY IN THE MORNING, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON IT STARTED VIBRATING, WHICH I THOUGH WAS FROM THE COLD TEMPERATURE, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE IT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN LIKE NORMALLY. HAD A MECHANIC COME TO LOOK AT IT, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND THAT THIS WAS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN OTHER ESCAPES FROM DIFFERENT YEARS. WE FOUND THE RECALL FOR PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE 2012 MODEL. CAR HAS REMAINED PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY SINCE OCTOBER 2019. HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE RECALL AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT APPLICABLE TO OUR MODEL YEAR. *TR
Structure, Apr 7, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE HOOD UNLATCHED FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CLOSED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH TO AVOID THE HOOD BECOMING UNLATCHED AGAIN. CLEVELAND FORD (2496 S LEE HWY, CLEVELAND, TN 37311, (423) 218-1622) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HOOD AND THE LATCH FOR THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT A GLASS REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. *LN*JB
Structure, Mar 17, 2020
THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CHECKED THE OIL AND MADE SURE THE HOOD WAS CLOSED BY ATTEMPTING TO LIFT IT. I WAS ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES WHEN THE HOOD BLEW OPEN DAMAGING THE HOOD AND LATCHES IT WAS A WINDY DAY OUT MY SPEED WAS AROUND 30 MPH.
Electrical system, Structure, Feb 27, 2020
DRIVER DOOR SEAL (TOP) LEAKS TO THE POINT OF THERE BEING 2 INCHES OF WATER ON DRIVER FLOOR. ALSO WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE DOOR, WHICH IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AT DEALER & LEAK STILL EXISTS. THIS IS CAUSING MOLD & RUST IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE INEXCUSABLE REPAIR WORK OF ATLANTIC AUTOMALL, BUT IT'S BECOMING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE & ATLANTIC AUTOMALL HAS BEEN REFUSING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR EVEN RESPOND TO MY CALLS
Structure, Feb 17, 2020
BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. BOTH BRACKETS THAT ATTACH FROM THE ROOF TO THE GLASS IN THE REAR (TOP HALF OF HATCH BACK) SNAPPED IN HALF AND THE GLASS DROPPED - HELD ON ONLY BY THE TWO ARMS THAT GUIDE THE WINDOW/GLASS UP AND OUT WHEN OPEN/LIFTED.
Seat belts, Jan 3, 2020
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT KEEPS LOCKING AND MAKES IT SO YOU CAN'T MOVE AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO RELEASE IS BY UNDOING THE SEATBEAT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK FUEL INTAKE LID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Seat belts, Dec 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED TO LOCK AND SECURE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE CONTACT CALLED CORWIN FORD (LOCATED AT 3241 SOUTH GLENSTONE, SPRINGFIELD, MO 65804, 877-962-2371) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-25127436. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.