NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
137 reportsClear category filter47,900 miles · Nov 7, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. I GOOGLED THE SYMPTOMS AND FOUND THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE ETB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NHTSA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY REQUIRING FORD TO PROVIDE TOWING. INSTEAD NHTSA ONLY…
Read full complaint
MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. I GOOGLED THE SYMPTOMS AND FOUND THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE ETB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NHTSA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY REQUIRING FORD TO PROVIDE TOWING. INSTEAD NHTSA ONLY REQUIRED THAT FORD EXTEND THE WARRANTY AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS LEAVING FORD OWNERS AT RISK OF INJURY OR WORSE.
NHTSA ODI #11278709
72,500 miles · Sep 12, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
AFTER HAVING THE RECALL 16S41 FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FLANGE REPLACEMENT SERVICE, MY VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT SUCCESSFULLY START BUT WOULD CONTINUE TO TRY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS SERVICED AND THEY TOOK A LOOK, BUT FOUND NOTHING. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND I NOTICE NEW ISSUES; VEHICLE CHUGS DOWN THE HIG…
Read full complaint
AFTER HAVING THE RECALL 16S41 FUEL DELIVERY MODULE FLANGE REPLACEMENT SERVICE, MY VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT SUCCESSFULLY START BUT WOULD CONTINUE TO TRY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS SERVICED AND THEY TOOK A LOOK, BUT FOUND NOTHING. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND I NOTICE NEW ISSUES; VEHICLE CHUGS DOWN THE HIGHWAY ALMOST BOGGY-LIKE; WHEN FILLING WITH GASOLINE THE PUMP STOPS AT 3/4 TANK AND NOT FULL; SPITS GASOLINE BACK OUT; OVERALL SOUNDS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT RUNNING.
NHTSA ODI #11255050
68,534 miles · Sep 7, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
EVAPORATION SYSTEM LEAK OCCURRED AND FUEL TANK PIPE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR DID NOT START AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED.
NHTSA ODI #11253792
31,138 miles · Aug 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
UPON LEAVING WORK ON JULY 31ST 2018 I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL AS I APPROACHED MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. UPON GETTING CLOSER TO THE CAR I NOTICED THE SMELL WAS GAS. I WAS ALARMED THINKING MY VEHICLE MAY NOT START OR COULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE IF I TRIED. WHEN OPENING THE DOOR THE SMELL WAS UNBEARABLE. AFTER CALLING MY SON HE SAID THA…
Read full complaint
UPON LEAVING WORK ON JULY 31ST 2018 I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL AS I APPROACHED MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. UPON GETTING CLOSER TO THE CAR I NOTICED THE SMELL WAS GAS. I WAS ALARMED THINKING MY VEHICLE MAY NOT START OR COULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE IF I TRIED. WHEN OPENING THE DOOR THE SMELL WAS UNBEARABLE. AFTER CALLING MY SON HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY GENERATION FORD FOR A CRACKING FUEL PUMP. HE SAID IT WILL BE SAFE TO START BUT WILL BE LEAKING GAS EVERYWHERE SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE GAUGE. AFTER STARTING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE GAS LEVEL WAS ALMOST 1/2 A TANK LOWER THAN WHEN I ARRIVED JUST 8 HOURS BEFORE. I ROLLED ALL FOUR WINDOWS DOWN AND DROVE THE CAR THE SHOP I'VE BEEN VISITING AND TRUST. THEY TOOK MY VEHICLE IN ON AUGUST 1ST 2018 AND SAID THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM THEY DISCOVERED IT THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED. WITH ONLY 31,000 MILES. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE DEALER AND THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO FALL IN EVERY CATEGORY OTHER THAN A SEVEN MONTH DIFFERENCE ON THE BUILD NUMBER. FORD SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME IN RECOVERING MY MONEY FOR A RECALL THAT IS ON THE SAME YEAR MAKE MODEL AND TRIM LEVEL.
NHTSA ODI #11244121
110,364 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
ON APPROXIMATELY MAY 25, 2019, I WAS AT A LOCAL GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY VEHICLE, A 2012 FORD ESCAPE XLT, WITH GAS. WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK TO FULL, THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FAILED CAUSING GAS TO FORCEFULLY SPLASH BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK, ONTO ME AND THE GROUND NEXT TO THE GAS PUMP. THE ATTENDANT AT THE GAS STATION FOLLOWED T…
Read full complaint
ON APPROXIMATELY MAY 25, 2019, I WAS AT A LOCAL GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY VEHICLE, A 2012 FORD ESCAPE XLT, WITH GAS. WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK TO FULL, THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FAILED CAUSING GAS TO FORCEFULLY SPLASH BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK, ONTO ME AND THE GROUND NEXT TO THE GAS PUMP. THE ATTENDANT AT THE GAS STATION FOLLOWED THEIR PROTOCOL FOR A GAS SPILL. I FILLED UP THE GAS TAKE AT OTHER LOCAL GAS STATIONS AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. ON JUNE 5, 2019 I SCHEDULED A REPAIR AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I PAID FOR A FAULTY VENT VALVE AND A SOLENOID ASY TO BE REPLACED FOR $ 463.08. THEY STATED ON MY RECEIPT THAT THEY ADDED 6 GALLONS OF GAS TO CONFIRM THE REPAIR. A WEEK LATER I REFUELED MY VEHICLE IN ANOTHER CITY, AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS OVERFLOWING CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP JULY 5, 2019, AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. THEY TOLD ME THEY DROPPED THE GAS TANK AND TESTED THE COMPONENTS AND TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY VALVE. THEY INFORMED ME "THEY TALKED TO DETROIT" AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE "GAS TANK ASSEMBLY" AND I WOULD BE GIVEN A "DISCOUNT" ON THE REPAIR SINCE I HAD PAID ALMOST $500 FOR THE FIRST REPAIR. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE SECOND REPAIR WAS $1,000. I ASKED OF THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY, AND WAS TOLD NO. I DID NOT GET THE REPAIR DONE THIS TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CORRECTED AND WASN'T. THERE APPARENTLY IS NOT WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE. I AM SHOCKED THAT IT WILL COST AN ESTIMATED $1,000 MORE TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT THEY SAID WAS FIXED, AND POSSIBLY NO GUARANTEE ON THE REPAIRS. AFTER CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN MICHIGAN, I WAS TOLD THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIPS ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THAT FORD CORPORATE COULDN'T HELP WITH MY PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THIS AGENCY AND WAS GIVEN THIS CASE NUMBER-11234836.
NHTSA ODI #11241093
110,364 miles · Jul 25, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY FORD (509-453-3125, LOCATED AT 910 S 1ST ST, YAKIMA, WA 98901) WHERE THE VENT VALVE AND SOLENOID WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT COULD N…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY FORD (509-453-3125, LOCATED AT 910 S 1ST ST, YAKIMA, WA 98901) WHERE THE VENT VALVE AND SOLENOID WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,364.
NHTSA ODI #11234836
127,000 miles · Jun 22, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
OCCASIONALLY WHEN FUELING THE PUMP WILL STOP PREMATURELY. THE DASH WILL SAY IT'S FULL BUT 5 MILES LATER YOUR AT 3/4 TANK. AND TOPPING OFF IS ILLEGAL SO THERE'S NOT A WAY TO GET PAST IT. CAR WAS OFF, PARKED, AND NEXT TO A GAS STATION PUMP.
NHTSA ODI #11221922
56,000 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
PULLING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT, THE CAR MADE A WHIRRING NOISE AND HESITATED TO MOVE THEN STARTED JUMPING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. DROVE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AND THE CAR MADE THE NOISE, HESITATED AND STARTED JUMPING AGAIN. MADE TO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED CAR. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE TRAN…
Read full complaint
PULLING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT, THE CAR MADE A WHIRRING NOISE AND HESITATED TO MOVE THEN STARTED JUMPING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. DROVE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AND THE CAR MADE THE NOISE, HESITATED AND STARTED JUMPING AGAIN. MADE TO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED CAR. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED IN HIGH GEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11219754
88,000 miles · Jun 12, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION DEALING WITH THE FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CAR SEEMS TO BE LOOSING MILES OR FUEL. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK WITH FUELING CODES.
NHTSA ODI #11219561
114,000 miles · May 20, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering
THE AREA OF MOST CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. EIGHT MONTHS AGO, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING JUST AFTER EXITING A FREEWAY. NOW IT IS MAKING THE SAME SOUND AGAIN AND MY MECHANIC FEELS THE WHEEL MAY LOCK COMPLETELY.I DRIVE MOUNTAIN PASSES, WHICH MAKES THIS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS. CONTACT WITH LOCAL AND CORPORATE FORD…
Read full complaint
THE AREA OF MOST CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. EIGHT MONTHS AGO, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING JUST AFTER EXITING A FREEWAY. NOW IT IS MAKING THE SAME SOUND AGAIN AND MY MECHANIC FEELS THE WHEEL MAY LOCK COMPLETELY.I DRIVE MOUNTAIN PASSES, WHICH MAKES THIS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS. CONTACT WITH LOCAL AND CORPORATE FORD SAYS IT IS MY PROBLEM TO GET IT OVER AN HOUR AWAY TO THE DEALER, AND REPAIR WILL BE AT MY EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I LEARNED ONLY AFTER CONTACTING FORD ABOUT THE STEERING ISSUE, THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE FUEL MODULE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FIRE. I RECEIVED NO NOTICE OF THIS UNTIL I REPORTED THE STEERING ISSUE TO THE COMPANY. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM LOSING INCOME EVERY DAY AS I DRIVE FOR A LIVING. NO CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF ME, MY FAMILY, OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #11208741
NHTSA investigations
2PE13003 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Feb 21, 2013 · Closed Feb 28, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles. During this investigation, Ford identified a condition in subject vehicles equipped with 2.5L and 3.0L engines that may result in a sudden reduction of engine power.According to Ford, the ETB internal motor contacts may develop a high resistance material buildup condition on the commutator, resulting in intermittent electrical connectivity and reduced engine power. When this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Wrench light will illuminate and the vehicle may enter a limited limp home mode.Ford?s trade name for the feature is Failure Mode Effects Management (FMEM) mode.In this mode, engine power and vehicle speed are reduced, while full function of the power steering, power braking, lighting, and climate control systems are maintained.ODI?s complaint analysis indicate that the predominant failure mode involved reduced motive power associated with the limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Analysis of warranty claims provided by Ford identified 59,807 claims related to ETB replacements and approximately 50 percent of claims are associated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed.Ford described several factors where the ETB motor may fail resulting in DTCs P2111 or P2112 but the failure is not an existing stuck open or closed ETB valve position.According to Ford, the ETB control strategy provides the driver with three FMEM modes that allow varying degrees of vehicle mobility depending on the severity of the fault detected.DTCs associated with stuck open or closed throttle valves are designated the highest failure severity resulting in engine speeds limited to high idle corresponding to the limited limp home mode.Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability.Other FMEM limp modes may result in reduced engine performance but will maintain vehicle speed above 20mph. During this investigation, Ford and its suppliers, Delphi and Igarashi, updated the powertrain control module (PCM) software to include a throttle body motor cleaning cycle during key-on and modified the ETB internal motor components design, surface finish and material composition to improve durability. Additionally, Ford developed a remedy procedure and issued a special Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 13N03 extending the ETB warranty coverage and instructing dealers to update the powertrain calibration to improve vehicle performance in the event that intermittent electrical connectivity of the throttle body motor contacts occurs. The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, all vehicles are eligible for the program through January 31, 2015 regardless of mileage.Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by mail to take their vehicle to a Ford dealer who will reprogram the PCM to the latest calibration. The bulletin was sent to dealers on January 17, 2014 and the owner letter mailing began on January 27, 2014. See the investigative file for copies of Ford's bulletin and owner letter. This preliminary evaluation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that
DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.
Illustration