NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
66 reportsClear category filter85,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016
EnginePower Train
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATING A LOT. CHECKED LUG NUTS AND FOUND ALL TIGHT. GOT UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND THE RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT HAD COME APART. HAVE NEVER HAD ONE FAIL SUDDENLY LIKE THIS. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE FOUND ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS HAD BACKED ALL THE WA…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATING A LOT. CHECKED LUG NUTS AND FOUND ALL TIGHT. GOT UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND THE RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT HAD COME APART. HAVE NEVER HAD ONE FAIL SUDDENLY LIKE THIS. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE FOUND ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS HAD BACKED ALL THE WAY OUT, A SECOND ONE HAD BACKED OUT A LITTLE AND BROKE, THE THIRD REMAINED TIGHT BUT HAD SHEARED OFF. THIS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO DROP DROP AND DESTROYED THE DRIVE SHAFT. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2012. BOLTS HAVE NEVER BEEN LOOSENED DURING THIS TIME. DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY WOULD COME LOOSE. MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 85000.
NHTSA ODI #10875846
62,000 miles · Jun 18, 2016
Power TrainCrash
I PURCHASED MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE IN 2012. ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER AS I EXITED OFF A RAMP OF OUR LOCAL BY-PASS, THE CAR UNEXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS QUITE FRIGHTENED; AND, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT THE CAR STOPPED. I CALLED OUR FORD DEALER; HAD THE CAR TOWED; THE SERVICE ME…
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I PURCHASED MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE IN 2012. ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER AS I EXITED OFF A RAMP OF OUR LOCAL BY-PASS, THE CAR UNEXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS QUITE FRIGHTENED; AND, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT THE CAR STOPPED. I CALLED OUR FORD DEALER; HAD THE CAR TOWED; THE SERVICE MECHANICS PUT IT ON A COMPUTER WHICH "DID NOT" PICK UP ANY RECENT MALFUNCTION. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MOST RECENT CALAMITY OCCURRED ON MAY 29, 2016 IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR CHURCH. I WAS DRIVING; MY HUSBAND WAS THE PASSENGER. AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, I REALIZED I NEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. UPON MY OBSERVATION OF ANOTHER CAR COMING IN TO PARK BEHIND ME, I WAITED UNTIL THE CAR WAS PARKED, PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, AND "ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE". THE CAR FULLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, DAMAGE TO THE R REAR OF MY ESCAPE, AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE R SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAD DEVASTATING RESULTS: (1) IF THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN GETTING OUT SECONDS BEFORE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! (2) IF THE OTHER CAR HAD NOT BEEN PARKED, MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT (POSSIBLY TURNING OVER) AND TAKING WITH IT NUMEROUS OTHER PARKED CARS AND MEMBERS WALKING INTO THE SERVICE. UPON EXAMINING MY VEHICLE AND HEARING THE REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTOR/APPRAISER WAS WISE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CAR "OFF THE ROADS"! HE DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS. THIS ACCIDENT HAS BEEN VERY TRAUMATIC FOR ME~~CAUSING ME UNDUE RESTRAINT IN WANTING TO DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN A SAFE DRIVER FOR 56 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I TRUST THAT FORD MOTOR WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHATEVER DEFECT CAUSED THIS INCIDENT - POSSIBLY THE ETB (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY). WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS.
NHTSA ODI #10875020
85,000 miles · Apr 13, 2016
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM LEFT HALF SHAFT SEAL
NHTSA ODI #10855338
40,000 miles · Apr 12, 2016
EnginePower Train
WHILE CRUISING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 TO 55 MPH, CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, WITH RPMS DECREASING TO 1200-1500. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAS NO EFFECT FOR 3-5 SECONDS, WHEN THE CAR WILL ACT NORMALLY. A SIMILAR PROBLEM IS NOTED AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE FROM A STOP OR WHEN APPLYING FULL POWER TO …
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WHILE CRUISING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 TO 55 MPH, CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, WITH RPMS DECREASING TO 1200-1500. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAS NO EFFECT FOR 3-5 SECONDS, WHEN THE CAR WILL ACT NORMALLY. A SIMILAR PROBLEM IS NOTED AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE FROM A STOP OR WHEN APPLYING FULL POWER TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE CAR CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ISOLATED TO ANY SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL OR OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE DURING THE FIRST 5,000 MILES, BUT CONTINUES LESS FREQUENTLY (VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES NOW). DEALER TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY FAULTS.
NHTSA ODI #10855160
46,000 miles · Oct 31, 2015
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY ESCAPE SHIFTS BADLY. HAS A LAGGING UPSHIFT FROM STARTS AND A HARSH DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 ESCAPE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG JUST THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION IS.
NHTSA ODI #10787432
32,000 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS TIME I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN IN A LOADING DOCK ON A BUSY STREET, AND WAS GOING FORWARD, TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. AGAIN THERE WERE NO WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD, NO SOUNDS AND NO LIGHTS. THIS TIME THERE WERE CARS COMING TOWAR…
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THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS TIME I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN IN A LOADING DOCK ON A BUSY STREET, AND WAS GOING FORWARD, TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. AGAIN THERE WERE NO WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD, NO SOUNDS AND NO LIGHTS. THIS TIME THERE WERE CARS COMING TOWARD ME HONKING AT ME, AND ONE IN THE LOADING DOCK TRYING TO BACK UP HONKING AT ME. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND BACKED UP TO CONTINUE WHERE I WAS GOING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TESTED THE THROTTLE BODY AND SAID THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IF THIS CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION? SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX THIS!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10705161
31,500 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK INTO A MY PARKING SPACE, SO I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT (GOING FORWARD) AND CAME TO ALMOST A STOP SO I COULD PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD, NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. BECAUSE IT HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND I HAD THE CAR FOR ALM…
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I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK INTO A MY PARKING SPACE, SO I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT (GOING FORWARD) AND CAME TO ALMOST A STOP SO I COULD PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD, NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. BECAUSE IT HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND I HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, I THOUGHT I HAD DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO THE PARKING SPOT. IT STARTED JUST FINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10705160
150,000 miles · Jan 13, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10672131
44,915 miles · Nov 23, 2014
Power Train
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN THE CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP AND STARTED MAKING A JERKING MOTION. I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH POWER TO STAY IN TRAFFIC SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE AND SHUT IT OFF. BY THIS TIME THE WRENCH SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASH. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT SEEMED OK SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE MY MECHANIC OWNS.…
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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN THE CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP AND STARTED MAKING A JERKING MOTION. I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH POWER TO STAY IN TRAFFIC SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE AND SHUT IT OFF. BY THIS TIME THE WRENCH SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASH. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT SEEMED OK SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE MY MECHANIC OWNS. IT SLOWED DOWN AGAIN AND STARTED JERKING ON THE WAY. I SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND DROVE 2 MORE BLOCKS TO THE GARAGE. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THEIR COMPUTER AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE SENSOR. IT WORKS FINE AGAIN AFTER A BILL OF $455.68. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10660375
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10653056
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.