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2012 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

413 reports with mileage · 185 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 137 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 137 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports3 fire reports18 injury reports

Structure complaints

67 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2017
Structure

2012 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTING ABOVE REAR WHEEL WALLS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 11/24/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #11046754

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2017
Structure

THE BODY HAS RUSTED THROUGH AROUND THE WHEEL WELLS AND ALONG THE REAR HATCH DOOR. PLUS THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF THE ENGINE HOOD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A COUPLE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. BUT THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE OF WARRANTY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11044206

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2017
Structure

2012 FORD ESCAPE VIN # [XXX] REAR WINDOW HINGES CORRODED. PICTURES ATTACHED OF CORRODED HINGES BOTH SIDES -ONE WORSE THAN THE OTHER PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY .... LATER WENT OUT TO RUN ERRAND AND THE WINDOW WAS OFF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND CORROSION AT BOTH HINGES CAUSING ONE SIDE OF WINDOW TO DROP OFF. TODAY REVI…

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2012 FORD ESCAPE VIN # [XXX] REAR WINDOW HINGES CORRODED. PICTURES ATTACHED OF CORRODED HINGES BOTH SIDES -ONE WORSE THAN THE OTHER PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY .... LATER WENT OUT TO RUN ERRAND AND THE WINDOW WAS OFF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND CORROSION AT BOTH HINGES CAUSING ONE SIDE OF WINDOW TO DROP OFF. TODAY REVIEWING INTERNET COMPLAINTS I SEE THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. ONE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED PROBLEM IS COMMON AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SAID NOT A COMMON PROBLEM BUT WE SELL QUITE A FEW HINGES. IS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING REPORTED BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS BUY THE LOW COST REPLACEMENT HINGES AND REPAIR THIS ON THEIR OWN? WOULD APPRECIATE A REVIEW OF THESE COMPLAINTS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11020290

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2017
Structure

MY VEHICLE IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS WITH THIS MATTER. I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP AGREED THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT CORPORATE SINCE HE NEEDED THEIR APPROVAL TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. I WAS INFORM…

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MY VEHICLE IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS WITH THIS MATTER. I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP AGREED THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT CORPORATE SINCE HE NEEDED THEIR APPROVAL TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED BY CORPORATE THAT SINCE MY 3-YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HOW IS IT THAT MY VEHICLE, THAT WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, IS RUSTING AND ROTTING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE? THE VEHICLE IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AS WELL AS GARAGE KEPT.

NHTSA ODI #11016308

39,000 miles · Aug 7, 2017
EngineStructureVisibility/wiper

I PURCHASED MY 2012 ESCAPE IN AUGUST 2014,WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN TEN MONTHS, THE AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR AREA AND A GREEN SUBSTANCE WAS BLOWING OUT. THE REAR LIFT GATE ONLY OPENED SOME OF THE TIME, OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND N…

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I PURCHASED MY 2012 ESCAPE IN AUGUST 2014,WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN TEN MONTHS, THE AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR AREA AND A GREEN SUBSTANCE WAS BLOWING OUT. THE REAR LIFT GATE ONLY OPENED SOME OF THE TIME, OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND NOW DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL, POSSIBLY BECAUSE WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE HATCH WINDOW, AND HAS DONE SO SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11013298

57,000 miles · Jul 21, 2017
StructureVisibility/wiper

IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS BOTH DUE TO UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH FAILURES ON OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE. IN BOTH CASES, WHILE DRIVING ON SAN DIEGO AREA FREEWAYS, THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY FLEW UP AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE NOT ONLY TO THE HOOD BUT ALSO THE HOOD HINGES, WIN…

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IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS BOTH DUE TO UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH FAILURES ON OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE. IN BOTH CASES, WHILE DRIVING ON SAN DIEGO AREA FREEWAYS, THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY FLEW UP AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE NOT ONLY TO THE HOOD BUT ALSO THE HOOD HINGES, WINDSHIELD AND AREA SURROUNDING THE WINDSHIELD. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR OUR FORD ESCAPE FOR BOTH ACCIDENTS WAS ALMOST $9,200. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DRIVE THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING OTHER VEHICLES IN EACH CASE, THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLE AND SERIOUS INJURY EVEN DEATH WAS POSSIBLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE RADIATOR, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS A POORLY DESIGNED SAFETY LATCH AND SPRING WHICH SHOULD ONLY ALLOW THE HOOD TO BE RAISED AFTER THE SAFETY LATCH IS MANUALLY RELEASED. OBVIOUSLY, IN BOTH CASES, THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH WAS NOT MANUALLY RELEASED BUT RATHER RELEASED FOR SOME OTHER REASON SUCH AS WIND, BUMPY ROAD, ETC. RELATED TO THIS UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH ISSUE IS THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE DASH. THIS HOOD RELEASE LEVER IS CO-LOCATED NEAR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE. OBVIOUSLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR PULLING THE WRONG LEVER IS PRESENT BECAUSE OF THIS CO-LOCATION. NONETHELESS, THE HOOD SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO RISE, IF BOTH THE UNDER DASH LEVER AND THE UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH ARE MANUALLY PULLED / MOVED. THE HOOD SHOULD NEVER FLY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY OR OTHER HIGHWAY EVEN IF THE UNDER DASH LEVER IS PULLED. AGAIN, THE UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH AND SPRING ARE POORLY DESIGNED IN OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE ALLOWING THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE OUR CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11006773

72,000 miles · May 30, 2017
Structure

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE NOT ALLOWING ME TO CLOSE THE DOOR AT ALL. AFTER CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEARS 2013-2015 NOT INCLUDING 2012. I HAD THE PART REPLACED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AT ALL AND I NEEDED A BUNGEE CORD…

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DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE NOT ALLOWING ME TO CLOSE THE DOOR AT ALL. AFTER CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEARS 2013-2015 NOT INCLUDING 2012. I HAD THE PART REPLACED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AT ALL AND I NEEDED A BUNGEE CORD TO KEEP IT CLOSED AS WELL AS HOLDING IT WITH ONE HAND WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE THE PART THAT WAS BROKEN IN MY POSSESSION AT THIS TIME. I AM WONDERING IF THE PART IN MY CAR COULD HAVE BEEN A PIECE THAT WAS PART OF THE RECALL. I DISCOVERED THIS BROKEN LATCH WHILE OUT SHOPPING WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE STICKERS ON THE PART IDENTIFY THE PART AS FOLLOWS. 4171412002 12023 17:45 037 6761 BL84 78219A65 AB31T3 FD LH MIC (STONE) MODULE FOR FORD 32

NHTSA ODI #10992273

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2017
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE ACTUALTRUNK OF THE SUV DOES NOT OPEN ON A CONSISTANT BASIS,YOU HAVE TO USE THE LIFEGATE IF YOU WANT TO PUT OR TAKE OUT ANYTHING OUT THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ODI #10968450

33,000 miles · Mar 8, 2017
Structure

RUST PROBLEMS IN THE REAR QUARTER PANELS BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE DEAL I WENT TO TOLD ME UPFRONT FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH 2012 MODELS BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS RUST IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PANELS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST. I AM VERY DISAP…

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RUST PROBLEMS IN THE REAR QUARTER PANELS BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE DEAL I WENT TO TOLD ME UPFRONT FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH 2012 MODELS BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS RUST IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PANELS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED FORD WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. TAKE A LOOK ON THE ROAD NO VEHICLES HAVE RUST PROBLEMS THESE DAYS. EXCEPT FOR FORD. THEY EITHER USED THE WRONG PRIMER OR DID A POOR PAINT JOB. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS RUST PROBLEM AND FIX IT AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10959581

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2017
Structure

TRUNK KEEP LOCKING UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUAL SWITCH..NOW HINDERING CHANGING OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. NOW I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A MALFUNCTION TRUNK THAT WON'T OPEN FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AUTO SHOPS I HAVE BEEN TO CAN'T GET IT OPEN T…

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TRUNK KEEP LOCKING UNABLE TO OPEN EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUAL SWITCH..NOW HINDERING CHANGING OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. NOW I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A MALFUNCTION TRUNK THAT WON'T OPEN FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AUTO SHOPS I HAVE BEEN TO CAN'T GET IT OPEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10954101

Official recalls

1

16V777000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE13003 · 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.

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