MY VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN I DRIVE FROM THE WHEEL BARREL
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
598 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THE WRENCH ICON, CHECK ENGINE, AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. COURTESY FORD (6393 US-98 W, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402, (601) 264-5555) WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THE WRENCH ICON, CHECK ENGINE, AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. COURTESY FORD (6393 US-98 W, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402, (601) 264-5555) WAS AWARE THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED AN UNKNOWN RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR SPECIAL COVERAGE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13N03 (THROTTLE BODY EXTENDED COVERAGE). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED 8,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER, BOTH REPAIRS FAILED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER EXPECTED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE SPEED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE...*BF CONSUMER ASKED THE MANUFACTURER FOR TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CAMPAIGN #13N03 AND WAS TOLD CONSUMER WOULDN'T GET WHAT WAS NEEDED. THROTTLE REPLACED. *JB
PREHEATED THE CAR FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVNG FOR WORK IN -8 DEGREE WEATHER. TRIED TO PULL OUT ONTO HIGHWAY AND STEEERING WENT OUT. HAD TO REALLY MANHANDLE WHEEL TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO THE ROAD. THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS SNOWIN WHHEL WELL OR SOMETHING. I OULLED OVER TO LOOK, WHHEELS WERE CLEAR. TRIED DRVING FORWARD INT…
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PREHEATED THE CAR FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVNG FOR WORK IN -8 DEGREE WEATHER. TRIED TO PULL OUT ONTO HIGHWAY AND STEEERING WENT OUT. HAD TO REALLY MANHANDLE WHEEL TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO THE ROAD. THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS SNOWIN WHHEL WELL OR SOMETHING. I OULLED OVER TO LOOK, WHHEELS WERE CLEAR. TRIED DRVING FORWARD INTO A ROUND ABOUTAND ALMOST MISSED THE CURVE. VERY SCARY,STEERING BECAME EVEN WORSE SO BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT.CAR DOES NOT STEER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY WITH ENGINE RUNNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO LAKE VIEW FORD (LOCATED AT 12381 CONNEAUT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO LAKE VIEW FORD (LOCATED AT 12381 CONNEAUT LAKE RD, CONNEAUT LAKE, PA 16316, (814) 382-5485) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,718. *TT CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT STEER.*JB
SEAT BELT FAILS TO REMAIN LATCHED
TWO PROBLEMS HERE. FIRST ONE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY THAT I NOTICED A FEW YEARS AGO BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE I CALLED FORD REGARDING THIS. OCCASIONALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOTTEST DAYS, WHEN I HIT THE GAS TO GET INTO TRAFFIC, MY CAR DOESN'T SPEED UP. IT JUST SITS THERE, WHICH HAS PUT ME IN MANY DANGEROUS POS…
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TWO PROBLEMS HERE. FIRST ONE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY THAT I NOTICED A FEW YEARS AGO BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE I CALLED FORD REGARDING THIS. OCCASIONALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOTTEST DAYS, WHEN I HIT THE GAS TO GET INTO TRAFFIC, MY CAR DOESN'T SPEED UP. IT JUST SITS THERE, WHICH HAS PUT ME IN MANY DANGEROUS POSITIONS WHERE I END UP PULLING UP IN FRONT OF A FAST MOVING CAR, BUT SINCE MINE FAILS TO SPEED UP EVEN IF I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY, THOSE CARS END UP ALMOST HITTING ME FROM BEHIND. AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS IT FINALLY TAKES OFF, SPINNING THE TIRES AND AGAIN PUTTING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK OF BEING HIT. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN MY CAR IS ON A DOWNHILL STOP SIGN A FEW BLOCKS DOWN MY STREET WHERE I CAN ONLY GO LEFT OR RIGHT. I MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, BUT MY CAR JUST ROLLS INTO THE STREET WITH NO POWER IN THE GAS PEDAL FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. I NOTIFIED FORD AFTER GOING ONLINE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WETTING WITH MY CAR, AND FINDING OUT THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN 2012 MODELS, INCLUDING MY CAR BASED ON THE VIN #. THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER BUT SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOUR ANY OUT OF POCKET CHARGES. THE DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN ORDER TO NOT INCUR ANY FEES. BUT NEITHER FORD OR CARMAX EVER NOTIFIED ME WITH ANY ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION, WHICH MADE ME WEARY TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT I HAVE NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW, IT'S VERY RANDOM AND HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. I ATTRIBUTE IT TO DRIVING PAST A GAS STATION OR A SEMITRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY OR JUST NORMAL FOR CARS TO SMELL OF GASOLINE SOMETIMES. THE SMELL ONLY SEEMS TO LAST ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING CAUSING SCARY ACTION TO STEER THE CAR.AFTER STOPPING FOR 15 MINUTES OR LONGER THE CAR CAN C=BE CRANKED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING IS RESTORED.I HAVE WRITTEN THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EXPLAIN THIS TROUBLE AND THEY HAVE DENIED MY REQUEST TO HAVE IT FIXED UNDER THE SAME …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING CAUSING SCARY ACTION TO STEER THE CAR.AFTER STOPPING FOR 15 MINUTES OR LONGER THE CAR CAN C=BE CRANKED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING IS RESTORED.I HAVE WRITTEN THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EXPLAIN THIS TROUBLE AND THEY HAVE DENIED MY REQUEST TO HAVE IT FIXED UNDER THE SAME RECALL THE 2008-2011 ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE ENJOYED TO GET THIS TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE TO BE CORRECTED.MANY, MANY OTHER 2012 FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE INTERNET SITES ARE FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS.THIS IS VERY TROUBLING TO ME...
THE GLASS LIFT GATE LEAKS AROUND THE SEAL. BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. AFTER A RAIN, THE WATER PUDDLES IN THE BACK.
ON OCTOBER 26, 2018, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO MAKE MY TURN, MY WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND LOCKED INTO ONE POSITION. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE BEFORE I COULD SAFELY TURN IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO USE …
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ON OCTOBER 26, 2018, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO MAKE MY TURN, MY WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND LOCKED INTO ONE POSITION. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE BEFORE I COULD SAFELY TURN IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN IT AND STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I SAT IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE MAKING SOME PHONE CALLS TO FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT MY SITUATION. AT ONE POINT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS WORKING. VERY SCARY SITUATION. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION B2278 CODE 100.427. SINCE MY MECHANIC CLEARED THE CODE, 3 SEPARATE FORD DEALERS REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT AN ACTIVE CODE. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND HOLDING MY BREATH EACH TIME I MAKE A TURN AND KEEP LOOKING FOR THE STRAIGHTEST PATH WHEREVER I GO. BUT LUCKY FOR ME, ON DECEMBER 24, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND COULDN'T START CAR FROM A PARKED POSITION. HOPING THIS INCIDENT IS RELATED TO THE FIRST. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, NOTHING. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED. MY WHEEL WAS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AS I WAS PARKED ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE. HOPING THE TWO INCIDENTS ARE RELATED SO I CAN GET THIS NERVE WRACKING SITUATION REPAIRED. ALSO FILED FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH FORD CORPORATION.
WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR…
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WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR STORE GLENBROOK HYUNDAI IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS.
Official recalls
116V777000 · 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
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.
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