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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

What owners actually said

598 reports
41,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemFire

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL OF MY FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND WENT THRU THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. I HAD BEEN PAYING A YEAR FOR THIS AUTO AND NOW HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER. I CALLED FORD AFTER THE FIRE TO COMPLAIN AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED OF THE RECALL. I LOST MY CAR AND MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS…

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I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL OF MY FORD ESCAPE. THE VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND WENT THRU THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. I HAD BEEN PAYING A YEAR FOR THIS AUTO AND NOW HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER. I CALLED FORD AFTER THE FIRE TO COMPLAIN AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED OF THE RECALL. I LOST MY CAR AND MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS. I WANT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10933837

70,000 miles · Dec 4, 2016
Power Train

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, AS I ACCELERATED TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND MADE A THUMPING NOISE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED AND THEN ACCELERATED. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR STOPPED AND HE WAS BEEPING AT MY CAR. IT WAS LUCKY THAT HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND QU…

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I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, AS I ACCELERATED TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND MADE A THUMPING NOISE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED AND THEN ACCELERATED. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR STOPPED AND HE WAS BEEPING AT MY CAR. IT WAS LUCKY THAT HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND QUICKLY STOPPED AS THIS WAS VERY UNEXPECTED AS I WAS ACCELERATING AND NOT BRAKING TO CLUE HIM INTO STOPPING. ON THE WAY HOME I WAS TURNING LEFT AGAIN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND THEN WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION AGAIN AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE ENGINE WAS ON AND IT WAS MAKING A THUMPING NOISE AGAIN. THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. IT WAS FRIGHTENING AS THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE AT FULL SPEED, AT LEASE 30MPH AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CARS DRIVING AT FULL SPEED HAD TO QUICK GO INTO THE NEXT LANE TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I QUICK PUT THE BRAKE ON SO THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE SEEN AND THEN THE FLASHERS. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP AND THEN ACCELERATED. I AM GOING RIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AS THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I JUST GOOGLED THE THROTTLE AS THAT IS WHAT THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT STOOD FOR IN THE MANUAL AND I AM SEEING THIS HAD BEEN A FORD ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS PROBLEM. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. I GET MY OIL CHANGES AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND THIS WAS NEVER TOLD TO ME. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929840

50,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility

TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHTTIME, ALONE. I WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE IN SIGHT, AND THEY WERE NO OVERPASSES ANYWHERE NEAR ME. AS I WAS DRIVING, OUT OF ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE MY REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. GLASS WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE, EVEN TO THE POINT OF HITTING THE FRONT SEAT. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT…

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TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHTTIME, ALONE. I WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE IN SIGHT, AND THEY WERE NO OVERPASSES ANYWHERE NEAR ME. AS I WAS DRIVING, OUT OF ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE MY REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. GLASS WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE, EVEN TO THE POINT OF HITTING THE FRONT SEAT. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT SOMEONE MAY HAVE THROWN A BRICK THROUGH MY WINDOW. LUCKILY I HAD MY WITS ABOUT ME ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND SEE WHAT IT HAPPENED. I EXAMINED MY VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO ROCKS AND STILL NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE IN SIGHT. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS WINDOW TO HAVE EXPLODED; IT HAPPENED COMPLETELY ON ITS OWN. IF I HAD A DOG OR CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WAS DRIVING AT 120KM/HR, THE SHEER NOISE AND SHOCK OF THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED ME TO BE IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I REACTED THE WAY THAT I DID, BUT MANY PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE. GLASS SHARDS WERE ALL OVER MY CAR. THEY FLEW TO THE FRONT SEAT. THEY CAME OUT AT SUCH A SPEED THEY EASILY COULD HAVE BLINDED OR CUT SOMEONE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD SUVS! THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEWS REPORTS AND YET FORD HAS DONE NOTHING AS OF YET! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928919

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION AND STRONG FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FUEL TRAVELING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PERFORM FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT YET DIA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION AND STRONG FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FUEL TRAVELING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PERFORM FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT YET DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10928841

93,000 miles · Nov 21, 2016
Visibility/wiper

THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS FORD ESCAPE LEAKS CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ON THE REAR WINDOW, MOISTURE COLLECTION IN CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, AND WATER RESIDUE IN/ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN REAR DOOR. BEGAN AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT 39,000 MILES. ALL MILES WITHIN FIRST YEAR TO 18 MONTHS O…

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THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS FORD ESCAPE LEAKS CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ON THE REAR WINDOW, MOISTURE COLLECTION IN CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, AND WATER RESIDUE IN/ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN REAR DOOR. BEGAN AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT 39,000 MILES. ALL MILES WITHIN FIRST YEAR TO 18 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE WATER LEAVES STREAKS AND STAINING ON THE INTERIOR GLASS DURING HEAVY RAINS AND MELTING SNOW.

NHTSA ODI #10927231

63,000 miles · Nov 21, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

AUTO DOOR LOCK / UNLOCK FEATURE WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO ESCAPE FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER IS INCAPACITATED.

NHTSA ODI #10927154

30,000 miles · Nov 16, 2016
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 11/28/16.*JB UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ UPDATED 02/13/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10926397

75,000 miles · Oct 27, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CO…

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I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE ABOUT IT AND THEY MADE A CASE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ME AND SAID THEY MUST WORK WITH CORPORATE TO HELP ME. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. I HAVE CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I'M BACK AT SQUARE 1.

NHTSA ODI #10919352

74,500 miles · Oct 22, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SEPT 12, 16 WHILE I WAS HEADED TO WORK. WHILE ACCERLERATING FROM BEING IN PARK, THE THROTTLE BODY/ POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD AND A LOT OF SQUEAKING COMES FROM TH…

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I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SEPT 12, 16 WHILE I WAS HEADED TO WORK. WHILE ACCERLERATING FROM BEING IN PARK, THE THROTTLE BODY/ POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD AND A LOT OF SQUEAKING COMES FROM THE CAR. SO, I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE EGNITION. ONCE I TURN IT BACK ON IT GOES BACK TO DRIVING NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES WITHIN 45 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10918097

75,000 miles · Oct 14, 2016
Unknown Or Other

REAR WINDOW EXPLODED ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED IN A MOUNTAIN FISHING LOT

NHTSA ODI #10916169

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.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems