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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
39,000 miles · Sep 11, 2014
Power Train

AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN OIL CAN LIGHT AND THEN THE CAR STALLED/SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO RE-START IT AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TURNED MY HAZARDS ON SO FOLKS WOULD KNOW TO PASS ME. I STARTED DIALING AAA AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT D…

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AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN OIL CAN LIGHT AND THEN THE CAR STALLED/SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO RE-START IT AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TURNED MY HAZARDS ON SO FOLKS WOULD KNOW TO PASS ME. I STARTED DIALING AAA AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. IT DID START AND NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID PROBABLY JUST A COMPUTER GLITCH AND TO JUST DRIVE IT AROUND MY WORK PARKING LOT A FEW TIMES, THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THIS. THEN I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND IT COULD BE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THIS WEEKEND. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THE INITIAL STALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632348

15,320 miles · Aug 19, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureSuspensionCrashInjury

PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT ~5:45PM A CLEAR DAY: OUR MOM/MOTHER IN-LAW HAD JUST DROPPED OF MY DAUGHTER AFTER SHOPPING AND WAS MAKING HER WAY HOME THRU THE WINDY BACK ROADS LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM OUR HOME. AS SHE CLIMBED A HILL A FEW BLOCKS AROUND THE CORNER FROM HER HOME AND STOPPE…

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PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT ~5:45PM A CLEAR DAY: OUR MOM/MOTHER IN-LAW HAD JUST DROPPED OF MY DAUGHTER AFTER SHOPPING AND WAS MAKING HER WAY HOME THRU THE WINDY BACK ROADS LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM OUR HOME. AS SHE CLIMBED A HILL A FEW BLOCKS AROUND THE CORNER FROM HER HOME AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON THE CREST OF THE HILL. THE 2012 FORD ESCAPED LURCHED/SURGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. AS FROM HER DESCRIPTION, SHE HEARD LOUD RUMBLINGS COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THE ESCAPE SHOOK AND LAUNCHED HER FORWARD WHILE SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ESCAPE PROPELLED HER UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD CRASHING INTO A LARGE BOULDER, SHE THEN RICOCHETED ACROSS TWO LANES UP HILL, OVER AN EMBANKMENT /WALL, JUST MISSING A TREE, COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE PUSHING IT APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, PASSED THAT INTO ANOTHER SMALL WALL JUST MISSING THE HOUSE. WE ARE THANKFUL ON MANY LEVELS; THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT WITH HER, THAT OUR MOM WAS NOT SEVERELY INJURED AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THIS VEHICLE AT ONE TIME. A RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY INVOLVED. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED KNOWING THAT MANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DRIVE ESCAPE MODELS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE MANY PICTURES FROM THE SCENE FOR YOU TO REVIEW. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626454

56,603 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Power Train

MADE LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, AS ACCELERATING, LOST POWER., PUT IT IN NEUTRAL STARTED IT AGAIN, PUT IN GEAR, ACCELERATED, APPROX 30 FT, DID IT AGAIN, I PULLED OVER, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSIST, IT WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, NEXT DAY, THEY "SAID" IT WOULD COST ME 104.50(ISH) TO HAVE IT ANALYZED, I SAID OK, LATE…

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MADE LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, AS ACCELERATING, LOST POWER., PUT IT IN NEUTRAL STARTED IT AGAIN, PUT IN GEAR, ACCELERATED, APPROX 30 FT, DID IT AGAIN, I PULLED OVER, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSIST, IT WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, NEXT DAY, THEY "SAID" IT WOULD COST ME 104.50(ISH) TO HAVE IT ANALYZED, I SAID OK, LATER THEY FINALLY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE AIR INTAKE MODULE WAS CLOGGED, THIS ALL COST ME 184.18. THEY ALSO SAID THAT I HAVE AN OIL LEAK, AND HE WAS GOING TO "TRY" TO GET IT FIXED ON MY DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME IF HE COULD, NOW THE CONTROL ARM IS A DIFFERENT STORY, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ALSO, HE WOULD LET ME KNOW. IF NOT IT WILL COST 452.00 PLUS TAX I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, THE VEHICLE IS JUST NOW 2 YRS OLD AND I CAN UNDERSTAND IF I LIVED ON BUMPY GRAVEL ROAD OR TRAVELED ON ALOT OF BUMPY GRAVEL ROADS, BUT I DO NOT, IN FACT 90% OF THE MILES ON MY VEHICLE ARE HIGHWAY MILES, AND I AVOID BUMPY GRAVEL ROADS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL EVENTUALLY TEAR UP A VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626204

29,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

FORD ESCAPE LOST SPEED AND WAS MANUEVERABLE AT IDLE SPEED ONLY. REPAIR WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PULLED INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT AFTER ALMOST GETTING RUN IN TO BY ANOTHER CAR WHO DID NOT SLOW DOWN IN RESPONSE TO HAZARD LIGHTS. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. IN DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP FOR CH…

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FORD ESCAPE LOST SPEED AND WAS MANUEVERABLE AT IDLE SPEED ONLY. REPAIR WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PULLED INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT AFTER ALMOST GETTING RUN IN TO BY ANOTHER CAR WHO DID NOT SLOW DOWN IN RESPONSE TO HAZARD LIGHTS. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. IN DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK, THE CAR STALLED OUT/ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE 2 MORE TIMES. COMPUTER UPDATE DONE. CAR STILL HAVING ENGINE SURGES MULTIPLE TIMES ON WAY HOME. BROUGHT TO SECOND DEALERSHIP WHICH SAID FIRST DEALER MADE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENTS INCORRECTLY. AWAITING PICKUP OF CAR FOR 2ND TIME TO SEE IF CORRECTED. DEALERS REFUSING TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619354

74,000 miles · Aug 3, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF KENTUCKY, LATE MORNING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, I SAW THAT CARS WERE BRAKING SO I TAPPED ON THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE. MY CAR'S IGNITION SHUT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618493

16,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP ENGINE CUTS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618210

16,276 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL DECK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL DECK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,276. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10617569

22,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Steering

TOOK MY 2012 ESCAPE TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZED RECALL REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE SENSOR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. BACKED IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NO COD…

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TOOK MY 2012 ESCAPE TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZED RECALL REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE SENSOR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. BACKED IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NO CODES WERE THROWN. THIS IS AN ESCAPE BUILT FEBRUARY 2012 IN KANSAS CITY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617263

32,992 miles · Jul 19, 2014
Power Train

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65MPH) THE FIRST TWO TIMES VEHICLE LOST POWER, THROTTLE/POWER TRAIN LIGHT ON, WENT TO IDLE. FORCED TO SHOULDER, SHUTOFF VEHICLE, RESTART, RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THIRD OCCASION SAME DAY SAME PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION (25MPH) IN ADDITION TO THROTTLE LIGHT GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FOURTH …

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TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65MPH) THE FIRST TWO TIMES VEHICLE LOST POWER, THROTTLE/POWER TRAIN LIGHT ON, WENT TO IDLE. FORCED TO SHOULDER, SHUTOFF VEHICLE, RESTART, RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THIRD OCCASION SAME DAY SAME PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION (25MPH) IN ADDITION TO THROTTLE LIGHT GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FOURTH OCCASION SAME RESULTS(35MPH). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614698

4,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Power Train

THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. TWICE ON SURFACE STREETS. TWICE WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY ON-RAMP. ONCE WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 8, 2012. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 16, 2014. THE DEALERSHIP (GALPIN FORD) HAS BEEN CONTAC…

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THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. TWICE ON SURFACE STREETS. TWICE WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY ON-RAMP. ONCE WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 8, 2012. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 16, 2014. THE DEALERSHIP (GALPIN FORD) HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. FORD FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED (APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2014) THAT THE ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY "THROTTLE BODY" AND GALPIN FORD SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED THE PART. APPROXIMATELY JUNE 9, 2014, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO GALPIN FORD TO "RECALIBRATE" THE "THROTTLE BODY". THIS VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611406

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