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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
49,750 miles · Jan 31, 2014
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE I FELT THE VEHICLE JERK. I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION AND CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS NEAR EMPTY. A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE POWER TRAIN AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REVEALED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF C…

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I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE I FELT THE VEHICLE JERK. I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION AND CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS NEAR EMPTY. A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE POWER TRAIN AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REVEALED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUTUBE AND VARIOUS CONSUMER SITES TO THE SHOOTY DESIGN OF THE 4 CYLINDER FORD ESCAPE MODELS. IN THE END, FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE ESCAPE MODELS. TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION FROM LEAKING THEY REPLACED THE SEALS AND INFORMED ME TO CHECK MY FLUIDS EVERY MONTH. I WAS INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BEFORE HAND, THAT JUST REPLACING THE SEALS WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH AND I CAN EXPECT THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THE CAR NOW HAS LESS THAN 52000 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. THE POWER TRAINS HAVE A FLAWED DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THOUSAND OF MOTORIST ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE REMEDIES DUE TO NO FAULT OF THERE OWN. IT IS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE A RECALL ON THE FORD ESCAPE POWER TRAIN SYSTEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562352

78,000 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT AVERAGELY ABOUT 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING ON THE FORD ESCAPE 2012 JUST FAILS. THIS MAKES IT INCREDIBLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUT OFF THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST AND IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY EVEN AFTER BE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT AVERAGELY ABOUT 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING ON THE FORD ESCAPE 2012 JUST FAILS. THIS MAKES IT INCREDIBLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUT OFF THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST AND IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY EVEN AFTER BEING TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AT WHICH THEY CLAIM EACH TIME THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I REALLY HOPE FORD TAKES TIME TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND THERE IS A HUGE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON DIFFERENT FORD MODELS ACROSS MULTIPLE YEAR MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560247

63,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW BECAME SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW BECAME SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10559175

460,900 miles · Dec 30, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAME TO A STOP SIGN, STOPPED AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS GAS AND TURN INTO LANE. THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND ALMOST STALLED. IT DID NOT STOP RUNNING HOWEVER IT WOULD ONLY MOVE APPROX 1 MPH. JUST ENOUGH TO PULL OF ROAD AND PARK. WHEN I RESTARTED, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING. WHEN IN LOW GEAR, THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWA…

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I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAME TO A STOP SIGN, STOPPED AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS GAS AND TURN INTO LANE. THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND ALMOST STALLED. IT DID NOT STOP RUNNING HOWEVER IT WOULD ONLY MOVE APPROX 1 MPH. JUST ENOUGH TO PULL OF ROAD AND PARK. WHEN I RESTARTED, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING. WHEN IN LOW GEAR, THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AND STOP, JUMP FORWARD AND STOP. IN DRIVE, IT WOULD ONLY GO 1 MPH.I TOOK CAR TO FORD AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR AND THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE DRIVE TRAIN/POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME $520. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557672

30,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMMON AS WELL AS SURGES WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED (BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH) THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT LIFTED MY FOOT UP FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING O…

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INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMMON AS WELL AS SURGES WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED (BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH) THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT LIFTED MY FOOT UP FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2012, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER OR THE SEASON. I HAVE GONE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY CLAIM NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STALLS AND SURGES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THANK YOU YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557494

36,749 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I FELT A JOLT OR THRUST FORWARD. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD I NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. I TRIED TO GIVE THE CAR GAS AND IT WENT NO WHERE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND LOOK UP THE LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT SAID IT WAS A POWER TRAIN/THROTTLE BODY …

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AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I FELT A JOLT OR THRUST FORWARD. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD I NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. I TRIED TO GIVE THE CAR GAS AND IT WENT NO WHERE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND LOOK UP THE LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT SAID IT WAS A POWER TRAIN/THROTTLE BODY FAULT. AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES FOR A TOW TRUCK I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND IT STARTED NORMALLY. THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY THE REST OF THE DAY. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED THE NEXT MORNING. THEY EVENTUALLY TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED/SHORTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS 700 MILES OVER. AFTER FILING A CASE WITH FORD AND DOING RESEARCH, I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557429

38,000 miles · Nov 18, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND WAS A POP AND I HAD NO GAS AT ALL. I HAD TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY. THE REPAIR BILL WAS OVER $400.00 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT IS NOT COVERED IN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552667

54,000 miles · Oct 31, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHEN PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE LOAFING FORWARD THEN STALLING OR ENTERING SAFETY MODE LOW IDLE MANEUVERABILITY WITH WRENCH LIGHT ON. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, PLACE IN PARK THEN RESTART ONLY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LURCH THEN SHUT OFF OR…

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WHEN PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE LOAFING FORWARD THEN STALLING OR ENTERING SAFETY MODE LOW IDLE MANEUVERABILITY WITH WRENCH LIGHT ON. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, PLACE IN PARK THEN RESTART ONLY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LURCH THEN SHUT OFF OR RETURN TO SAFETY IDLE AGAIN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE STREET SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN TROUBLE CODE P2111 "CURRENT" FAULT THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - STUCK OPEN AND CODE P2112 " PENDING THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - STUCK CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550442

36,600 miles · Oct 18, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,600.

NHTSA ODI #10548424

42,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547911

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