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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.

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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
26,075 miles · Oct 10, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED ONTO A STREET AS I ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. I HAD MY FOOT AS LOW AS THE PEDAL WOULD GO AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I SWITCHED IT TO PARK TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED UP AND WAS FINE AT ACCELERATING. SO THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH LATER …

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THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED ONTO A STREET AS I ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. I HAD MY FOOT AS LOW AS THE PEDAL WOULD GO AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I SWITCHED IT TO PARK TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED UP AND WAS FINE AT ACCELERATING. SO THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN MY ESCAPE SLOWED DOWN AND COMPLETELY STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET. I PUSHED SO FAR ON THE ACCELERATOR THAT THE PEDAL WAS AS LOW AS IT COULD GO BUT STILL NO MOVEMENT. I QUICKLY SWITCHED IT INTO PARK TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON BUT IT JUST MADE THE NOISE LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START. SO I TRIED AGAIN AND IT FINALLY TURNED ON, SWITCHED TO DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STREET AS A SEMI WAS FLYING UP BEHIND ME. VERY SCARY MOMENT IN MY LIFE. I GOOGLED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON REGARDING THE THROTTLE ON 2012 ESCAPES. I THINK MY VEHICLE MAY BE A PART OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547551

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2013
Power Train

CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES A DAY DURING ACCELERATION , WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND P211 WAS THE CODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547053

41,000 miles · Oct 2, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T STOP TO COMPLETION. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND STARTING IT BACK UP AGAIN, THE CAR FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY AND ASKED ME TO PAY OVER $600 FOR THE REPAIR, AS THE VE…

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THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T STOP TO COMPLETION. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND STARTING IT BACK UP AGAIN, THE CAR FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY AND ASKED ME TO PAY OVER $600 FOR THE REPAIR, AS THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GLITCH BUT THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546479

59,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10544469

51,000 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THE LITTLE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN IDLE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND PUTTING IT IN PARK, I TRIED TO REV IT UP BUT IT WOULDN'T REV. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS THEN CRANKED IT UP. IT STARTED UP AND WHEN IN…

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I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THE LITTLE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN IDLE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND PUTTING IT IN PARK, I TRIED TO REV IT UP BUT IT WOULDN'T REV. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS THEN CRANKED IT UP. IT STARTED UP AND WHEN INTO GEAR. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET. IT HAPPENED TWO DAYS LATER. I DID THE SAME THING. THAT SAME NIGHT, IT HAPPENED TO ME TWO MORE TIMES ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE LAST TIME, NOT ONLY DID MY CAR DO IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO KICK IN GEAR SO IT WAS JERKING FORWARD. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT JUST IDLED BUT WOULD NOT REV UP. SO I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND PUT IT INTO GEAR AND IT WENT. I'VE TAKING IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT AND A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME ITS THE SAME THING, THE ACCELERATOR OR THROTTLE IS STICKING. AND THAT ITS A THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH CAR REPAIRS. I'VE HAD MY ESCAPE FOR ONLY A YEAR AND I ALREADY HAVE TO DO REPAIRS ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543292

41,000 miles · Sep 6, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I HAD TO TRY TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN BACK ON. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AS THEY…

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I HAD TO TRY TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN BACK ON. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AS THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FIXED IT EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10542293

56,000 miles · Sep 6, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

THIS OCCURS SPORATICALLY - THE GAS WILL STOP RESPONDING AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY DECELERATE WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE WRENCH SIGN APPEARS AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR SPUTTE…

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THIS OCCURS SPORATICALLY - THE GAS WILL STOP RESPONDING AND THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY DECELERATE WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE WRENCH SIGN APPEARS AND THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR SPUTTERS A BIT, AND IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10542292

5,999 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH AND TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR QUARTER OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH AND TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR QUARTER OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN ON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK, SHOULDER AND FACIAL INJURIES. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE INTERNAL HEAD INJURIES AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,999.

NHTSA ODI #10542099

47,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE, MY FORD ESCAPE JUMPED FORWARD AND THEN SLOWLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10541834

39,000 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI #10538610

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