KnownCarProblems2012 Ford Escape Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 604 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape, most often about the fuel system (27% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles). It is 15th of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2012 Ford Escape problems
Fuel system
160 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
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…
My 2012 Ford Escape was recalled october of '16. To date, I have received nothing from Ford in reference to NHTSA recall #16v777 and according to the recall, it has no remedy yet. What happens when a safety recall has a birthday without a remedy? We're supposed to allow time for things to be resolved, but really???…
Steering
140 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system.
My power steering went out while I was driving to work. I was pulling into a parking garage. Luckily I was not on the freeway. I started the car about 3 hours later and it was fine. I took it to the dealership and they said it was the torque sensor. I mentioned the recall on the 2011s and the guy blew it…
Turned on to on-ramp to highway, powering steering failed. Hard to turn wheel to get off the road and pulled to complete stop and turned off engine. Waited five minutes and turn vehicle back on and power steering was working once again. Drove hwy 14 miles and took off-ramp and power steering failed again. This is a…
Engine
79 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
While cruising at speeds ranging from 25 to 55 MPH, car will suddenly lose power, with rpms decreasing to 1200-1500. Depressing accelerator has no effect for 3-5 seconds, when the car will act normally. A similar problem is noted at random times when accelerating under light throttle from a stop or when applying full…
While driving my vehicle on the highway suddenly the vehicle slowed down to a stop and stalled, I was in the right lane of the highway because I was about to exit, I looked at the dashboard and the RPM was at 0 and the battery light and the oil light was illuminated. However the car had no power I somehow was able to…
Speed control
70 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
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…
I purchased the vehicle back in december of 2012 from robinson Ford in calexico, california. A few months (I can't recall the exact date) after driving the Escape when coming to a stop and as I was braking, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. Again in 2013, the vehicle accelerated as I was braking for a stop. This time…
Body and structure
68 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Vehicle was traveling at highway speed (70mph) when primary and secondary hood latches failed and hood was blown open into the windshield. This was after 5+ hours of highway travel without any recent operation of the interior hood latch release. Emergency stop was made to secure hood. Hood is damaged and unable to…
The rear lift gate window exploded. We weren't there when it happened. 60 degrees and sunny outside. We were attending a party for 2 hrs and came out to shattered glass every where. Car was stationary, parked in a lot.
Transmission
66 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I pulled out of a post office parking lot onto a two lane road and began to accelerate. My vehicle started slowing on its own even though I was pushing the accelerator. It was creeping along, barely moving, and was unresponsive to me pushing the accelerator. The vehicle sputtered a lot but never completely stalled.…
While cruising at speeds ranging from 25 to 55 MPH, car will suddenly lose power, with rpms decreasing to 1200-1500. Depressing accelerator has no effect for 3-5 seconds, when the car will act normally. A similar problem is noted at random times when accelerating under light throttle from a stop or when applying full…
Other or unspecified
44 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
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…
At approx. 46,000 mi. My Escape began cutting off while driving. No warning and no rhyme or reason. After coasting to safety (so far) I can restart and continue. No trouble light come on except the wrench while it is happening. At first it only happened every few weeks or so. Ford dealer said they don't know what…
Electrical
42 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The doors lock and won't unlock. This happens at the front passenger door and both of the back seat passenger doors. Sometimes they begin unlocking a week or so later other times they don't unlock ever. This has happened when the vehicle was stopped, some doors then unlock, but not all.
Going down the road, and all the sudden my gauges dropped, except for fuel. My initial reaction was to hit the gas pedal to see if I'd lost engine power. I still had engine power, thankfully. Since then, w/o any warnings the gauges will drop, and all the sensor lights will come on while going down the road. I went to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Ford Escape recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electronic throttle body malfunction
Summary
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 ma
Electronic throttle body malfunction
Summary
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
Questions about the 2012 Ford Escape
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Escape?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (160 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles); steering (140 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); engine (79 complaints, typically around 39,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Escape have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 26, 2016 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Ford Escape?
- It is 15th of 27 Escape model years by number of complaints, with 604 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.