2012 Ford Escape Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 54,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was a strong fuel-like odor entering the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 153,000 miles

Clearly the vehicle is leaking and is a fire hazard. I received a notice that it has been recalled but it’s not showing up under my vin.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 100,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

[XXX]. We were pulling away from the gas pump with our children and the steering wheel suddenly stiffened on my husband and we almost hit another car! There was absolutely no warning and it was a scary experience. This should be fixed and it known issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The power steering failed unexpectedly. I am not sure what the problem is but there is fluid all over the wheel well. I see that the was a recal on the power steering. How can I find out why my car was not included?Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Check engine light having a single code P2111 occurring after reduction of power. Vehicle looses power at varying speeds including highway speeds. I have not had it professionally diagnosed. In the process of replacing the I A C. My research indicates that the NHTSA is in the process of investigating complaints of this component…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle drove as designed. The contact stated that the “Stop Safely Now” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 200,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 57,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (56).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Sun roof is leaking into the passenger compartment. Car was typically parked under cover and not driven in inclement wether. Drain hose was found not to be clogged however water is leaking into the passenger compartment. Staining the headliner seats and collecting on the floors. The date is the most recent occurrence. The water falls…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle pulled to the right while stopping. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the passenger's side engine cradle subframe was severely corroded and needed to be…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 75,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 43,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I recently purchased a 2012 ford escape, and the engine runs loud, and after researching, I feel that the throttle body is not in working condition. I looked up recalls on this vehicle and there is an incomplete throttle body repair/replace open recall, but when I looked it up via NHTSA it said no recalls. I would like this issue…Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2012 ford escape. While the contacts husband was reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle [VIN] independently with force and the brake pedal was depressed in the attempt to stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights. The vehicle did a one eighty degree turn and crashed into a parked vehicle in their driveway…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 69,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 41,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into drive however, the gear shifter failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts, the gear shifter responded as needed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 65,500 miles

After starting the vehicle for the first time that day, the vehicle was driven 4 miles. When attempting to shift the center console shifter into the PARK position, the shifter was unable to fully move into the PARK position as it was blocked from transiting through the REVERSE position. The vehicle could only fully reach the NEUTRAL…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 59,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling in the restaurant drive thru line, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the battery cable had failed and needed to be replaced. The battery cables were replaced, and the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 110,000 miles

This morning I was running some errands and was approaching a red light and as I started braking my escape stalled. I coasted over to the side of the road, put my car in park and thankfully I was able to start it back up. I continued to drive in the direction I was heading and after about 4 minutes my car stalled again. All together my…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 135,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 43,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 ford escape. The contact stated that while turning a corner during rain weather conditions, the vehicle slid off the road causing the contact to crash into a telephone pole, slid into a ditch, and a cornfield. The windows on the front driver, both rear passenger, and rear windshield all shattered. None of the air…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 31,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 ford escape. While the contact's vehicle was idling at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, left and right wrists, back, right knees, right ankle and the right foot. Medical attention was required. A…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 92,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space the vehicle suddenly accelerated hitting a parking sign causing it to fall and hit another vehicle. Then the vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. The vehicle's passenger side of the bumper and headlight had been damaged. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 135,000 miles

2012 Ford Escape-while driving the red triangle brake indicator warning light comes on as well as the check brake system indicator light, it beeps and the car feels like it doesn't want to stop at times. This has intermittently been happening and the warning lights seem to reset once the car is turned off and restarted. I took the car in…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 ford escape. While the vehicle was parked, the rear window exploded outwards for the second time. Each time, there were no signs of any vandalism. The [VIN] stated that there were no recalls; therefore, they could not assist. The glass company (safelite) stated that the failure occurred with the same year, make…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 101,943 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 93,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 53,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when he arrived to work and was attempting to exit the vehicle, the driver’s side seat belt failed to unlatch after several attempts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he leaned the seat backward and crawled out of the seat. The vehicle was not…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 75,000 miles

The contact owned a 2012 ford escape. The contact stated that her husband was driving at 20-35 MPH, when he choked on food and passed out, which then caused the vehicle to hit a telephone pole. The contact stated that she was seated in the front passenger side seat and the seat belt did not tightened to stop her from going forward…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 90,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Took my mothers car to the Ford dealership for inspection. Upon inspection the mechanic told us that the subframe is rotted out and that it is not safe to drive which is why there was issues with steering and tire leaning due to control arm coming off subframe. This vehicle has been taken care of through out the years. My 70 year old…Owner complaint, filed 2025

I have had a multitude of issues regarding the steering and suspension of my 2012 ford escape limited. I have replaced the same parts multiple times over a short period of time. And the parts normally would not be replaced but once in a car lifetime such as control arms 4x 3x on passenger 1x on driver. But anyway this led to me finding…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

July 2020, we purchased 4 Cooper Tires, size is 225/65 R17 102T. These tires are 80,000-mile tires. Vehicle was taken into Discount Tire due to heavy vibration when driving on June 13, 2022. The tires had 13,663 miles on them. A tire was found to be separated. Discount Tire changed it out with a new tire. On Aug 10, 2022, the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact purchased MOOG aftermarket lug nuts, Serial Number: 19112401H, Part Number: LK015 and LK016. The contact was unable to tighten the lug nuts. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 123,000 miles