2012 Ford Escape Problems

598 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Steering · verdict AVOID 33/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Steering137
Fuel/Propulsion System137
Engine72
Vehicle Speed Control69
Structure67
Power Train66

In the owners’ words

“Vehicle: 2012 Ford Escape Issue: Loss of steering assist while driving While operating my vehicle, the power steering assist suddenly fails, making the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. This creates a dangerous driving condition and significantly increases the risk of an accident. This issue appears to match known problems with the electric power steering system in this vehicle, which has been the subjec”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Ford Escape owner
“I was driving approximately 35mph and the steering got extremely difficult. I had to use all my strength to try to turn the wheel. I pulled into a gas station parking lot, turned the car off, restarted the car and steering was back to normal. Has happened 2 times since. I had a mechanic friend look at it and he couldn't find a reason why it would do that.”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Ford Escape owner
“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 mileage was 153,000.”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Ford Escape owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
26/10/2016Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump SAFETYFord 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 Decemb
03/06/2015Suspension:Front:Wheel BearingThe Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tr

Questions owners ask

Is the 2012 Ford Escape reliable?

On the federal record it scores 33/100: 598 owner complaints (42.71 per year on the road) and 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford Escape?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Steering, with 137 of 548 categorised reports.

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The 2012 Ford Escape scored 33/100 on the federal record.

Full 2012 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Escape yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking