2012 Ford Escape problems and complaints
Owners have filed 604 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape. The most-reported areas: Steering (140), Fuel/Propulsion System (137), Engine (73).
Key takeaways
- 604 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 38 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 27 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 140 | 23% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 137 | 23% |
| Engine | 73 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 70 | 12% |
| Structure | 68 | 11% |
| Power Train | 66 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 44 | 7% |
| Electrical System | 42 | 7% |
| Fuel System | 26 | 4% |
| Gasoline | 26 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 25 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Ford Escape
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Ford Escape SUV 4x4 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| 2012 Ford Escape SUV 4x2 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-10-18
[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 (...
Air Bags,vehicle Speed Control - filed 2026-10-02
The contact owned a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving in a parking lot at approximately 18-20 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, and the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle struck a fence and an apartment building. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a cut above th...
Steering - filed 2026-09-29
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?
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More for the 2012 Ford Escape
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.