AUTO DOOR LOCK / UNLOCK FEATURE WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO ESCAPE FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER IS INCAPACITATED.
2012 Ford Escape complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
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 OWNERSHIP. THE WATER LEAVES STREAKS AND STAINING ON THE INTERIOR GLASS DURING HEAVY RAINS AND MELTING SNOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V777000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 11/28/16.*JB UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ UPDATED 02/13/17.*JB
I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE ABOUT IT AND THEY MADE A CASE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ME AND SAID THEY MUST WORK WITH CORPORATE TO HELP ME. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. I HAVE CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I'M BACK AT SQUARE 1.
I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SEPT 12, 16 WHILE I WAS HEADED TO WORK. WHILE ACCERLERATING FROM BEING IN PARK, THE THROTTLE BODY/ POWER TRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD AND A LOT OF SQUEAKING COMES FROM THE CAR. SO, I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE EGNITION. ONCE I TURN IT BACK ON IT GOES BACK TO DRIVING NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES WITHIN 45 DAYS.
REAR WINDOW EXPLODED ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED IN A MOUNTAIN FISHING LOT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A LOOSE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS AND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE RANDOMLY WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS APPARENTLY A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH WITH IT FAILING TO ENGAGE AND START THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKED ONCE IT WAS AT THE RESIDENCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE STEERING THAT PLAGUED THE PRIOR YEAR MODELS, DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATE $1-$2K IN REPAIRS, THIS IS A EXTREME CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THE 2008-2011 MODELS. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO REPLY BACK.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO CHOKE DOWN. I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 25 MPH BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP. I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I CRUISED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I NOTICED A WRENCH LIGHT COME ON AND I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I HAD SOMEONE THERE TO FOLLOW ME HOME, I CRANKED MY CAR BACK UP AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY THE REST OF THE WAY(3 MILES MAX) TO MY HOUSE. THE CAR DID TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO CRANK BUT SEEMED TO DO FINE ON THE TRIP HOME. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT SOMETIME TODAY.
AC UNIT QUIT WORKING AT 42000 MILES. THE REAR WINDOW LEAKS, BAD LATCHES.
BODY PAINT PEELING AND RUST IN MULTIPLE AREAS INCLUDING WHEEL WELLS AND REAR CARGO DOOR SINCE 38K MILES. NOW AT 43K MILES MORE RUST IS VISIBLE. AT THIS POINT THE WARRANTY IS USELESS UNLESS RUST IS THROUGH BODY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH ENGINE TENSIONER PULLEYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
REAR LIFT GLASS HINGES CORRODE AND SNAP. MY HINGES BROKE WHILE STATIONARY THE VEHICLE WAS AT REST AND THE LIFT GATE WAS NOT IN USE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A REPAIR SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE LIFTGATE AND BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE SIDES WERE BENT OUTWARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CHEST INJURIES, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DESTROYED THE WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SENSOR AND THE FUEL CAP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY WIFE AND ONE MONTH OLD CHILD WERE IN AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. SHE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE XLT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER JUST FINISHED DETERMINING THE DAMAGE ONLY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS OVER $10,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE TOOK IT APART TO DETERMINE HOW EXPENSIVE THE FRAME REPAIR WOULD BECOME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE "INVESTIGATING" WHICH I'M SURE WILL LEAD TO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. HOW CAN A CAR RECEIVE A CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON THE FRONT END LIKE THAT AND THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY?
WHEN I TURN IT MAKES A POP, THE TAIL GATE (TRUNK) WILL NOT OPEN AND BACK LIGHT SHORTAGE OUT AT TIMES. CAR BALLS OUT SOMETIME WHEN I'M TRYING TO GO AND WILL IDLE UP ON ITS OWN AT TIMES.
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.
DRIVER OF VEHICLE HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING. HE HIT THE BACK OF A STOPPED VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 45-50 MPH, WHICH THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER KEPT DRIVING BECAUSE HE WAS STILL NOT ALERT. THE AIRBAGS ON HIS 2012 FORD ESCAPE NEVER DEPLOYED. ON IMPACT, EVEN WITH HIS SAFETY BELT ON, HIS CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BROKEN STERNUM AND SEVERAL FRACTURED RIBS.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATING A LOT. CHECKED LUG NUTS AND FOUND ALL TIGHT. GOT UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND THE RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT HAD COME APART. HAVE NEVER HAD ONE FAIL SUDDENLY LIKE THIS. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE FOUND ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS HAD BACKED ALL THE WAY OUT, A SECOND ONE HAD BACKED OUT A LITTLE AND BROKE, THE THIRD REMAINED TIGHT BUT HAD SHEARED OFF. THIS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO DROP DROP AND DESTROYED THE DRIVE SHAFT. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2012. BOLTS HAVE NEVER BEEN LOOSENED DURING THIS TIME. DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY WOULD COME LOOSE. MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 85000.
I PURCHASED MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE IN 2012. ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER AS I EXITED OFF A RAMP OF OUR LOCAL BY-PASS, THE CAR UNEXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS QUITE FRIGHTENED; AND, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT THE CAR STOPPED. I CALLED OUR FORD DEALER; HAD THE CAR TOWED; THE SERVICE MECHANICS PUT IT ON A COMPUTER WHICH "DID NOT" PICK UP ANY RECENT MALFUNCTION. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MOST RECENT CALAMITY OCCURRED ON MAY 29, 2016 IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR CHURCH. I WAS DRIVING; MY HUSBAND WAS THE PASSENGER. AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, I REALIZED I NEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. UPON MY OBSERVATION OF ANOTHER CAR COMING IN TO PARK BEHIND ME, I WAITED UNTIL THE CAR WAS PARKED, PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, AND "ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE". THE CAR FULLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, DAMAGE TO THE R REAR OF MY ESCAPE, AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE R SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAD DEVASTATING RESULTS: (1) IF THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN GETTING OUT SECONDS BEFORE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! (2) IF THE OTHER CAR HAD NOT BEEN PARKED, MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT (POSSIBLY TURNING OVER) AND TAKING WITH IT NUMEROUS OTHER PARKED CARS AND MEMBERS WALKING INTO THE SERVICE. UPON EXAMINING MY VEHICLE AND HEARING THE REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTOR/APPRAISER WAS WISE ENOUGH TO TAKE TH
CHRONIC (MANY TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS) HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A LOW SPEED, AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE FROM A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. ONLY A SECOND OR SO, BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ACCELERATION UNCERTAIN AND UNPREDICTABLE CAUSING SEVERAL NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS
I WAS PARKED IN SAM'S PARKING LOT AND I OPENED MY REAR WINDOW TO GET MY BAGS OUT OF THE BACK OF MY SUV. AFTER PUTTING MY GROCERIES IN MY BACK SEAT I WENT TO CLOSE MY REAR WINDOW BUT THE LEFT HINGE BROKE AND I CAUGHT THE WINDOW. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE WINDOW WAS IN MY HAND AND I BEGAN TO SCREAM FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME. A GENTLEMAN SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND HE HELPED ME PUSH THE WINDOW BACK UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND WE HAD TO PUT DUCT TAPE ON IT SO I COULD DRIVE HOME. TO MY SURPRISE THE HINGES THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO HOLD MY WINDOW IN WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD OF SERIOUSLY GOTTEN HURT. FORD HAS KNOWN OF THESE DEFECTIVE HINGES FOR YEARS BUT CONTINUES TO PUT THEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. TO THIS DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE HINGES AND I AM CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE SO YOU ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THIS COULD CAUSE DRIVERS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT A FACTORY DEFECT. IT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A REAR WINDOW FALLING OUT!! I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON MY VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE FOR MY HINGES TO BE FIXED. (I ATTACHED THE BILL QUOTE, IT IS QUITE HIGH) I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA RECOGNIZES THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY NOT JUST FOR THE OWNERS WITH THE DEFECTIVE HINGES BUT THOSE WHO COULD BE IN THE PA
CAR LEAPS FORWARD WHEN GAS IS APPLIED FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR CONVERSELY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT NO ERROR CODE APPEARED AT TIME OF SERVICE. THEREFOR DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIX THE CAR AND I SHOULD KEEP HAVING SYSTEM IN CAR CHECKED FOR THE CODE TO APPEAR
ESCAPE HAS SEVERAL ISSUES, FORD DEALER WOULD REVIEW AND REPORT NO ISSUES FOUND. I BOUGHT MY ESCAPE NEW IN JULY 2012. 1.FRONT SEAT BELTS - WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR (JAN-FEB 2013 - MILEAGE 5,000ISH) THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULDN'T RETRACT 90% OF THE TIME, CAUSING THEM TO BE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AND/OR KEEP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. 2.TRANSMISSION ISSUES (NOV 2015 - MILEAGE 50,000ISH ) IT SHIFTS BADLY, SOMETIMES ACTS AS IF ITS IN-BETWEEN GEARS WHEN YOUR BREAKING OR ACCELERATING. WHEN YOU RELEASE THE PEDDLE AND REAPPLY, IT'LL REENGAGE BUT AT TIMES WILL LURCH AGAIN. 3. ELECTRICAL ISSUES - JAN 2016 -(MILEAGE 65,000ISH) THE DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT, HAD TO PULL THE FUSE LIGHTS SO I COULD DRIVE UNOBSTRUCTED. 4.(4/18/16 - MILEAGE 73,000ISH) REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BASED ON WHAT FIND ON LINE AND HERE. IN THE PAST I DID NOTICE WATER 'DRIPS' ON MY BACK WINDOW, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE THE 'LEAK' WAS, AGAIN DEALERSHIP REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS POOLED WATER THAT FOUND ITS WAY IN WHEN I HAD OPENED UP THE REAR WINDOW/DOOR. BUT BASED ON WHAT I SEE ON LINE AND HERE THE REAR DOOR NOT OPENING IS DUE TO THE 'WATER DRIP/LEAK' ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE REAR WINDOW GASKET ISN'T CORRECT THICKNESS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. BACK DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN IS A SAFETY CONCERN, ALL DOORS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. 5. SAME DATE AS 4,DOOR LOCKS NOT LOCKING WHEN YOU PUT SUV INTO GEAR. 6. APRIL 26, 2016 ' PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY ' NO I
ENGINE...SIGNIFICANT NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN STATIONARY. I WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WOULD NOT FIND THIS AFTER I DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND FOR AWHILE; DUE TO BEING IN THE GARAGE AND MOISTURE. SEED CONTROL...SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE BETWEEN 60- 65 MPH. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, SENT A MECHANIC OUT TO RIDE WITH ME IN THE VEHICLE AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED I WAS ADVISED TO COME BACK AGAIN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I SAID I FELT UNSAFE AND FELT AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ME DRIVE ANOTHER "SAME" VEHICLE AND IT WAS JUST AS LOUD AT IDLE AND SEEMED NO BETTER. I LEFT IN MY VEHICLE UNSURE OF IT'S SAFETY AND PRAYED A LOT. I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH ANYWAY BUT LIMIT TRIPS NOW. I WANT TO BE SAFE. I WANT A SAFE VEHICLE.
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 FLUID LEAKING FROM LEFT HALF SHAFT SEAL
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 POWER TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE CAR CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ISOLATED TO ANY SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL OR OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE DURING THE FIRST 5,000 MILES, BUT CONTINUES LESS FREQUENTLY (VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES NOW). DEALER TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY FAULTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT, AN ONCOMING VAN FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR CHESTS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
MY WIFE BEGAN DRIVING OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED WITH AWD AND 6 CYLINDER MOTOR. WITHIN DRIVING LESS THAN HALF A MILE ALL POWER STEERING CEASED TO WORK ALMOST CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
RUST ISSUE IN ALL WHEEL WELLS TYPICAL IT SEEMS WITH ALL FORD ESCAPES IN 2012. I ASSUME THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT TREAT OR USED BAD RUST TREATMENT ON THESE CARS.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE STATIONARY IN A DRIVE-THROUGH LINE. DIAGNOSIS FOUND DTC B2278 IN COMPUTER MEMORY. ALL INVESTIGATION LED TO A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR AS THE FAULTY COMPONENT. THIS SAME COMPONENT WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS ON THIS MODEL UP TO MODEL YEAR 2011. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL AT THIS TIME. REPAIR WAS PAID FOR WITH A COMBINATION OF AFTERMARKET WARRANTY AND OWNER PAYMENT. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED WITH THIS COMPLAINT. TO DATE NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS HAVE SURFACED SINCE REPAIR.
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. THE BUCKLES GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR OR THE STRAP KEEPS THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE STRAPS START TO FRAY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES AND THE BELTS NEED TO BE RETRACTED MANUALLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE HATCH GLASS FRACTURED WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE HATCH. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HATCH GLASS WAS NOT RECALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
DEC 31, 2015 VEHICLE STEERING WAS FINE, LAST DRIVEN 9PM. JAN 1, 2016 9:30AM POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK, STEERING WHEEL NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVEWAY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. TWO HOURS LATER POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING. NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TODAY JAN 2ND WITH NO ISSUE. BEING TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP JAN 4TH. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS ONLY 31,695, OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE END OF OCTOBER 2015.
THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED, FORCING THE WHEEL TO TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND TRYING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE TO RE-CENTER THE WHEEL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE WHEEL, EVEN WHEN PARKED, THE WHEEL WOULD RAPIDLY ROTATE BACK TO THE LEFT MOST POSITION. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TO AN EXPECTING VICTIM, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY TURNED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND/OR FLIPPED.
REDUCED SPEED WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW TO IDLE CONDITION IN CITY DRIVING SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING COULD NOT STEER AT ALL! COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, FINALLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND MY STEERING RETURNED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2008-2011 YEAR MODELS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN DONE ON THE 2012 MODEL?
SIGNIFICANT ENGINE VIBRATION AT IDLE WITH CAR IN DRIVE. ENGINE RPMS APPEAR TO BE TOO LOW WITH LOAD ON ENGINE. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE, SO IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD.
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 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (RECORD ON FILE WITH THE DEALER) TO REPORT THE MATTER AND HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE FORD ESCAPE. ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 AT ~9PM AS I WAS BRAKING ON A SURFACE STREET TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND 'JUMP'. THIS TIME I HAD TWO WITNESSES IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THE SITUATION WAS FRIGHTENING TO SAY THE LEAST. I ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (ROBINSON FORD IN CALEXICO, CA 92231) WHERE THE SAME MECHANIC WHO LAST CHECKED THE VEHICLE (RAMON BALTAZAR) SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT HE COULD IDENTIFY (RECORD ON FILE WITH THE DEALER). I AM KNOW VERY WORRIED AND CONCERNED THAT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE COULD RESULT IN ME HARMING SOMEONE SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. IN FACT, I NOW KEEP A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ANYTIME I AM APPROACHING A STOP. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OR CONFIDENT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
MAY 7, 2013, I WOKE UP TO FIND A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED IT AND CLEARED BOTH FRONT SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES. THEY ALSO INSPECTED, REMOVED AND INSTALLED FRONT SEATS AND CENTER CONSOLE FOR CARPET CLEANING (ACCORDING TO MY INVOICE). I WAS TOLD THE WATER WAS THERE BECAUSE THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES DUMPED WATER ONTO THE FLOOR OF MY CAR. MARCH 31, 2014, I TOOK MY CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE AGAIN I HAD WATER ON THE FLOOR OF MY CAR. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF HAVING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF MY CAR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP UNSUCCESSFULLY, AND TAKING MY FLOOR SOAKED CAR BACK HOME. I SPOKE WITH A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. THEY WERE WILLING TO COVER THE PRICE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. I TOOK MY ESCAPE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY, ACCORDING TO MY INVOICE THEY CHECKED THE SUNROOF, THEN ADJUSTED THE SUNROOF AND CLEANED SUNROOF DRAINS. I WAS TOLD THE SOLUTION WAS TO 1- AVOID TREES AND 2-HAVE MY SUNROOF TUBES BLOWN OUT AT OIL CHANGES. I HAVE SINCE AVOIDED TREES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND HAVE HAD MY OIL CHANGE EXPERTS BLOW OUT THE TUBES. NOVEMBER 9, 2015, I WOKE UP TO FIND A PUDDLE OF WATER ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. I CALLED FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT A REGIONAL REP WILL CONTACT ME BY END OF DAY THE NEXT DAY. I HAD THE DRAIN TUBES BLOWN OUT IN SEPTEMBER AT MY LAST OIL CHANGE. NOVEMBER 10, 2015, I WAS CONTACTED BY THE REGIONAL REP., I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THER
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY ESCAPE SHIFTS BADLY. HAS A LAGGING UPSHIFT FROM STARTS AND A HARSH DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 ESCAPE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG JUST THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION IS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE LEAKED WATER INTO THE INTERIOR AND CREATED MOLD. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF CONTACT SOLD HER CAR TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 4/23/18*JB *CN
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2012 Ford Escape → · Every Escape year → · How the figures are calculated →