2012 Ford Escape problems and recalls

Owners have filed 604 complaints on the 2012 Ford Escape, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Steering (140 complaints).

604
Complaints
2
Recalls
38
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
27
Injuries
63.5
Severity index

Severity index 63.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 63.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 63 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 52% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

SteeringSteering: 140 complaints (23.2%)140 23%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 137 complaints (22.7%)137 23%EngineEngine: 73 complaints (12.1%)73 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 70 complaints (11.6%)70 12%StructureStructure: 68 complaints (11.3%)68 11%Power TrainPower Train: 66 complaints (10.9%)66 11%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 44 complaints (7.3%)44 7%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 42 complaints (7.0%)42 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
STEERING14023.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13722.7%
ENGINE7312.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7011.6%
STRUCTURE6811.3%
POWER TRAIN6610.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER447.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM427.0%

Complaints filed per year

0601202011: 22012: 222013: 512014: 452015: 432016: 472017: 712018: 1192019: 512020: 192021: 372022: 202023: 262024: 192025: 212026: 11 (partial year)11121314151617181191920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20112
201222
201351
201445
201543
201647
201771
2018119
201951
202019
202137
202220
202326
202419
202521
2026 (year to date)11
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (66 against 76).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V77700026/10/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPFord 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 Deliv
15E04500003/06/2015SUSPENSION: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 Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected

Other Ford Escape model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.