Worst 2012 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Fuel System
Steering Defects
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Escape.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System | 137 | 2 | 1 | 68,074 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 134 | 3 | — | 101,035 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 72 | 3 | — | 45,326 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 69 | 7 | — | 49,263 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 63 | 3 | — | 54,238 mi | |
| Body Structure | 55 | 5 | 1 | 59,604 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 38 | 1 | 1 | 57,710 mi | |
| Airbags | 24 | 19 | 1 | 35,465 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 22 | — | — | 67,679 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 18 | 4 | — | 64,596 mi | |
| Brakes | 18 | 2 | — | 79,681 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 12 | — | — | 53,829 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 10 | 1 | — | 58,407 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | — | — | 78,667 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 6 | 1 | — | 82,172 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | — | 16,724 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | 3 | — | 46,643 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Ford Escape
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~329,265 vehicles.
Ford 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 Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Other Ford Escape Years
2012 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Ford Escape reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Escape?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Escape?
How safe is the 2012 Ford Escape?
Does the 2012 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Escape?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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