CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Ford Escape has an acceptable complaint history so far, with leaking rear window problems showing up as the main concern so far. NHTSA complaint data shows an early pattern of problems with stalling while driving.
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
It was approximately 9am and I had just exited the freeway (been driving for about 20 min) and I took a right off the exit ramp onto a secondary street. I was going about 40 and starting to slow down for a yellow light, when the car just died. No warning, no lights (that I remembered, because I panicked), no sounds. I was in the far left lane and so I immediately tried to start the car. Nothing. No sounds, nothing. I then turned on my flashers. Tried to start the car again, nothing. I waited about 3 min. And tried again and it started right up. It has not done it in the 2 days since, but I am now to scared to drive me car afraid that it will die and I will cause a car pile up. We have had the car in to Ford and they will do nothing.
I was driving at about 15 mph when I started to accelerate I felt the vehicle jerk. I pulled into the gas station and checked my transmission fluid and it was near empty. A diagnostic of the power train at an independent repair shop revealed that the transmission would need to be rebuilt or replaced. There are thousands of complaints on youtube and various consumer sites to the shooty design of the 4 cylinder Ford Escape models. In the end, Ford has not recalled the transmissions on the Escape models. To fix my transmission from leaking they replaced the seals and informed me to check my fluids every month. I was informed by the independent repair shop before hand, that just replacing the seals would not be enough and I can expect the problem again. The car now has less than 52000 miles, mostly highway. The power trains have a flawed design and needs to be recalled before thousand of motorist are forced to pay for expensive remedies due to no fault of there own. It is up to the government to force a recall on the Ford Escape power train systems.
I was driving the car, came to a stop sign, stopped and proceeded to press gas and turn into lane. The car jumped forward and almost stalled. It did not stop running however it would only move approx 1 mph. Just enough to pull of road and park. When I restarted, the engine was shaking. When in low gear, the car would jump forward and stop, jump forward and stop. In drive, it would only go 1 mph.I took car to Ford and they said it was the throttle body position sensor and that it wasn't covered under the drive train/power train warranty and would cost me $520.
After slowing down in heavy traffic I felt a jolt or thrust forward. When I looked at the dashboard I noticed the wrench light was lit. I tried to give the car gas and it went no where. I was fortunate to be able to pull over to the shoulder and look up the light in the owner's manual. It said it was a power train/throttle body fault. After waiting 15 minutes for a tow truck I tried restarting the car and it started normally. The car drove normally the rest of the day. I brought it into the Ford dealership where it was purchased the next morning. They eventually told me the throttle body had failed/shorted out and needed to be replaced which wouldn't be covered under the warranty because I was 700 miles over. After filing a case with Ford and doing research, I noticed several others having the same issue.
Driving down the freeway and was a pop and I had no gas at all. I had to coast off the freeway. The repair bill was over $400 to replace the throttle body and it is not covered in my extended warranty.
- Houston, TX, USA
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When pulling out from an intersection, I experienced intermittent power loss which resulted in vehicle loafing forward then stalling or entering safety mode low idle maneuverability with wrench light on. I was in heavy traffic and had to shut off the car, place in park then restart only to have the vehicle lurch then shut off or return to safety idle again before I was able to exit the street safely. After several attempts to restart, the check engine light came on resulting in trouble code P2111 "current" fault throttle actuator control system - stuck open and code P2112 " pending throttle actuator control system - stuck closed.
The first time this happened I was driving home and turned onto a street as I accelerated the vehicle slowed down. I had my foot as low as the pedal would go and it would not move. I switched it to park turned it off and back on and it started up and was fine at accelerating. So the second time this happened about a month later I was driving about 30mph when my Escape slowed down and completely stalled out while I was driving on a very busy street. I pushed so far on the accelerator that the pedal was as low as it could go but still no movement. I quickly switched it into park turned off the vehicle and tried turning it back on but it just made the noise like it was trying to start. So I tried again and it finally turned on, switched to drive and was able to get off the street as a semi was flying up behind me. Very scary moment in my life. I googled about the issue and found that an investigation is going on regarding the throttle on 2012 Escapes. I think my vehicle may be a part of this.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but they were unable to duplicate the problem. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
While driving 65 on the interstate, my Ford Escape jumped forward and then slowly shut down. I was not able to accelerate. Thankfully I was able to make it to the side without causing an accident.
Leaving the parking space, the wrench light came on, the car began to loose power, putter and would not take gas. When the engine is shut off, the wrench light goes out and the car runs fine until the next time which was the day after I picked it up from the dealer service department on 7/30/2013. On 7/31/2013, the same problem began all over again and I had to return the SUV to the dealer again for repair. Each time it's happened, I was fearful for my life.
I pulled out of a post office parking lot onto a two lane road and began to accelerate. My vehicle started slowing on its own even though I was pushing the accelerator. It was creeping along, barely moving, and was unresponsive to me pushing the accelerator. The vehicle sputtered a lot but never completely stalled. Power steering, interior lighting, etc., was all working fine. There was a warning light on shaped like a wrench. I put my hazard lights on and continued coasting in this manner to the next available spot I could pull over. After pulling over, I turned off the car. I turned the car back on, and then it seemed to be idling and running fine. The warning light shaped like a wrench is a "throttle/powertrain" issue indicator. After checking online, I found several articles indicating this is a common problem with Ford Escapes. The North caroline consumers council recommended owners who experience this issue file a complaint. I felt lucky that I did not pull out into a busy road and lose throttle power like that and be at risk of getting T-boned by another car. I agree that this problem is a serious safety issue.
Note, this has occurred at varying times/dates since purchase of the vehicle in 2012, has not just occurred at the date listed. When accelerating, the vehicle will have a prolonged hesitation and even a loss in speed when switching via the automatic transmission from 2nd to 3rd gear. This occurs every time the vehicle is driven, not randomly. Also, when getting up to highway speed, there is a hesitation if you touch the gas to accelerate up to the highway speed; it will hesitate a few seconds before kicking into acceleration mode.
The car did not shift gears smoothly upon acceleration. The issue increased to the point where it became dangerous to operate because of the delayed response. I would attempt to accelerate and the car would suddenly surge forward as I was braking for a stop sign several seconds later. I took the car in for service multiple times with different results each time. I thought the issue was related to the transmission, but no issue was found the first time and the issue was determined to be related to a problem with the onboard computer communications the second time. I experienced the same issue on the way home from the 2nd service visit and took the car back a few days later. (I drove my MINIcar in the interim because I did not feel safe in the Escape.) this time they determined that the transmission had to be replaced. The response is much better than before, but not completely satisfactory.
Transmission issue- I have a 2012 Ford espape 6 cylinder. While driving the vehicle at low speed (20mph) the vehicle sounds like it is not in the right gear, it makes a noise as if it wants to change gears but can't. when you come to a stop at a stop sign or red light and then try to proceed the vehicle will not go when you push the accelerator, then it lunges forward into gear. I have had it at the dealership 3 times. The dearlership said they fixed the problem, but the problem is still there. I had 8402 miles on it and now have approximately 9400 and I am still returning it to the dealership. I have also contacted Ford Motor Company and they said it can possibly be the adapt shift strategy, which is when the vehicle has to learn the driver. I have never heard of anything like this. When the dealership has the vehicle they state the vehicle doesn't do it. When I pick the vehicle up from the dealership, I have the problem again after only driving it about 26-30 miles. I know it is the transmission and I feel Ford is neglecting their responsibility to resolve this issue. This vehicle should be performing better than the 2005 Ford Escape (4 cylinder) I previously owned, and was satisfied with. This 6 cylinder has no power to go. When the vehicle is in idle mode it sounds like a diesel vehicle than a regular gasoline vehicle.
On several occasions the transmission lags, or shifts hard, slips, hesitate when put in reverse, have had the vehicle back to dealer twice, first time was told the computers were not communicating the way they should, the second which was today, was told it was a quart low" vehicle now has 32000 on it does not leak fluid, and was low on fluid when bought new from dealer why is this happening" dealer says it is because of low fluid, but I am not buying that. And probably will not buy another.
When my Escape is in the running mode, the engine does not sounds like a gas running vehicle, but it runs loud like a truck. When pressing the gas I have to press the gas pedal to the floor before moving at a good speed, the transmission slips into gears.
Vehicle stalls intermittently when driving at various freeway speeds. Pressing all the way down on the gas pedal the vehicle recovers acceleration. The vehicle was checked by an authorized dealer at 325 mi. On the odometer and "no vehicle problem found". vehicle has experienced eight freeway incidents of stalls in 3908 mi.on the odometer, the stalls have occurred at different speeds or vehicle maneuvers.
Vehicle in traffic on busy interstate (I-635E) dallas, tx on Sunday 11/18 at approx 11 am. Vehicle had already been driven 10-15 miles when the engine lost power. Tachometer showed 1000 RPM and engine was still running but no throttle response. Was able to coast to next off-ramp though interstate was under construction and concrete barriers denied access to shoulder. After coasting to off-ramp I was able to determine emissions indicator was lit and I turned off the engine, restarted and tried to proceed. The engine lurched and stalled and the maintenance indicator also illuminated. Forced to call for assistance. Had vehicle towed to Ford dealership. They replaced the throttle body (fomoco pn ds7Z-9E926-a) and cleared the odbc codes. Vehicle has driven fine with no issues for next 100 miles. Personal note: Fortunately the incident happened close enough to an of ramp I could exit the busy interstate. The construction had concrete barriers on both sides of the interstate preventing shoulder access. If I had not been able to make it to an off ramp the vehicle would have been stalled in a multi-lane interstate likely resulting in a traffic accident.
Purchased the vehicle in Feb 2012...drive it an hr or so 1 way everyday to work...in July started to notice it would lag when shifting between gears...at start and in between gears. Took it in for service they had it for less then 3 hrs and said their was nothing wrong but reset the transmission computer problem should go away. It got worse took it back 2 wks later for same issue transmission tech drove it with me in the car, found no issue...took it back 3 wks late same issue a different person told me that's not normal they drove it said they couldn't duplicate the issue but Ford says it's normal for a hard shift on a cold start. I will be taking it back now for a 4th time to have it looked at......car hard shifts not just on cold start and if this was the case I would have had this issue from day 1 not 5 months into driving........this does not feel safe to drive but I am told I have to get used to it......
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Glendale, AZ, USA