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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.

Another concern is the 2012 Escape rolled onto its roof during an NHTSA side impact test so it only received a marginal side impact rating ... not good.

7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
64,200 miles
Total Complaints:
19 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (18 reports)
  2. dealer fixed (1 reports)
2012 Ford Escape engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Escape Owner Comments

problem #19

Jul 012022

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was traveling 65 mph when vehicle jerked as if a hard shift in transmission and stalled. No engine light, just the battery light came on. Started right back up. Roughly 10 minutes later it happened again. Quite a scary ordeal.

It would not restart. I sat in middle of road with 3-ways for sometime until someone assisted me to get it out of the roadway and towed. After being towed, I was able to get it started again. Had the Computer scan which did not show a code, and thus the guessing games begin.

- Jennifer C., Brewer, US

problem #18

Apr 122022

Escape XLT 2.5L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

Vehicle loses power but doesn't shut off and the orange wrench light lights. I pull over, shut off and restart engine. It runs fine. Happened a 2nd time and I took it to garage. They had it 2 days. No codes at all. They said they'd have to use the code reader at the time of it happening to know what is causing it. A few possibilities they offered were to replace throttle body, some sensor (not sure which one), and a third I don't recall.

I called the Bro-in-law and he had same problem with a different vehicle. His mechanic couldn't figure it out either, no codes, so he searched on internet and believed it was the PCU, so he bought a remanufactured one on internet from Flagship One and installed it and no problem since and other problems he had cleared up. Think I'll do the same. My PCU will cost @ $260 +taxes and maybe shipping.

- Thomas C., Marlton, US

problem #17

Dec 252019

Escape Limited 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,600 miles

This problem where my engine shuts off while driving is scaring me into getting a new car. It can happen anywhere, and if I'm not in the right lane to stop and restart my car, I could be hit. It happened a few months ago (on 10/19) and I read about the throttle body needing to be cleaned. I had that done but then it happened again while I was stopped, in reverse. Scary problem and my mechanic said without a check engine light, there is no way to figure out where this problem is.

- Andrea S., Los Angeles, US

problem #16

Apr 102021

Escape Limited 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 128,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was out of town (Granville, TN) when bolt broke off to upper engine idle pulley. Local shop towed & fixed for $150, 3 days later.

Over 2 hour drive towards home. When driving home engine would stall at every stop sign or RPM would drop to 4-500 when in neutral coasting to stop sign.

Yellow Wrench engine light on. Also noted that Cruse control was disabled when driving home on highway.

Drove right to Ford dealership in Winchester TN. Next day they said they couldn't find a error code, or wasn't sure, but with the wrench light on indicates the power steering control module. $2,700 to fix?

I don't see any relationship between engine idle and power steering...... Sounds more like lets pull parts at owners expense till they get it right!

My best guess would be something with the air control module or fuel mixture??? Picking up car from dealer with no repairs later today.

- kcronin, Cowan, TN, US

problem #15

Sep 092018

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Absolutely unacceptable that these vehicles were sold with the prior knowledge something was wrong with them.

- Priscila B., Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #14

Aug 072018

Escape 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

OUT OF THE BLUE, NO WARNING CAR STOPS ON YOU. VERY, VERY SCARY. PLEASE FIX. THANKS.

- Karen L., Houma, LA, US

problem #13

Apr 102018

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,391 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After filling this complaint out earlier today and trying to remember the numerous times this has happened I had same thing TWO MORE TIMES today. Drove 8 miles to work, no problem. On the way home from work about 2 miles into 8 mile drive it cut off at around 60 mph. I coasted to shoulder and recranked, at this time the ck engine light that had been on for 2 days (that Ford Dealership can't test unless I pay 110.00) went off. I continued drive home and it happened AGAIN in my neighborhood. I will copy this complaint to a 2nd one since there were 2 different incidents today alone. When this first started happening it would only happen every 2 wks or so. Now it has happened 2 times each of the last 3 I have driven it. I am SCARED to go anywhere that I don't absolutely have to go.

- ali.0919, Macon, US

problem #12

Dec 062017

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,500 miles

While driving home from a Business function after dark, for the 2nd time, engine cuts off and lights up wrench on dashboard. Luckily traffic was light and I was able to coast to side of road, cut off vehicle and restart. Called Ford Dealer and they said they would have to be able to recreate the incident to know what was going on. THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN!!! I don't have a spare car to drive while they try to recreate it!!! This is CRAZY!

- ali.0919, Macon, US

problem #11

Nov 192017

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,300 miles

Driving down hwy with NO warning, reason, or logic my Escape cut off and wrench light came on. Coasted to side of road & cut vehicle off. I gave my nerves a few mins. to calm down and was able to restart the car and make it on to work with no problems that day. I thought it was just a weird fluke. Unfortunately it has happened many times since (as of today 04/10/18) Ford Dealer stated they wouldn't know the cause unless could recreate it. They charge $110.00 to even hook the computer to it and don't know it that will tell the problem.

I have to drive in constant fear not knowing when this will happen again. There's never any warning, it can go a few weeks and not happen at all and just recently happened twice in one day. This vehicle only has 48,000 miles on it! BUT Ford says my 76,000 mi Warranty ran out in July 2017. I will try to write separate complaint for every episode that I have the dates & circumstance. I have no idea what to do except file complaints with every possible organization and keep as many notes as possible for the inevitable serious accident that this may cause.

- ali.0919, Macon, US

problem #10

Apr 102018

Escape Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,396 miles

AGAIN ... the site said list it as many times as it has happened, so I am trying to do that. Just to clarify I HAVE NO IDEA why it is doing this and the FORD DEALER won't know unless they can recreate it!!!

- ali.0919, Macon, US

problem #9

Feb 112018

Escape XLT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,230 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am driving down the road when suddenly there is a total loss of acceleration. Absolutely no response when I press on the gas. Luckily this happened where I could pull over safely. The first time happened while driving on the highway but because it was early and a Sunday, few cars were on the road. I took it to the mechanic the next day and left it at the shop for the day. They drove it 3 times around town with no problem. They did a diagnostic test and everything appeared fine. Because of this clear diagnostic reading and no signs of engine failure while they drove my car, all they could say is to watch for any irregularities and to come back if it happened again. THIS is very nerve wracking as I am often driving with my little boy and not sure when/if we will have another loos of power while driving. So about 5 weeks goes by and the exact same thing happens!

This time it was in an area where pulling over was not an option unless i crossed over the median to the opposite side of the street. Very dangerous, but I had no other choice! Back to my mechanic to go through the exact same process...NOTHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG!!! The mechanic is a very honest and reliable member of our church and sadly advised me that he cannot do much without a specific reading of what is happening. He drove it with no incidence and could find nothing wrong there.

He advised me to purchase a Smart phone diagnostic reader so that we can hopefully get a reading when this happens again. I am terrified that this can happen while we are on the highway but don't know what else to do?

I am going to call Ford and see if they can help understand this problem.

- Jack C., Lahaina, US

problem #8

Jul 212017

(reported on)

Escape LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,475 miles

My car stalled as I was turning onto a highway. I hit the gas and NOTHING HAPPENED. I had to coast through a lane of rush hour traffic to get to the side of the road. The wrench light and check engine light both came on. I was scared and this was SO dangerous!! I think it's the throttle body which they have an extended warranty on, but why didn't they do a recall on this???!! It's dangerous enough and has happened enough I've found out that a recall should have been done years ago!!

Update from Aug 5, 2017: Dealer confirmed it was the throttle body, which they replaced at no charge under extended warranty as part of a "customer satisfaction program." I strongly feel this should have been a recall issue, as it put me in danger when it happened and unexpectedly without a car for a week while they took their time to fix it (a 15 minute fix).

- 12escape, Arnold, US

problem #7

Aug 012015

Escape LTE 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

This problem Ford should jump on right away. I have tried to make a appointment, but must wait one week at the dealership closest to me.

- Philip O., Upper Marlboro, MD, US

problem #6

Jul 172015

Escape

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT LIFE THREATENING! I'm going down the road and then quit going. Well traffic doesn't know I don't have any power so they run right up on me while I'm trying to get off the road. If somebody wasn't paying attention I don't have the power to get out of their way.

I'm making a left turn the other day so I'm not going but a few miles per hours. Right as I come out of he turn it stalls. I've got cars behind me wanting to get through the intersection and they're building up behind me. That creates a traffic hazzard because they can't properly clear the intersection.

WHEN DRIVING AND YOU HAVE 2-4 LANES IN A CITY TO CHOSE FROM YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT LANE. PULLING OFF THE ROAD IS NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION. THIS INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING HIT.

- Tawana Y., Concord, NC, US

problem #5

Jul 032014

Escape XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

The vehicle obviously has an electrical short in it somewhere. I'll be driving along when the dash lights and alarms go off and the vehicle dies. After the first few times it did this the dealer removed the anti-theft system which came with the vehicle but they claimed was an after market system that they did not install. We thought this would fix the problem but it died again. It is currently at the shop and they are trying to determine the cause. I refuse to drive it because when it dies there is no power steering, no power brakes and not even the hazard lights work to warn other vehicles that I'm dead in the water. If this happens on a mountain curve at 65 mph, I'm dead on the highway!

- susanaz, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #4

May 232014

Escape LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles

My daughter and I were on the 24 mile causeway bridge with nowhere to pull over. We went from 65mph to 2 mph. After my mechanic looked at it he said take it to ford because it's probably the throttle body. I went immediately to ford and of course they can't get to it until Monday. I just don't think this is being taken serious enough on fords part. With no warning and nowhere to pull over we are very fortunate we were not hit and thrown into the water. Thanks to the quick reaction of the causeway personnel, we made it home safely. Come on ford get it together. We have 4 fords in the family but will not be buying any in the future.

- Tammy L., Mandeville, LA, US

problem #3

Jun 152014

Escape XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Backing out of my driveway when suddenly the car started dinging, all the lights came on and then the vehicle died.

- susanaz, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #2

Jun 162014

Escape XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Driving 40 mph when the vehicle died. No power steering, no hazard lights and once I put it in park, I couldn't get it out of park. Towed vehicle to the shop. They thought it was a loose fuse in the anti-theft system.

- susanaz, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #1

Jun 172014

Escape XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Driving 30mph when vehicle started dinging, all the dash lights came on and then the vehicle died. No power steering, no lights, wouldn't restart. Took the fuse out of the anti-theft system and replaced it. As soon as I opened the door to get back in, the alarm went off. Once I figured out how to turn off the alarm, I was able to restart the vehicle. I'm scare to drive it anymore and had it towed to the dealer today. So far, they have not figured out the problem. SCARY and potentially DEADLY.

- susanaz, Phoenix, AZ, US

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