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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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,023 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2012 Ford Escape miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #22

Mar 012018

Escape

  • 140,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. While driving 65 mph, the hood opened and blocked the contact's vision. There were no warning indicators illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was driven to the contact's home. The dealer (morristown Ford, 1112 w morris blvd, morristown, tn 37813) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Newport, TN, USA

problem #21

Feb 282018

Escape

  • 0 miles
The back liftgate will not open, but the glass will. O heard there was a recall on my vehicle 2012 Ford Escape.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #20

Jan 032018

Escape

  • miles
No cold air in air conditioner whole motor replaced in 2014 lock on back hatch replaced broke again. The electrical radio dash broke. Recall power chain wrench light on again. Heating coal replaced

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #19

Feb 012017

Escape

  • 0 miles

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

Shifter on vehicle won't engage from park to reverse

- St.Peters, MO, USA

problem #18

Sep 012016

Escape

  • 43,000 miles
A widely-known defective A/C part damaged entire system. "dessicant bag broke." I paid $125 to diagnosis, "around $2300" to replace all components due to a defective $30 part that could have been replaced anytime I had it at dealership while under warranty if they would have said something. The issue started around 4 years old/40K miles (essentially right after warranty expired). Several Ford techs have said this should have already been recalled. A very prevalent issue when you search online. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=afqh2B_ov6C ssm 22492 regarding failure of the receiver/dryer. The quoted text is on this page, thanks to makuloco2000 special service messages 22492 2009- 2011 mariner / 2009-20012 Escape - A/C lack of cooling due to desiccant material some 2009-2012 Escape/mariner vehicles may exhibit an A/C lack of cooling. This may be due to desiccant cup molding releasing fine particles/debris into A/C system; which eventually contributes to a restriction in the system. Symptoms may include excessive high side pressures; low side pressure can be extremely high or low; A/C compressor may not engage or engages for a short period of time; pressures slow to equalize after compressor shuts off. If rotunda flushingmachine is not available replace all components of A/C, including lines. Verify accumulator/receiver drier is pn bl8Z-19C836-B (engineering pn BL84-19E961-ab); refer to wsm, 412-03. If rotunda flushing machine is available, flush condenser and evaporator core; refer to wsm, 412-00. Recharge system refer to wsm, 413-01 and use available service labor times. Effective date: 26-August-2012 https://Ford.pissedconsumer.com/complete-ac-failure-ac-dryer-failure-20130420402060.html?utm_expid=139295969-18.9xi-iqvtsiu4tfzktegu_A.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.Ford-trucks.com%2fforums%2F1378714-debris-in-A-C-clean-flush-vs-replacement.html

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #17

May 042017

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
While braking there is a vibration and engine stalls. The dealer claims they can not replicate and wants me to reschedule to bring it N again a week later. This happens every I stop or slow down in a right turn. I get the vibration and engine stalls. I have takes else where to check if there is something stuck in the brake but nothing found they do replicate problem but don't know what it is. I can not drive until this is fixed as it is a safety issue if the vehicle stalls. Dealer is no help maybe manufacture or someone else this has happened too can assist.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #16

May 302017

Escape

  • 33,450 miles

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

Throttle body problem P2111. Also transmission will jump into gear causing a lurching action and loud pop noise. Moving down street when car suddenly would not accelerate. Limped into autozone who ran a diagnosis and came back with P2111. Then they looked it up on youtube and found how to reset it (turn key to lock, slowly (10 sec) push down accelerator paddle, hold for 10 sec, deaccelerate at same rate, turn car off and restart. It worked for a few blocks and it did it again. Rinse and repeat several times to get home. Last time engine symbol came on...

- La Porte, TX, USA

problem #15

Apr 292017

Escape

  • miles
My car was parked without the engine running. For no explainable reason, the rear window on the lift gate exploded. It was parked on a city street.

- Brighton, MI, USA

problem #14

Jan 012015

Escape

  • 0 miles
The actualtrunk of the SUV does not open on a consistant basis, you have to use the lifegate if you want to put or take out anything out the trunk.

- Mason, TN, USA

problem #13

Mar 112017

Escape

  • 62,000 miles
While driving at about 35-40 mph, the vehicle suddenly turned off. I couldn't hit the accelerator and had to coast to the side of the road. I turned the car off and back on again, and it restarted without a problem. It has done this to me a handful of times in the last 3 years, but every time I take it to a mechanic, they cannot replicate the problem and therefore cannot fix it. The Ford dealerships offer to "take a look at it" for a high price, and can't tell me what's wrong either. This is extremely dangerous and could easily cause an accident at any given time. There is clearly a defect in the electrical and/or fuel system, but no one can seem to solve the problem. In my opinion, Ford should order a recall of the Ford Escape to address this dangerous problem. There are many online forums stating customer complaints and issues identical to this, all of them stating that no one seems to bad able to figure out what's wrong or fix their vehicles. As consumers, we pay a very high price for vehicles that we depend on daily to be safe and reliable. Ford should stand by its product and fix this dangerous issue to ensure the safety and satisfaction of its customers.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #12

Nov 272016

Escape

  • 50,000 miles

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

Two days ago I was driving down the highway at nighttime, alone. I was the only vehicle in sight, and they were no overpasses anywhere near me. As I was driving, out of absolutely nowhere my rear windshield exploded. Glass went flying everywhere, even to the point of hitting the front seat. I had no idea what happened, I thought someone may have thrown a brick through my window. Luckily I had my wits about me enough to pull over and see what it happened. I examined my vehicle and noted that there were no rocks and still no other vehicles or people in sight. There was no reason for this window to have exploded; it happened completely on its own. If I had a dog or child in the backseat, they could have been killed. I was driving at 120km/hr, the sheer noise and shock of the incident could have easily caused me to be in a fatal accident. I was lucky that I reacted the way that I did, but many people wouldn't have. Glass shards were all over my car. They flew to the front seat. They came out at such a speed they easily could have blinded or cut someone. This is a common problem with Ford SUVS! there are multiple news reports and yet Ford has done nothing as of yet!

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #11

Nov 212016

Escape

  • 63,000 miles
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.

- Coxs Creek, KY, USA

problem #10

Aug 232016

Escape

  • 75,000 miles
Rear window exploded on its own while parked in a mountain fishing lot

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #9

Jul 122015

Escape

  • 42,000 miles
Ac unit quit working at 42000 miles. The rear window leaks, bad latches.

- Lykens, PA, USA

problem #8

Jul 312016

Escape

  • 105,000 miles
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.

- Hudson, WI, USA

problem #7

Feb 032016

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Kilgore, TX, USA

problem #6

Nov 102015

Escape

  • miles
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. There was nothing that could be done without a diagnosis, just because this has happened 2 other times, doesn't mean that this is the same thing. That's what I was told. Each time I found the car in my drive way after not being in motion with wet floors.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #5

Aug 172015

Escape

  • 36,127 miles
The rear door will not open. When I looked online to see what the problem may be I noticed many complaints of same problem. The rear latch sensor needs to be replaced. The sensor goes bad from water damage caused by leaking rear window. This is a safety concern because all the doors of a vehicle need to be able to open in the event of an accident or emergency exit from vehicle. I feel this should be added to the recall list of rear latch problems that Ford has been experiencing.

- Manville, NJ, USA

problem #4

Oct 122013

Escape

  • 20,000 miles
Sunroof/moonroof of our 2012 Ford Escape exploded for no reason a year and a half after purchase. Luckily, we had the cover shut or it would've injured us and our small child. Ford didn't want to take responsibility for it, they wanted us to claim it on our car insurance. I had (and still have) plenty of pictures documenting that this happened from the inside out. Nothing crashed into the sunroof causing it to explode. It was obvious the sunroof exploded from the inside out; it looked like a volcano. Ford still refused to acknowledge the issue. This could've been a very dangerous sitation. Something needs to be done.

- Jonesboro , AR, USA

problem #3

Jul 092015

Escape

  • 84,000 miles
Tailgate glass opened on its own. Hinge on tailgate glass broke due to corrosion upon closing tailgate glass.

- Peacham, VT, USA

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