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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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,485 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #94

Jan 132023

Escape

  • miles

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

Driving at lower speed power steering stopped working, turned off car and restart problem was gone. Drove home and happend again, now steering is sluggish and stickes at times.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #93

Dec 242022

Escape

  • miles
I was driving in a 45-mph zone and was preparing to make a right turn and as I slowed down and made the turn, the wheel locked up with no warning light or other indication there was a power steering issue, and I nearly struck a car approaching the stop sign on the street that I was turning onto. I was able to drive my car to my destination that was right up the street. I turned off my car and turned it back on and the power steering was working again.

- Strasburg, VA, USA

problem #92

Sep 012022

Escape

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and attempting to turn the steering wheel, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. During the failure the traction control warning was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. There was no repair performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #91

Dec 082022

Escape

  • miles

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

Power steering suddenly went out on right turn onto residential street at approx 10 mph. No warning lights. When car was restarted, power steering back on. Paid dealer to scan. Failure code B2278-2F. Replace steering shaft torque sensor (internal to steering column), steering shaft must be replaced, too, due to play. Just two parts: part cost $2272, labor $886. Part back-ordered for unknown period. Have not yet told dealer service to order parts. Asked dealer if car was safe to drive: they said "probably not."

- El Sobrante, CA, USA

problem #90

Sep 022022

Escape

  • miles
On 2 different occasions now while I was driving my steering wheel has locked up and I could barley turn to get off the road. Once in the month of July and then again beginning of September. I don-??t feel safe driving far distances for I have no idea if and when my wheel will lock up again, and if on a back or windy road there could be no way to get over or off the road causes and accident. My car is electrical and does not have liquid power steering and my steering torque sensor is not working correctly. My mechanic said the whole steering and frame needs to be replaced. I have done research and see. Other people with my make and year having the same issues. There was also already a recall out in for the same vehicle (Ford Escape) but the years 2008-2011, my car in one year ahead 2012 and has the same exact porblem. There was no warning of a problem it just all of a sudden locked up and I could hardly pull off the road.

- Hamburg , PA, USA

problem #89

Jan 142022

Escape

  • miles
I was driving on 169S and I lost steering. I was lucky to pull off to the side of the road. Found out it was the electric power steering assist torque sensor. I paid hundreds of dollars to get it fixed. I had to have a new steering column put in. I have to bring it back in to see if the computer is now affected by the replacement. The second incident involves losing the ability to accelerate on the highway when trying to pass. My child and I almost died! Why are all the models years not recalled??

- Vernon Center, MN, USA

problem #88

Jan 012022

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 his wife was driving and making a left turn, the power steering suddenly failed, and the steering wheel would not turn in either direction, causing the vehicle to nearly crash into a telephone pole. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Chicopee, MA, USA

problem #87

Jan 012019

Escape

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while approaching a stop sign to make a right turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she restarted the vehicle and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that she experienced the failure once a month since 9/1/2021. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Eastpointe, MI, USA

problem #86

Dec 202021

Escape

  • miles
My son was driving my 2012 Escape. While entering the Highway the steering became very stiff while making a left had turn. It felt like there was no power steering. the vehicle is at 135,970 miles. I was able to drive it to my parents and take another vehicle to work. Upon returning to the vehicle that evening the and starting it up, the steering had returned to normal. I looked online and saw that this is a common occurrence with the 2012 Escapes and that there was a recall for this for he 2011 Escapes.

- Greenfield, IN, USA

problem #85

Dec 012021

Escape

  • miles
Driving car and all of a sudden steering locks up, I pulled over shut the vehicle off and looked underneath to see if power steering fluid leaked out, found no visible evidence of a leak, got back in vehicle and started it and steering was fine again, that was about a week ago, this morning I'm driving to work and same thing happens again. When I get to work I go online and notice that the same thing happened to a lot of 2012 Ford Escape owners and that there was a recall for those vehicles made in 2008 to 2011 and assembled in Kansas City just like mine was. I called Ford and they told that there is nothing wrong with my vehicle. There are no fault codes or check engine lights coming on.

- Oak Lawn, IL, USA

problem #84

Dec 042021

Escape

  • miles

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

Operator of vehicle will be driving on the roadway, suddenly without warning, steering system locks up. Operator has to forcefully pull vehicle to the side of the roadway. completely shut off the vehicle, wait for a short period and restart the vehicle. This lockup may occur several times during a trip. Vehicle has been repaired. The Steering shaft torque sensor had to be replaced. The steering lockup has been occurring over a period of a year. There appeared to be no pattern in the frequency of occurrences.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #83

Dec 032021

Escape

  • miles
My car was accelerating slowly and making rough sound. The power steering goes out too often without any warning

- Madison , TN, USA

problem #82

Dec 012021

Escape

  • miles
My power steering gave out while driving. Fortunately, I was going at a low speed. I researched recalls on the 2012 Ford Escape and found recalls for this same problem were only on Ford Escapes up to 2011.

- New Bern , NC, USA

problem #81

Sep 012021

Escape 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failed, and the steering wheel was stiff and difficult to turn. The failure almost caused a collision. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as steering column failure and the steering column was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer suggested that the contact take the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 175,000.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #80

Feb 262021

Escape

  • miles
There is something not connecting right when you accelerate from a stopped position. From when you first start the car and begin to drive to slowing down to a complete stop as soon as you begin to accelerate there is almost no going right away when you push down on the pedal. It takes almost 10 seconds or more to even begin to stay with on coming traffic. You have to be at a 3 rpm to even shift to go a little more faster then the speed starts to increase if able. It is available when needed to look over at any point and I dont feel safe driving as theres something not right with the connection to the fuel I believe and it feels like. I have taken it to a local shop and they looked it over and didnt seem to find or see much but they cleaned the air flow meter but that didnt do the trick" Also while driving the car tends to veer to the left with or with no wind. It doesnt like to stay straight while driving and thats also unsafe as the driver your doing everything to stay straight. Have not been inspected by anyone other than the local shop I trust and is family friend. Have never noticed or seen any defective lights come on since I purchased the vehicle. I noticed this not even a month into purchasing and I took it to where I purchased the vehicle and asked about it and they said its normal in this older ford escape? I was kinda stunned and annoyed so I just left. Also when the ac is on it seems to take even more power to try and get going I have noticed. I also have tried to upload a photo of an invoice and my computer isnt allowing me"

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #79

Jan 052021

Escape

  • 167,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving at 35 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the electrical power steering became stiff. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated when his wife turned off the vehicle and restarted it, she noticed the electrical power steering had loosened up. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated the failure had been recurring. The failure reoccurred today while driving. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.

- Porterville, CA, USA

problem #78

Jul 032020

Escape

  • 140,000 miles
The power steering goes out while driving. It dont matter where you are either. So in order for it to work again you have to put your vehicle in park turn it off wait and restart it. There are times you have do do this multiple times. It is not safe to lose your ability to steer while driving down the road. This issue was recalled on 2008 to 2011 but the same parts were used on the 2012. This is very dangerous when your driving down the road. This issue has been going on for a while but it just getting worse.

- Marquette, WI, USA

problem #77

Apr 112021

Escape

  • 170,000 miles
Lost power steering while going down highway. Turned vehicle off and back on and it fixed it. Recall on this problem for this make vehicle up to 2011 model. Some of the parts carried over to 2012. 2012 needs recall also. Very dangerous.

- Loudon, TN, USA

problem #76

Apr 042021

Escape

  • 102,878 miles
Total loss of steering while driving on expressway. The steering wheel became stiff. No maintenance lights come on but managed to slowly pull over to the shoulder. Turned off vehicle for 5 mins, then turn back on and steering was working again. Luckily I was just 2 miles away from my destination. Called the dealership and they said no recalls have been made for the year/make/model. It appears though the same make and model but different years 2008-2011 were recalled for same thing. I am totally terrified to drive vehicle because it might happen again without any warning.

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #75

Feb 102021

Escape

  • 61,158 miles
Vehicle in motion pulling in parking lot, upon trying to make a left turn to a parking spot steering wheel became extremely hard to turn right or left almost feeling as if it were seizing up. Temperature outside on that date, Feb. 10, 2021 was approximately 20-30 degrees. Vehicle has 61,158 miles. Vehicle was turned off for about an hour, once restarted steering went back to normal. Fearful this will again especially while driving on main roads in traffic and possibly getting into an accident.

- North Royalton, OH, USA

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