CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2012 Ford Escape Hybrid

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

15

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid have filed 15 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2013 and November 2020. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 2 of them (13%). The typical failure was reported at 38,000 miles, the median across the 12 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.

Defect investigations (2)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

DP12006

Closed defect petition · opened October 2, 2012 · closed February 21, 2013

the engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 15.

ENGINE 2 13%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 13%
STEERING 2 13%
STRUCTURE 2 13%
AIR BAGS 1 7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 7%
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 1 7%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 7%
POWER TRAIN 1 7%
SEATS 1 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 3.

2013 2016 2020
2013 to 2020

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

WE WERE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA WHEN ON JULY 2 ,2015 WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 110 MPH, WE THEN SPUN COMPLETELY AROUND 3 TIMES AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING HEAD ON A CONCRETE SHOULDER WALL. THE DRIVER SUFFERED 3 BROKEN RIBS AND WHIPLASH. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND A BROKEN RIGHT HAND. SHE WORE A CAST FOR OVER 2 MONTHS AND IS NOW REQUIRING HAND SURGERY TO PUT IN METAL SCREWS AND A PLATE. THE PASSENGER IS RIGHT HANDED SO THIS HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO JUST SIMPLE TASK. EATING, RESTROOM, SHOWERING, DRIVING AND WRITING JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS THAT SHE CAN'T DO ALSO SHE NEEDS DENTAL WORK OVER $10,000. SHE IS IN SEVERE PAIN ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint 10825791, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · 48,000 miles

IN BOTH INCIDENTS AND THERE WERE TWO I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH OR LESS WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT USING THE BRAKES. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND ONE COMING AT ME IN THE OTHER LANE TOO. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP A CURB FLATTENING THE TIRES AND DAMAGING THE WHEELS. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE JUST SLOWED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT LOU FUSZ FORD IN CHESTERFIELD , MO TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. IN THE 2ND INCIDENT I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, WHEN AGAIN THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO

NHTSA complaint 10605332, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · 17,252 miles

4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEASE NOTE, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP'S, AND CURRENT IN SERVICE RECORDS. REAR VIEW CAMERA, (WORKS INTERMITTENTLY) WITH BLACK SQUIGGLY LINES WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE. STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOON ROOF HAS LEAKED AND 3 ATTEMPTED REPAIRS WERE MADE WITHIN MONTHS OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. THE LEAK CAUSED STAINS TO THE INTERIOR ROOF. THE MOONROOF HAS NEVER SEEDED

NHTSA complaint 10713581, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

53,000 miles

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAMP FORD LOCATED AT 4869 NESCONSET HWY, PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY 11776 HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA complaint 11375581. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
I TURNED ON MY BACK WINDOW DEFROSTER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE WINDOW EXPLODED/SHATTERED THEREBY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint 11181502. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

36,000 miles

MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS RUST COVERING THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I NEVER NOTICED IT UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I NOTICED SOME RUST UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR I WAS HORRIFIED. THE RUST IS REALLY BAD AND IT'S EATING THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSELY I SAW RUST UNDER BOTH SEATS ON THE BRACKETS. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CARPET I CAN SEE THAT IT'S AFFECTING THE INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF RUST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS SIX YEARS OLD. I THINK IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CHECKED AROUND ONLINE LAST NIGHT AND IT WILL LIKELY COST A LOT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IF

NHTSA complaint 11130870, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

120,000 miles

5 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR 3 WEEKS. I WAS PLANNING ON GOING ON A VACATION AROUND THAT TIME, SO DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER I GOT BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, 2 DAYS PRIOR TO MY TRIP, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME FROM A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS DOWNSHIFTING AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF WHICH WHEN I RESTARTED IT REBOOTED THE BRAKES FOR A WHILE, ENOUGH TO GET ME TO THE FORD DEALER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS AND THEY ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP (FOR

NHTSA complaint 11062898, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

145 miles

TAKATA RECALL CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND COMPUTER WRENCH SIGHN 10LIGHT APPEARED AT A RED LIGHT IN THE CITY CAR DRIVE VERY SLOW PULLED OVER SHUT CAR OFF AND IT STARTED WITH WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF .

NHTSA complaint 11033448. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RECALL #16S41/NHTSA 16V-777 REC NOTICE IN DECEMBER 2016 HAVE CALLED DEALER AND CORP ALSO AND KEEP GETTING TOLD PART NOT DONE YET OR NO WAY TO FIX I DO SMELL GAS EVERYTIME I FILL UP AND NOW I SMELL IT ON RANDOM TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN RAINING AND GOING THRU PUDDLE SMELL OF FUMES GAS IN VEHICLE LAST CALLED TODAY 9/25/2017

NHTSA complaint 11025305. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Escape Hybrid

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 66 0
2021 121 1
2020 283 1
2011 37 0
2010 59 0

Other 2012 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst