Home · 2012 Ford Escape Gas · Complaints

What 598 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape Gas

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (598)Crash / fire / injury (40)Fuel system (160)Steering (137)Engine (72)Speed control (69)Body & structure (67)Transmission & drivetrain (66)Electrical system (42)Airbags (24)Brakes (20)Visibility & wipers (20)

69 of 598 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Sep 29, 2015Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND VEERING TO THE LEFT, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,782. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10778526

Sep 3, 2015Speed controlFuel system

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO DROP TO A "SURGING" IDLE AND MANUAL THROTTLE CONTROL WAS LOST. THE DASH, AT THIS POINT, INDICATED THE CHECK ENGINE "WRENCH" LIGHT AND THE RPM INDICATOR SEEMED TO BOUNCE BETWEEN 300 TO 1000 RESPECTIVELY. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE THEN, RESPONDED NORMALLY WITH NO TROUBLE CODES INDICATED ON DASH. CODE READER: P2111. THIS VEHICLE IS OFFICIALLY USED FOR FIRE RESPONSE THROUGH MUNICIPAL 911 SERVICES.

NHTSA ODI 10761183

Jun 25, 2015Speed controlEngineFuel system

FROM A STOPPED POSITION THEN EXCELLING OR WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY CAR WILL STALL. AND WRENCH WILL APPEAR.

NHTSA ODI 10730366

May 15, 2015Speed controlEngine

THIS IS A CONTINUOUS ISSUE FIRST NOTICED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON VALENTINE'S DAY BECAUSE OF MY CAR. I WAS ON A RAMP ABOUT TO GET INTO TRAFFIC. THE HIGHWAY SPEED IS 75MPH AND IT WAS BUSY. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY BUT MY CAR JUST STOOD THERE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS BEFORE IT FINALLY REGISTERED (THAT I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL) AND SPED UP REALLY FAST. THIS CAUSED ME TO CUT OFF THE DRIVER ON THE INSIDE LANE BECAUSE MY CAR DIDN'T SPEED UP AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. I DRIVE TO WORK EVERYDAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 4 TIMES A WEEK. THE OTHER PROBLEM, WHICH I TRIED TO DISMISS AS MY IMAGINATION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS JUST PURCHASED LAST YEAR WITH ONLY 3900 MILES ON IT, IS WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN ABOUT 30-35 MPH, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STALL ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, SORT OF LIKE WHEN SPEEDING UP AND SUDDENLY LET GO OF THE GAS, AS IF THERE'S NO POWER IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10716757

May 7, 2015Speed control

AS THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING (APPROX. 30 MPH), THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO A ROUGH IDLE STATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING, IT DIDN'T START CORRECTLY. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE THE KEY / STARTER FOR A FEW SECONDS (2-5). THE MECHANICS LIGHT LITE UP WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE IT FIRST HAPPENED. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT APPEARS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THEIR FAULTY PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10715178

Mar 26, 2015Speed control

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING BACK TO SCHOOL (7 HOURS) WHEN SHE WOULD GO TO ACCELERATE, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. SHE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN GET TO THE SHOULDER. SHE WOULD TURN HER CAR OFF AND THEN ON AND IT WOULD LET HER ACCELERATE AGAIN. SHE CALLED ME WHEN IT DID THIS A SECOND TIME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. I CALLED AAA AND HAD HER TOWED FOR TWO HOURS BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT HER DRIVING FOR FEAR SHE WOULD LOSE CONTROL AND HURT HERSELF AND OTHERS. SHE TOOK IT IN TO FORD AND THEY CONFIRMED AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. SHE WAS NOT LETTING ANY WORK BE DONE UNTIL SHE KNEW WHAT IT WAS. SHE WAS THEN TOLD THAT IT WAS A RECALL AND FREE WHICH IS WHY SHE ALLOWED THE WORK TO BE DONE. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT IT IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT SHE HAS TO PAY FOR IT. HOW IS IT THAT SHE HAS TO PAY FOR IT? IT IS EITHER COVERED BY RECALL OR COVERED BY WARRANTY SO WHY DOES SHE PAY FOR IT? THIS IS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IS CAUSING SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL HARM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701965

Mar 25, 2015Speed controlFuel system

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FROM FORD BUT CAN NOT FIND IT IN YOUR DATABASE FOR MY VEHICLE. IS THERE A RECALL OR NOT FOR MY VEHICLE? VIN: [XXX] FSA TITLE: ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY EXTENDED COVERAGE FIELD SERVICE ACTION NUMBER: 13N03 A RECALL IS AN ACTION BY THE COMPANY TO REMEDY A SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO A VEHICLE DEFECT OR REGULATORY REQUIREMENT. IT MAY REQUIRE THAT YOU RETURN YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED, IT MAY BE BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT AT A DIFFERENT TIME OR USING A DIFFERENT PART THAN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. BE ADVISED THAT THIS SYSTEM TRACKS SAFETY AND EMISSIONS RECALLS FOR WHICH VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO REPAIR IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND UPDATE. THERE MAY BE TEMPORARY DELAYS IN UPDATE OF INFORMATION ON THIS SITE DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF YOUR VEHICLE OR ANY RECALL PROGRAM OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY OR THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701601

Nov 6, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10653056

Oct 20, 2014Speed controlEngineFuel system

MY CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR BEHAVED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO SHUT DOWN. THE "WRENCH" INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAR WAS RESPONDING TO THE GAS PEDAL. I STILL FELT THAT THE CAR WAS "DRAGGING". I THINK IT IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10648835

Sep 18, 2014Speed controlEngine

LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP. AND AT TIMES WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING. HAVE GIVEN THE CAR GAS TO ACCELERATE AROUND A CAR ONLY FOR THE ENGINE TO BOG DOWN HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. HAVE GOTTEN FORD INVOLVED BUT STILL RECEIVE NO SATISFACTION. AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10637292

Aug 19, 2014SuspensionBody & structureSpeed controlFuel systemCrash1 injury

PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT ~5:45PM A CLEAR DAY: OUR MOM/MOTHER IN-LAW HAD JUST DROPPED OF MY DAUGHTER AFTER SHOPPING AND WAS MAKING HER WAY HOME THRU THE WINDY BACK ROADS LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM OUR HOME. AS SHE CLIMBED A HILL A FEW BLOCKS AROUND THE CORNER FROM HER HOME AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON THE CREST OF THE HILL. THE 2012 FORD ESCAPED LURCHED/SURGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. AS FROM HER DESCRIPTION, SHE HEARD LOUD RUMBLINGS COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THE ESCAPE SHOOK AND LAUNCHED HER FORWARD WHILE SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ESCAPE PROPELLED HER UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD CRASHING INTO A LARGE BOULDER, SHE THEN RICOCHETED ACROSS TWO LANES UP HILL, OVER AN EMBANKMENT /WALL, JUST MISSING A TREE, COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE PUSHING IT APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, PASSED THAT INTO ANOTHER SMALL WALL JUST MISSING THE HOUSE. WE ARE THANKFUL ON MANY LEVELS; THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT WITH HER, THAT OUR MOM WAS NOT SEVERELY INJURED AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THIS VEHICLE AT ONE TIME. A RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY INVOLVED. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED KNOWING THAT MANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DRIVE ESCAPE MODELS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE MANY PICTURES FROM THE SCENE FOR YOU TO REVIEW. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626454

Aug 6, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

FORD ESCAPE LOST SPEED AND WAS MANUEVERABLE AT IDLE SPEED ONLY. REPAIR WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PULLED INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT AFTER ALMOST GETTING RUN IN TO BY ANOTHER CAR WHO DID NOT SLOW DOWN IN RESPONSE TO HAZARD LIGHTS. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. IN DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK, THE CAR STALLED OUT/ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE 2 MORE TIMES. COMPUTER UPDATE DONE. CAR STILL HAVING ENGINE SURGES MULTIPLE TIMES ON WAY HOME. BROUGHT TO SECOND DEALERSHIP WHICH SAID FIRST DEALER MADE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENTS INCORRECTLY. AWAITING PICKUP OF CAR FOR 2ND TIME TO SEE IF CORRECTED. DEALERS REFUSING TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619354

Aug 3, 2014Speed controlEngine

DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF KENTUCKY, LATE MORNING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, I SAW THAT CARS WERE BRAKING SO I TAPPED ON THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE. MY CAR'S IGNITION SHUT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618493

Aug 1, 2014Fuel systemSpeed control

ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP ENGINE CUTS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618210

Jul 15, 2014Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 08/29/14*LJ UPDATED 09/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10610613

Jun 20, 2014Speed controlFuel system

VEHICLE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING - NO GAS PRESSURE - ENGINE RUNNING, PEDAL TO FLOOR, NO REV., OR EXCESSIVE REV WHILE DRIVING. ADVISED BY ASE MECHANIC - THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604784

May 1, 2014Visibility & wipersBody & structureSpeed control

2012 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN CONCERN REGARDING LETTER RECEIVED ABOUT THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, DUE TO A LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10584862

Apr 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS DATE, I WAS GOING HOME, 50MPH MERGING TOWARDS ANOTHER LANE WHEN THE CAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN, BEGAN SHAKING AND THE ACCELERATION SLOWED DOWN TREMENDOUSLY. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA STALL SO I DECIDED TO PUSH MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PARKED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT WAS TRAFFIC TIME, BUT LUCKILY I WAS NOT HIT. A MINUTE LATER, I TURNED ON THE ENGINE AND DROVE, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. ON APRIL 1, 2014, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON I-5, SAN DIEGO, CA GOING 60, I HEARD A THUD, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD, THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON I WAS ABLE TO COAST VERY SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT, NARROW SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. EVERY DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS SO MAD, BLOWING THEIR HORN. A MINUTE LATER, I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON AND LEFT. I ARRIVED AT WORK VERY UPSET, DISTURBED, AND STILL A BIT SHAKING. I COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR PILE-UP, AND PERHAPS I COULD HAVE BEEN IN SEVERELY INJURED. THAT AFTERNOON, WHEN I DROVE HOME, I TOOK THE INLAND STREET TO BE A LITTLE SAFER. AND LO AND BEHOLD, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SO WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, I QUICKLY PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THEN I PROCEEDED DRIVING HOME WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER YET BECAUSE I WANT TO ENSURE THE PROBLEM IS COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. ON APRIL 8, 2014, I WILL DRIVE MY CAR TO PERRY FORD IN NATIONAL CITY, CA. I ALSO CALLED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM TWICE, AND I HOPE THEY COULD RELAY MY MESSAGE TO THE DEALER I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR TO FOR REPAIR. IN GOOGLE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS MENTIONED THE EBT, AND I'M SURE IT'S THE PROBLEM. I AM A 67 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO NEEDS THE SAFEST CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY, MONDAY TO FRIDAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10578056

Mar 10, 2014Speed controlEngine

VEHICLE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY FOR APPROX 5-10 SECONDS, POWER CAME BACK SLOWLY AND THEN HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER FOR 5-10 SECONDS. DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568078

Dec 30, 2013Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557672

Dec 27, 2013Speed control

INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE COMMON AS WELL AS SURGES WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED (BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH) THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT LIFTED MY FOOT UP FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2012, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER OR THE SEASON. I HAVE GONE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY CLAIM NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STALLS AND SURGES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THANK YOU YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557494

Oct 18, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,600.

NHTSA ODI 10548424

Oct 15, 2013Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 10547911

Oct 10, 2013Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547551

Sep 12, 2013Speed control

I HAVE A 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THE LITTLE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN IDLE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND PUTTING IT IN PARK, I TRIED TO REV IT UP BUT IT WOULDN'T REV. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS THEN CRANKED IT UP. IT STARTED UP AND WHEN INTO GEAR. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET. IT HAPPENED TWO DAYS LATER. I DID THE SAME THING. THAT SAME NIGHT, IT HAPPENED TO ME TWO MORE TIMES ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE LAST TIME, NOT ONLY DID MY CAR DO IT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO KICK IN GEAR SO IT WAS JERKING FORWARD. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT JUST IDLED BUT WOULD NOT REV UP. SO I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND PUT IT INTO GEAR AND IT WENT. I'VE TAKING IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT AND A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME ITS THE SAME THING, THE ACCELERATOR OR THROTTLE IS STICKING. AND THAT ITS A THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH CAR REPAIRS. I'VE HAD MY ESCAPE FOR ONLY A YEAR AND I ALREADY HAVE TO DO REPAIRS ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543292

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Working with the data? Download all 598 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Ford Escape Gas verdict →