What 598 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape Gas

I WAS PARKED IN SAM'S PARKING LOT AND I OPENED MY REAR WINDOW TO GET MY BAGS OUT OF THE BACK OF MY SUV. AFTER PUTTING MY GROCERIES IN MY BACK SEAT I WENT TO CLOSE MY REAR WINDOW BUT THE LEFT HINGE BROKE AND I CAUGHT THE WINDOW. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE WINDOW WAS IN MY HAND AND I BEGAN TO SCREAM FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME. A GENTLEMAN SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND HE HELPED ME PUSH THE WINDOW BACK UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND WE HAD TO PUT DUCT TAPE ON IT SO I COULD DRIVE HOME. TO MY SURPRISE THE HINGES THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO HOLD MY WINDOW IN WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD OF SERIOUSLY GOTTEN HURT. FORD HAS KNOWN OF THESE DEFECTIVE HINGES FOR YEARS BUT CONTINUES TO PUT THEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. TO THIS DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE HINGES AND I AM CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE SO YOU ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THIS COULD CAUSE DRIVERS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT A FACTORY DEFECT. IT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A REAR WINDOW FALLING OUT!! I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON MY VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE FOR MY HINGES TO BE FIXED. (I ATTACHED THE BILL QUOTE, IT IS QUITE HIGH) I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA RECOGNIZES THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY NOT JUST FOR THE OWNERS WITH THE DEFECTIVE HINGES BUT THOSE WHO COULD BE IN THE PATH OF THE WINDOW FALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING BEHIND ONE OF FORD'S SUV'S. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. *TR

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THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW EXPLODED. WE WEREN'T THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED. 60 DEGREES AND SUNNY OUTSIDE. WE WERE ATTENDING A PARTY FOR 2 HRS AND CAME OUT TO SHATTERED GLASS EVERY WHERE. CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN A LOT.

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RUST ISSUE IN ALL WHEEL WELLS TYPICAL IT SEEMS WITH ALL FORD ESCAPES IN 2012. I ASSUME THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT TREAT OR USED BAD RUST TREATMENT ON THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI 10838688

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE LEAKED WATER INTO THE INTERIOR AND CREATED MOLD. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF CONTACT SOLD HER CAR TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 4/23/18*JB *CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE WHEEL WELL AND TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,800. UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ; UPDATED 04/16/18*JB *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE SEATS, FLOOR BOARDS, RUGS, AND WINDOWS WERE WET AND FOGGY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING WATER FROM THE WINDOWS AND THE SEALS ON THE DOORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. .. UPDATED 09/30/15*BF

NHTSA ODI 10746468

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE WHEEL WELL AND TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 10735583

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS ESCAPE 1.5 YRS. I JUST NOTICED THIS SPRING THAT THE PAINT WAS COMING OFF IN THE WHEEL WELL, NOW AS OF 7/7/2015 IT HAS GOTTEN BIGGER. AS WELL AS THE REAR HATCH WHEN YOU OPEN IT YOU CAN ALREADY SEE BUBBLING. MY UNDERSTANDING BY THE PAPER WORK I RECEIVED WITH IT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF UNDER BODY PROTECTION PUT ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 10732497

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL DID NOT PROPERLY PROTECT THE VEHICLE FROM WATER. AS A RESULT, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE RECEIVER DRYER, BLOWER RESISTER, AND GASKET CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI 10730177

AFTER DARK ONE NIGHT (I COULDN'T SEE THAT THE HOOD WAS CRACKED OPEN) WHILE ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY THE HOOD BLEW OPEN-SAFETY CATCH DID NOT HOLD HOOD SHUT. IT BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD, I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND LUCKILY WAS NOT KILLED IN A CRASH. BODY SHOP INSTALLED NEW HOOD AND LATCHES AND SAFETY CATCH ETC. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE SAFETY CATCH STOPPED OPERATING. I TIED IT DOWN WITH ROPE TO THE FRAME AND DROVE IT FOR A WHILE. I COULDN'T GET TO THE BODY SHOP BECAUSE I NEVER GOT OUT OF WORK ON TIME. WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE LATCH MECHANISM AND COULDN'T SO HE ORDERED A NEW ONE, INSTALLED IT AND CHARGED IT TO THE BODY SHOP. THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE ARE INCHES APART FROM EACH OTHER WHICH IS A POOR DESIGN, BUT REGARDLESS WHEN THE HOOD IS POPPED THE SAFETY CATCH SHOULD PREVENT IT FROM OPENING. A RELATIVE WHO DROVE MY VEHICLE KEPT POPPING THE HOOD ACCIDENTALLY BECAUSE HE WEARS A LEG BRACE WHICH CAUGHT ON THE RELEASE HANDLE. LUCKILY I HAD THE HOOD TIED OFF. I MAY ALSO TIE THE HOOD WITH ROPE AGAIN AS I DON'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THESE PARTS. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE HAPPEN TO ME. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE HOOK THAT CATCHES THE HOOD SEEMS TO LOOSEN UP FROM ITS ASSEMBLY AND FALL FORWARD TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR THEREBY NOT ALIGNING WITH THE HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10653172

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

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THIS DOCUMENT IS IN RESPONSE TO A FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING MAY 16, 2014 ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AT MY REQUEST I REQUESTED THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE WAS INITIATIVE AND PROBABLY HAS BEEN SINCE THE CAR WAS BUILT. PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME, MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR FORD SUV BE CONSIDERED. ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10610514

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

ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 7PM, THE BACK HATCH BEGAN RANDOMLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND OPENED SLIGHTLY. AFTER WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 8AM, THE BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD AT 10MPH. I CONTACTED AIRPORT FORD IN FLORENCE, KY AND THEY STATED NEVER HEARING OF THIS HAPPENING WITH ANOTHER ESCAPE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574732

THERE ARE THREE ISSUES WITH THE CAR THAT MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IT'S SUNNY, THE PLASTIC COVERING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (ON THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT) REFLECTS SUNLIGHT BACK INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE MOLDING SURROUNDING THE GEAR SHIFTER IS METALLIC LOOKING AND ALSO REFLECTS LIGHT BACK INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT TINTED AND MAKES THE REFLECTION WORSE. ALSO THE VISOR CAN'T BE USED BECAUSE IT HITS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN MOVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525206

THERE IS A VERY BAD REFLECTION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH VENT PRESENT IN THE SIDE MIRROR. THE DASH VENT IS TRIMMED IN CHROME AND AS A RESULT IT REFLECTS IN THE MIRROR BLOCKING THE VIEW OF TRAFFIC ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10481189

VEHICLE WAS BEING PREPARED TO BACK OUT OF LEVEL GARAGE ONTO DRIVEWAY WITH MILD DOWNHILL SLOPE. VEHICLE WAS STARTED, EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PLACED IN REVERSE, DRIVER'S FOOT ENGAGED BRAKE. DRIVER REALIZED WALLET WITH DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS LEFT INSIDE HOUSE. TRANSMISSION PLACED IN PARK, DRIVER REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND EXITED VEHICLE. VEHICLE NOT NOTED TO BE MOVING WHEN DRIVER EXITED. DRIVER ENTERED HOUSE THROUGH GARAGE ENTRY, RETRIEVED WALLET. WHEN GARAGE WAS RE-ENTERED VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE ONTO DRIVEWAY ON ITS OWN. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CATCH UP TO VEHICLE ON FOOT AND ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL. VEHICLE BACKED DOWN FULL LENGTH OF DRIVEWAY (APPROX. 100 FEET) AND BACKED ACROSS ROAD AND DOWN FAIRLY STEEP EMBANKMENT ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE THEN BACKED INTO A LARGE TREE ABOUT 10-15 FEET FROM ROAD AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED, AND AN ADJACENT TREE WAS SIDE-SWIPED BY THE REAR/LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED, SCANT DAMAGE TO 2 LARGE TREES. DRIVER ASSESSED THE DAMAGE, RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE. DRIVER CANNOT DEFINITIVELY RECALL WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN WHEN VEHICLE WAS RE-ENTERED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND MOVE IT ACROSS THE ROAD AND BACK ONTO DRIVEWAY. *TR

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