What 598 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape Gas

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARDS FOR THE SECOND TIME. EACH TIME, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY VANDALISM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE GLASS COMPANY (SAFELITE) STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,943.

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MY VEHICLE IS IN GOOD CONDITION BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I CLOSED MY LIFT GATE TONIGHT AND HEARD A CRACK. MY REAR GLASS BROKE OFF OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT ONLY REMAINED ATTACHED BY THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE. IT APPEARS THAT CORROSION/RUST OCCURRED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SEALED OR WATER GOT IN SOMEHOW. I AM VERY THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE IF IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN FROM BOTH, IT WOULD CERTAINLY DETACH AND BREAK ON THE ROADWAY.

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VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH) WHEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES FAILED AND HOOD WAS BLOWN OPEN INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS AFTER 5+ HOURS OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL WITHOUT ANY RECENT OPERATION OF THE INTERIOR HOOD LATCH RELEASE. EMERGENCY STOP WAS MADE TO SECURE HOOD. HOOD IS DAMAGED AND UNABLE TO CLOSE. BODY ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD IS ALSO DAMAGED FROM THE HOOD IMPACT.

NHTSA ODI 11154236

I PURCHASED MY 2012 ESCAPE IN AUGUST 2014,WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN TEN MONTHS, THE AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR AREA AND A GREEN SUBSTANCE WAS BLOWING OUT. THE REAR LIFT GATE ONLY OPENED SOME OF THE TIME, OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND NOW DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL, POSSIBLY BECAUSE WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE HATCH WINDOW, AND HAS DONE SO SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

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IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 NEAR CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS BOTH DUE TO UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH FAILURES ON OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE. IN BOTH CASES, WHILE DRIVING ON SAN DIEGO AREA FREEWAYS, THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY FLEW UP AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE NOT ONLY TO THE HOOD BUT ALSO THE HOOD HINGES, WINDSHIELD AND AREA SURROUNDING THE WINDSHIELD. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR OUR FORD ESCAPE FOR BOTH ACCIDENTS WAS ALMOST $9,200. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DRIVE THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING OTHER VEHICLES IN EACH CASE, THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE VEHICLE AND SERIOUS INJURY EVEN DEATH WAS POSSIBLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE RADIATOR, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS A POORLY DESIGNED SAFETY LATCH AND SPRING WHICH SHOULD ONLY ALLOW THE HOOD TO BE RAISED AFTER THE SAFETY LATCH IS MANUALLY RELEASED. OBVIOUSLY, IN BOTH CASES, THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH WAS NOT MANUALLY RELEASED BUT RATHER RELEASED FOR SOME OTHER REASON SUCH AS WIND, BUMPY ROAD, ETC. RELATED TO THIS UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH ISSUE IS THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE DASH. THIS HOOD RELEASE LEVER IS CO-LOCATED NEAR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE. OBVIOUSLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR PULLING THE WRONG LEVER IS PRESENT BECAUSE OF THIS CO-LOCATION. NONETHELESS, THE HOOD SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO RISE, IF BOTH THE UNDER DASH LEVER AND THE UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH ARE MANUALLY PULLED / MOVED. THE HOOD SHOULD NEVER FLY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY OR OTHER HIGHWAY EVEN IF THE UNDER DASH LEVER IS PULLED. AGAIN, THE UNDER HOOD SAFETY LATCH AND SPRING ARE POORLY DESIGNED IN OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE ALLOWING THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE OUR CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

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BACK WINDOW SHATTERED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.

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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! *TR

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THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS FORD ESCAPE LEAKS CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ON THE REAR WINDOW, MOISTURE COLLECTION IN CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, AND WATER RESIDUE IN/ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN REAR DOOR. BEGAN AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT 39,000 MILES. ALL MILES WITHIN FIRST YEAR TO 18 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE WATER LEAVES STREAKS AND STAINING ON THE INTERIOR GLASS DURING HEAVY RAINS AND MELTING SNOW.

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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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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE HATCH GLASS FRACTURED WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE HATCH. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HATCH GLASS WAS NOT RECALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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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

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GOING TO WORK EARLY (6:35AM) MONDAY MORNING, DRIVING AROUND 35-40MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDENLY I HEAR A BIG BOOM AND THE SOUND OF SOMETHING BEING SPLATTER AND HITTING THE BACK OF MY HEAD. THE NEXT THING I KNOW I FEEL A BIG GUST OF COLD AIR IN THE CAR AND WHEN I LOOK THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, I SEE THAT MY REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HAD JUST EXPLODED. ALL THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE BACK SEAT AND THE BACK OF THE SUV WERE COVERED WITH HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF GLASS. THE TWO HYDRAULIC BARS THAT CONTROL THE OPENING OF THE DOOR ALONG WITH THE REAR WINDOW WIPER ASSEMBLY WERE JUST HANGING THERE. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. IT WAS JUST A BLESSING THAT IT WASN'T RAINING NOR SNOWING. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. WHY ME? IS IT NOT A FLAW IN THE DESIGN SOMEHOW? AFTER RESEARCHING I SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REAR WINDOWS EXPLODING, JUST BECAUSE FORD DECIDED TO PUT THE HYDRAULIC BARS ON THE WINDOW. AGAIN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

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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

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BACK WINDSHIELD LEAKS AND HAS BEEN SINCE 27000 MILES. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW BECAME SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ONLY HAD TWO SPEEDS SETTINGS AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *TR

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE CREATED A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD AND AFFECTED HIS VISION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED DURING SUNNY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 2/29/2012. I PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY (3/1/2012). I WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION OFF, WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE. THE CAR SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHILE OFF AND STATIONARY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS AROUND 35-40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. SUDDENLY, THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED, AND GLASS WAS DISTRIBUTED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE THROWING OR SHOOTING A PROJECTILE AT THE WINDOW. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AND NO EVIDENCE OF HUMAN INVOLVEMENT WAS FOUND. THERE WERE NO PROJECTILES OR ITEMS IN THE VICINITY THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO BREAK. I WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND THE NOISE WAS VERY LOUD. AFTER SHATTERING, THE WINDOW SUPPORTS WERE IN THE EXTENDED POSITION OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WIPER ASSEMBLY REMAINED IN IT'S ORIGINAL POSITION. ALL OF THE GLASS EXCEPT SMALL AMOUNTS AROUND THE HINGES AND WIPER ASSEMBLY WERE SHATTERED. I SUSPECT THAT A DEFECT IS TO BLAME, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO SPONTANEOUSLY BREAK IN THIS MANNER. *TR

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