What 598 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape Phev

The steering wheel came off in my hands. I pushed it back on and went to Ford to get it fixed, they couldn't help me because they had no techs employed that work on my year vehicle, they never told me it was a safety issue and sent me on my way to look for outside mechanic not a FORD specialist. I was driving and the airbag exploded while I was backing up. It caused me injury and could have caused an accident because there was no warning, it suddenly exploded with a loud noise, if this happened when I was on the highway it would have caused severe accident, luckily I was backing the car up when it happened. I didn't hit anything to cause the airbag to deploy. When the steering wheel came off in my hands it was when I was parked, it could have happened when I was driving causing severe injury to myself and those around me. I keep my vehicle maintained by FORD and the steering wheel was never touched or repaired. But when I bought the vehicle brand new from FORD it was missing the Sirius satellite radio it was advertised as coming with, when I brought it back to Ford the seller told me they take it out for import reasons and I could buy it from them for $150 plus installation. I don't know if they touched the steering wheel when they removed the Sirius radio parts. I have the Sirius button on my vehicle and it was advertised with 6 months free Sirius, but the dealership said it's common practice in Puerto Rico for them to remove it because of import fees. I'm the only owner of this vehicle and it was sold to me as brand new. The steering wheel gave me no warning it was about to come off in my hands, it was not loose, it had no play in it, I was parked in my driveway and had just gotten into the car when it came off in my hands. I have the car for inspection and need to alert people of this danger and get the vehicle steering wheel recalled to prevent severe injury to another person.

NHTSA ODI 11527085

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING A CORNER DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, SLID INTO A DITCH, AND A CORNFIELD. THE WINDOWS ON THE FRONT DRIVER, BOTH REAR PASSENGER, AND REAR WINDSHIELD ALL SHATTERED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR A PICKUP FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED TO SPEAK TO AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. *PM *DL

NHTSA ODI 11243338

IN AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11092154

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, LEFT AND RIGHT WRISTS, BACK, RIGHT KNEES, RIGHT ANKLE AND THE RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11072781

MY SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG NEVER WENT OFF. BUT THE SEATBELT LOCKED. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP WAS DUMBFOUNDED AT WHY IT DIDN'T GO OFF. SO AM I.THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASH AFTER THEY FIXED IT. THAT'S HOW WE FOUND THAT THE SEATBELT LOCKED. I COULDN'T GET IT AROUND ME TO GO HOME. THEY THEN REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THE CAR STILL DOESN'T SEEN CORRECT. BUT, HOW DO I KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT DOESN'T GO OFF AND I GET KILLED. MY SON WAS MOVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN THIS VERY YOUNG GIRL WITH A RESTRICTED LICENSE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. MY SON HIT HER. MY SON NOW OWNS THE VEHICLE. I'M MORE CONCERNED THAT I GAVE HIM A CAR THAT IS A HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11044712

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE SIDES WERE BENT OUTWARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CHEST INJURIES, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10885119

MY WIFE AND ONE MONTH OLD CHILD WERE IN AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. SHE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE XLT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER JUST FINISHED DETERMINING THE DAMAGE ONLY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS OVER $10,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE TOOK IT APART TO DETERMINE HOW EXPENSIVE THE FRAME REPAIR WOULD BECOME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE "INVESTIGATING" WHICH I'M SURE WILL LEAD TO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. HOW CAN A CAR RECEIVE A CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON THE FRONT END LIKE THAT AND THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY?

NHTSA ODI 10883483

DRIVER OF VEHICLE HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING. HE HIT THE BACK OF A STOPPED VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 45-50 MPH, WHICH THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER KEPT DRIVING BECAUSE HE WAS STILL NOT ALERT. THE AIRBAGS ON HIS 2012 FORD ESCAPE NEVER DEPLOYED. ON IMPACT, EVEN WITH HIS SAFETY BELT ON, HIS CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BROKEN STERNUM AND SEVERAL FRACTURED RIBS.

NHTSA ODI 10882164

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT, AN ONCOMING VAN FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR CHESTS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10851059

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CCONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR AN EVALUATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10781146

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DRAIN COVER AND A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 8/19/15*CN UPDATED 08/25/15*JB

NHTSA ODI 10722042

4 CAR PILE UP, MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE, AIR BAGS CAME OUT DRIVER WAS BURNED FROM THE AIR BAG AND HOLES BURNED IN AIR BAG. ALSO PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF DUE TO CHILD AND IT WENT OFF ANYWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10721028

JUST AFTER LEAVING A 4 WAY STOP, AS I TRIED TO ROUND THE CURVE THE STEERING IN OUR 2012 ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I JUST KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, I SLOWED DOWN WITH THE BRAKES BUT THE ESCAPE CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND DOWN A 50+ FT EMBANKMENT. EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE CAR ANYWHERE! THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AND THEN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT- THAT WAS WAY TOO MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671678

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED BUT THE PEDAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL DECK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,276. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN

NHTSA ODI 10617569

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

SOUTHBOUND ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY TONED IN THE LEFT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. AT FAULT DRIVER RAN A STOPSIGN AT 65MPH WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING 55MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10562579

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH AND TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR QUARTER OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN ON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK, SHOULDER AND FACIAL INJURIES. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE INTERNAL HEAD INJURIES AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,999.

NHTSA ODI 10542099

MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING EAST ON WILDCAT, TURNING NORTH ON LANG ROAD IN PORTLAND, TX. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND HAD A YELLOW BLINKING ARROW. THE CAR TRAVELING WEST ON WILDCAT HAD A YELLOW SOLID LIGHT. WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT TO TURN THE OTHER CAR APPEARED TO SPEED UP AND HIT HER FRONT ON AT A ABOUT 35 MPH SPEED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEATBELT LOCK IN PLACE. MY DAUGHTER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE ER. SHE IS OK, OTHER THAN A FEW SCRAPS AND BRUISES, HOWEVER I HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN THAT THE CAR I AM DRIVING AND SHE IS DRIVING IS NOT SAFE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON REPAIRS. I HAVE CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REPORT AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE GETTING BACK WITH ME. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND NEEDS ROUGHLY 6,500 IN REPAIRS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE CALL ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT I CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535163

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG, SEAT BELT AND SEAT FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,595.

NHTSA ODI 10452483

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AND A CRACKED STERNUM. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ODI 10443581