What 598 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Escape Phev

Vehicle: 2012 Ford Escape Issue: Loss of steering assist while driving While operating my vehicle, the power steering assist suddenly fails, making the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. This creates a dangerous driving condition and significantly increases the risk of an accident. This issue appears to match known problems with the electric power steering system in this vehicle, which has been the subject of recalls for similar model years. However, my VIN is not currently included. The failure has occurred while driving and has now made the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am requesting investigation into this issue and expansion of the recall to include additional affected vehicles, as this is a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11734932

This is a second car so don't drive it every day -- first incident occurred back in 2023 driving in town and car stopped!! Rolled to side and it started back up -- this happened several times and was very hesitant to drive on any highways. Several days the car would not start -- looked on line trying to figure out what was wrong and saw many people were having similar issues but nothing resolved -- battery tested fine but got a new battery from AAA but the next day battery was dead again. My husband did some more research and decided to pull the fuse for the radio and the front display module and the car has not stalled nor the battery been dead since but have been driving without a radio. I had to go on a five hour drive (both ways) last weekend and not fun driving that long without a radio. Stopped by a AAA repair shop yesterday and they said they had many complaints about the radio causing this problem (two actually that morning) and to call Ford to see if there was a recall. I called Ford this morning and the answer was NO! They told me to take it to a Ford Dealer (which is not convenient) and to have it diagnosed but again from what I have read Ford does not have any solutions to this problem. Wanted to get on file to let other people with this same issue to try removing the radio fuses (#14, #28, #39) but they would have no radio either. If I get the radio replaced not sure if that would create other issues and what affect it would have on the anti-theft system.

NHTSA ODI 11584012

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling in the restaurant drive thru line, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the battery cable had failed and needed to be replaced. The battery cables were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552885

My grandmothers vehicle has had an intermittent loss of power steering while driving at slow speeds and is a serious safety concern, the safety recall I had found "14S05" is exactly what's goin on with her vehicle and it matches up exactly to the recall down to the assembly plant other than her vehicle was assembled a year after the recall, but yet these symptoms of this recall is exactly what she is having. She has brought it to multiple ford dealerships and they turn her away unless she pays them over $200? I would fix it as a consumer, but no lights come on or even point me in a proper direction of repairs. There's no warning lights or anything and the only way it can be repaired is by the dealer so how can my grandmother be liable for this if the car tells me nothing is wrong? I have found several accident reports concerning this exact situation with her vehicle, I genuinely fear for her safety. It's been a problem for over 6 months and she just got back to driving again after a surgery and her vehicle has this issue. It was addressed a while back and they claimed there was nothing wrong at a local dealership. I can't fix this vehicle of my grandmothers unless the computer is telling me there is something wrong..... I have had the issue happen myself several occasions just starting the vehicle in place with absolutely no power steering and no check engine light/codes. It's happening intermittently to my grandmother who only drives in the city under 40 mph. She claims it happens multiple times while driving and she has to pull over in the middle of the street to shut her vehicle off and then proceed to restart the vehicle and there's no issues, but then often comes back continuously throughout driving and yet there's no lights or anything. My grandma doesn't have hundreds to spend on diagnosis and the dealer isn't willing to address the safety concern without her spending money. She has kept all documents in case of accidents as she is in fear of one happening.

NHTSA ODI 11549651

Warning on the dash panel intermittently says Lift gate/back glass is ajar even though it is closed. This causes the interior lights to turn on and off. I believe this is due to a manufacturer defect in the gasket that allows water/condensation to seep into the lift gate and cause corrosion of the electrical wires

NHTSA ODI 11516130

Power steering suddenly went out on right turn onto residential street at approx 10 mph. No warning lights. When car was restarted, power steering back on. Paid dealer to scan. Failure code B2278-2F. Replace steering shaft torque sensor (internal to steering column), steering shaft must be replaced, too, due to play. Just two parts: part cost $2272, labor $886. Part back-ordered for unknown period. Have not yet told dealer service to order parts. Asked dealer if car was safe to drive: they said "probably not."

NHTSA ODI 11497180

DRIVER DOOR SEAL (TOP) LEAKS TO THE POINT OF THERE BEING 2 INCHES OF WATER ON DRIVER FLOOR. ALSO WATER IS GETTING INSIDE THE DOOR, WHICH IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AT DEALER & LEAK STILL EXISTS. THIS IS CAUSING MOLD & RUST IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE INEXCUSABLE REPAIR WORK OF ATLANTIC AUTOMALL, BUT IT'S BECOMING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE & ATLANTIC AUTOMALL HAS BEEN REFUSING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OR EVEN RESPOND TO MY CALLS

NHTSA ODI 11311785

THIS MORNING I WAS RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AND WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND AS I STARTED BRAKING MY ESCAPE STALLED. I COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS HEADING AND AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES MY CAR STALLED AGAIN. ALL TOGETHER MY ESCAPE HAD STALLED 6 TIMES IN A 5 MILE STRETCH, TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ONE OF THOSE TWO TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHTS FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED GREEN. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DAY I HAD PICKED IT UP FROM THE LOT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN OR EVEN SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF MECHANICAL ISSUES UNTIL TODAY AND OF COURSE IT COULD NOT JUST HAPPEN ONE TIME OR IN A PLACE THAT WAS A LITTLE SAFER TO TRY AND PULL OVER. A COUPLE OF THE TIMES I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I HIT THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. KIND OF CRAZY HOW MY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT THIS MORNING AND BY THE AFTERNOON I WAS JUST A SITTING DUCK JUST WAITING TO GET REAR ENDED AND WITH NO PRE WARNING SIGNS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. 2 TIMES I WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT STALLED AND THE REST OF THE TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH. THE FAULTY PART SEEMS TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND SOME VEHICLES WILL HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT ON AND PRODUCE ERROR CODES AND SOME OF THE VEHICLES WILL NOT HAVE A SERVICE LIGHT POP UP AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND GET THE SAME RESULTS AFTER IT IS FIXED. HOW CAN SOME VEHICLES HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON WHEN THE ISSUES START OCCURRING WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND OTHER VEHICLES NOT HAVE A MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS? SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES SHOWING UP IN THE ESCAPE SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11266629

GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY GAUGES DROPPED, EXCEPT FOR FUEL. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I'D LOST ENGINE POWER. I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER, THANKFULLY. SINCE THEN, W/O ANY WARNINGS THE GAUGES WILL DROP, AND ALL THE SENSOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS, AND HAD THEM TO PUT IT ON THEIR MACHINE TO SEE IF IT WOULD CODE. IT CODED FOR P-1602. BATTERY TESTED FINE. LOOKED UP ON YOU TUBE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FOUND THIS VIDEO. IN THE VIDEO IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2012 ESCAPE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=M0ZZ0DFESSK LOOKING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION THE OWNER OF A 2010 ESCAPE, SAID THAT FORD REPLACED 3 INSTRUMENT PANELS, AND THE FACTORY FORD TECHNICIAN FINALLY FOUND THAT IT WAS COLD SOLDER JOINTS. IF YOU HIT THE DASH WITH YOU FIST, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES COME BACK UP, SO SEEMS TO BE IN THE WIRING, NOT BATTERY RELATED. MILEAGE, AND INFORMATION CENTER, STILL HASN'T CAME BACK UP. THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING, AND WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM FORD IF THIS IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11203069

WHEN MY HEATER MOTOR KICKS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING IT CAUSES MY CAR TO WANT TO STALL OR DIE. MY CAR SHUTTERS SO I MUST TURN OFF MY HEAT SO MY FAR WILL GO AS IT SHOULD. OTHER TIMES MY CAR HAS HAD A HESITATION WHILE I AM DRIVING. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SHUTTERS . IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE THAT. THE HAPPY CAR STORE GLENBROOK HYUNDAI IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11162388

POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO WARNING. IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE, ALTHOUGH VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PRESENTS A MAJOR HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. A RECALL EXISTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 2008-2011.

NHTSA ODI 11152912

POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, WHEN MAKING TURNS WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON AND OFF, TO GET IT TO UNLOCK OR BACK TO NORMAL HANDLING, I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A SAFELY MANNER, PUT CAR ON PARK TURN ENGINE OFF, THEN RESTART CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL WORKS AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TAKING MY CAR TO FORD DEALER AND SEE HOE THEY CAN HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH 2008-12 FORD ESCAPES.

NHTSA ODI 11142952

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL WATER INTRUSION AROUND THE SEALS, WHICH AFFECTED THE LIFTGATE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIFTGATE HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR. ALSO, THE LIFTGATE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN. THE DEALER (FRED BEANS FORD OF BOYERTOWN, 525 PA-100, BECHTELSVILLE, PA 19505, (610) 367-2081) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11128026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAYTIME. HAWK FORD IN OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS REPLACED THE HEADLAMP CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT FIND ANOTHER FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,850.

NHTSA ODI 11102025

WHILE DRIVING, EVERYTHING CUT OFF. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE POWER STEERING TURNED OFF, AND I HAD TO TRY AND SAFELY PULL OVER. LUCKILY, EACH TIME I WAS IN A POSITION WHERE I COULD PULL OVER SAFELY. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. THIS IS EXTREMELY SCARY AND UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS!!! PLEASE FORD, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND NO CODE CAN BE FOUND AND EVERYTHING PASSES THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE??

NHTSA ODI 11099946

THE BACK LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN, BUT THE GLASS WILL . O HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE 2012 FORD ESCAPE .

NHTSA ODI 11076083

NO COLD AIR IN AIR CONDITIONER WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED IN 2014 LOCK ON BACK HATCH REPLACED BROKE AGAIN . THE ELECTRICAL RADIO DASH BROKE. RECALL POWER CHAIN WRENCH LIGHT ON AGAIN. HEATING COAL REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11071899

AT RANDOM POINTS IN TIME WHEN CAR IS ON, DOESNT MATTER WHAT SPEED, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO BE MOVED UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I JUST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN BRATTLEBORO VT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS FROM COLLEGE WHEN I WENT RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SNOWBANK. AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND NOBODY WAS HURT AND LUCKLY I DIDNT HIT ANY OTHER CARS OR PROPERTY. CAR IS BEING TOWED BACK HOME TO A MECHANIC. I HAD GONE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE, IN MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND AFTER PAYING A $100 DIAGNOSIS FEE, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH SINCE THEN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES BUT NOT ON THE 2012 MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11055453

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONE TIME ON A SIDE ROAD AND THE OTHER ON A HIGHWAY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. BOTH TIMES THAT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER 2012 ESCAPE OWNERS ON FORUMS/BLOGS.

NHTSA ODI 11045858

I HAVE HAD 3 SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE 2012. FIRST, TWICE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING AT ONLY ABOUT 30-40 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT FIXED IT. SECOND, ON 11/11/17, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT ON A MAJOR ROAD, AND UPON ACCELERATING AND TURNING, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GO OUT ON ME. IT BECAME MUCH HARDER TO STEER. I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE ROAD AND AGAIN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH AGAIN SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS WHERE THESE TWO ISSUES ARE BEING REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME RESULT. MECHANICS CAN'T SEEM TO RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND THEREFOR CAN'T OFFER A FIX AT THE MOMENT. THESE 3 INCIDENTS THANKFULLY DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURY, BUT THEY EASILY COULD AND SEE TO BE SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT ARE GOING UNADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11045500

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE SEAT BELTS, THEY DO NOT RETRACK BY THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES THEY LOCK UP EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT STOP SUDDENLY., ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WITH MY DASHBOARD THE LIGHTING GOES DIM AND THEM BRIGHT WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR NO REASON I CAN TELL, THIS IS ALL DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI 11039919

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING. MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION IS STARTING IN 5TH GEAR. JERKS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. UPON GOING 45 MPH ENGINE REVS TO 3 RPM. CANNOT TAKE OFF FAST, VERY SLOW MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11014725

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I COULDN'T HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, AND IT RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IT HAS DONE THIS TO ME A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. THE FORD DEALERSHIPS OFFER TO "TAKE A LOOK AT IT" FOR A HIGH PRICE, AND CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG EITHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND/OR FUEL SYSTEM, BUT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF THE FORD ESCAPE TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS STATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES IDENTICAL TO THIS, ALL OF THEM STATING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BAD ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG OR FIX THEIR VEHICLES. AS CONSUMERS, WE PAY A VERY HIGH PRICE FOR VEHICLES THAT WE DEPEND ON DAILY TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. FORD SHOULD STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SATISFACTION OF ITS CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI 10960242

AUTO DOOR LOCK / UNLOCK FEATURE WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO ESCAPE FROM A DISABLED VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER IS INCAPACITATED.

NHTSA ODI 10927154

I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE ABOUT STALLING/STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM PARK OR WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE TECHNICIANS, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM (13N03). I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE ABOUT IT AND THEY MADE A CASE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ME AND SAID THEY MUST WORK WITH CORPORATE TO HELP ME. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO IF IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED. I HAVE CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I'M BACK AT SQUARE 1.

NHTSA ODI 10919352