The Lemon IndexAll cars · Ford Escape · 2012
2012 Ford Escape. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 7
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 23 / 28 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto 6-spd | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto 6-spd | AWD | 20 / 26 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 34 / 30 / 32 | Regular | $1,950 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | AWD | 30 / 27 / 29 | Regular | $2,150 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto 6-spd | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 | Regular | $2,950 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto 6-spd | AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 | Regular | $3,100 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 33,000 and 93,300 miles. Median 56,000, from 424 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 99,600 | 66,300–131,800 | 102 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 54,000 | 37,000–73,100 | 62 |
| Engine | 40,500 | 17,300–64,600 | 68 |
| Speed control | 43,000 | 23,900–51,000 | 59 |
| Body structure | 56,000 | 35,800–88,500 | 50 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Speed control | 29% |
| Engine | 26% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 25% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 12% |
| Steering | 8% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 619 | 41 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 27 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 2
16V777000 Oct 2016 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump
Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is
15E045000 Jun 2015 Suspension / Front / Wheel Bearing
Defect. The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Risk. Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Electronic throttle body malfunction | 2013 | 2014 |
| Closed | Electronic throttle body malfunction | 2012 | 2013 |
Manufacturer communications 43
Ford filed 43 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Illuminated mil or safety stop now message, or a no
- On the left hand half shaft seal, there is a fluid leak from the transmission because of wear…
- Mercury/ford: on some vehicles, there is a fluid leakage, coming from left hand (lh) halfshaft…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape SUV 4x4 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford Escape SUV 4x2 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford Escape Hev SUV 4x4 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford Escape Hev SUV 4x2 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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