The Lemon IndexThe variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be. Full P0012 page
15 owner complaints · one of 245 codes Ford Escape owners name · 2% of Ford Escape complaints that name a code (every car: 0.3%)
Middle of 63,000 miles · most between 33,000 and 98,000 (9 owners gave it)
Ford Escape owners named P0012 in 15 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2009, 2018 and 2019 model years, at a middle of 63,000 miles. The part they name most is the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (3 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Escape model years that report P0012
Owner complaints naming P0012, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
63,000 miles is the middle of what 9 owners entered. Half were between 33,000 and 98,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the engine (replaced or rebuilt), in 3 of the 15 complaints (20%). 3 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 1 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (3), head gasket (3) and spark plugs (2).
- Engine replaced or rebuilt3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder3 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Spark plugs2 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Throttle body2 complaintsnamed as the cause, no repair mentioned · what Ford Escape owners paid
5 complaints mention a recall and 4 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0012
60% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Warning lights and electrical faults40%6 of 15 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires40%6 of 15 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off27%4 of 15 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard13%2 of 15 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode13%2 of 15 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0012 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0014 3 P0341 2 P0346 2 P0022 2 P0302 2
Other codes named in the same Ford Escape complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Ford Escape engine replacement cost · Ford Escape head gasket replacement cost · Ford Escape spark plug replacement cost · Ford Escape throttle body replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford Escape years
- Engine · 2014 · issued 2017
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. NHTSA 17V209000
1 recall for the same systems (engine) on the Ford Escape model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0012. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0012: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Escape reliability by year
- 2009 Ford Escape problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Escape owners report
P2111 P2112 P0302 P0303 B2278 P0316 P0301 P0304 P1299 P0300
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0012 means
The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be. The engine can idle rough, lose power or use more fuel. Low or dirty oil is a common trigger, because oil pressure moves the timing.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Low, old or wrong-grade engine oil
- Sticking oil control (VVT) solenoid
- Worn or stretched timing chain
- Faulty cam phaser
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11740983, 11720237, 11675960, 11671735, 11669165, 11584815, 11547769, 11427314, 11342906, 11318606, 11062913, 10542950 and 3 more.
Quick answers
What does P0012 mean on a Ford Escape?
A Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded (Intake, Bank 1). The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be. The engine can idle rough, lose power or use more fuel. Low or dirty oil is a common trigger, because oil pressure moves the timing.
Which Ford Escape years have the most P0012 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2009 (5), 2018 (3), 2019 (2) Ford Escape named P0012 most (15 complaints in all, 2009–2019). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0012 on a Ford Escape?
Owners most often name the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (3 of 15 complaints), then timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser and head gasket. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0012 show up on a Ford Escape?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 63,000 miles; half were between 33,000 and 98,000 (9 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Escape with P0012?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0012 on the Ford Escape, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.