Model year
2012 Ford Escape
NHTSA lists 1 recall and 604 complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 15 complaints under ESCAPE HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (139), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (137), ENGINE (73). NHTSA lists 2 investigations. NHTSA rated 4 variants 3 stars overall. EPA rates it 20–32 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,100–$3,350, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 996 complaints
- 2002 1,027 complaints
- 2003 558 complaints
- 2004 499 complaints
- 2005 1,394 complaints
- 2006 464 complaints
- 2007 254 complaints
- 2008 1,974 complaints
- 2009 1,693 complaints
- 2010 2,070 complaints
- 2011 1,318 complaints
- 2012 604 complaints
- 2013 2,753 complaints
- 2014 2,089 complaints
- 2015 1,130 complaints
- 2016 1,166 complaints
- 2017 2,701 complaints
- 2018 1,821 complaints
- 2019 596 complaints
- 2020 1,612 complaints
- 2021 350 complaints
- 2022 236 complaints
- 2023 101 complaints
- 2024 76 complaints
- 2025 26 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
Recalls
16V777000 · Oct 26, 2016
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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…
Complaints
604 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 38, fire flag on 3, injury field 27, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| ESCAPE HYBRID | 0 | 15 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP12006 | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction · ENGINE | Oct 2, 2012 | Feb 21, 2013 |
| PE13003 | Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction · ENGINE | Feb 21, 2013 | Feb 28, 2014 |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hev SUV 4x2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 · possibility 0.237 | — |
| Hev SUV 4x4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 · possibility 0.204 | — |
| SUV 4x2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 · possibility 0.237 | NHTSA photo |
| SUV 4x4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 · possibility 0.204 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape Hybrid FWD · 2.5L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 34 | 30 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Escape FWD FFV · 3L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · FFV | 19 | 25 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
| Escape FWD · 2.5L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 27 | 23 | — | — | $2,900 |
| Escape FWD · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 | 28 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Escape Hybrid AWD · 2.5L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 30 | 27 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Escape AWD FFV · 3L · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · FFV | 18 | 23 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
| Escape AWD · 2.5L · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 26 | 23 | — | — | $2,900 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Ford Escape at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.