YearToAvoid

2012 Ford Escape Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 24 brake complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape, 4% of its 599 total complaints that year. Four crashes were linked to brake issues, with no fires or injuries reported, and the median failure mileage was 62,000. No brake-related recalls are tied to this year.

Brakes complaints
24
4% of 599
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
62,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal suddenly extends toward the floor or feels soft during normal driving.
  • Front brakes and rotors show excessive corrosion well before expected wear, sometimes noticed during routine maintenance.
  • Rear brakes or drums make grinding or rubbing noises that dealers say are normal but owners believe are not.
  • ABS and traction control warning lights stay illuminated, in some cases traced to a failed ABS module.
  • Brake fluid fails to return to the master cylinder through the front brake hose connector, causing brakes to stay applied and overheat.
  • Braking is accompanied by vibration and, in some reports, stalling or hesitation.

When 2012 Ford Escape brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2012, latest Aug 28, 2024.

2012 Ford Escape brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2012Dec 2014May 2017Jan 2018Jun 2019May 2021Jun 2023
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Aug 2024; peak Dec 2012 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201078 (4%)
  2. 201142 (3%)
  3. 201224 (4%)
  4. 2013107 (4%)
  5. 201447 (2%)
  6. 201535 (3%)
  7. 201629 (3%)
  8. 201758 (2%)
  9. 201831 (2%)
  10. 201910 (2%)
  11. 202047 (3%)
  12. 202150 (14%)
  13. 202234 (15%)
  14. 20234 (4%)
  15. 20243 (4%)
  16. 20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Ford Escape?
NHTSA lists 24 brake complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape, making up 4% of the 599 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2012 Ford Escape?
No related recalls are listed for the brake complaints on the 2012 Ford Escape in this data.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2012 Escape?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2012 Ford Escape is 62,000 miles.
Did brake problems on the 2012 Escape cause crashes?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 4 crashes associated with brake complaints on the 2012 Ford Escape, with no fires or injuries reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.