2012 Ford Escape Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 128 engine complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape, 21% of its 599 total complaints. Nine crashes and three injuries were linked, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 and no related recalls on file.
- Engine complaints
- 128
- 21% of 599
- Crashes reported
- 9
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 40,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or surging forward while parking or coasting to a stop, sometimes striking a wall, tree, or parked vehicle.
- Some report the vehicle lunging or jerking forward on its own even with the brake pedal depressed, including while backing out of a driveway.
- Several complaints describe hesitation or lag when accelerating, followed by the vehicle unexpectedly lunging forward once the throttle responds.
- Others note hard downshifts or rough gear engagement around 35 to 40 mph when coasting from highway speed.
- A few drivers reported the engine revving high on its own before the vehicle moved without driver input.
When 2012 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 24, 2012, latest Jul 11, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Escape model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA lists 128 engine complaints for the 2012 Escape, which is 21% of the 599 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford Escape engine problems?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area on the 2012 Ford Escape.
- At what mileage do 2012 Ford Escape engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 40,000 miles.
- Did these engine complaints lead to crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data links 9 crashes and 3 injuries to the engine complaints filed for the 2012 Ford Escape, with no fires reported.
- How does 2012 compare to other Escape years for engine complaints?
- The 2012 Escape's engine complaints make up 21% of its total complaints, lower than years like 2017 (74%) and 2018 (80%), based on NHTSA data.