2012 Ford Escape Fuel System Problems
NHTSA lists 160 Fuel System complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape, 27% of all 599 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 54,103 miles. A related recall (16V777000) covers a fuel line flange defect. Two crashes, one fire, and one injury are tied to this problem area.
- Fuel System complaints
- 160
- 27% of 599
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 54,103 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical fuel system symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of acceleration or complete power loss while driving at highway speed, sometimes requiring the vehicle to be pulled off the road.
- Some describe the engine dropping to idle or stalling unexpectedly during acceleration or while pulling out from an intersection, often with the wrench warning light on.
- Several report the vehicle lurching or surging forward unexpectedly, including one case where brakes failed to slow the car after a surge.
- One owner reported the fuel cap missing from the vehicle, causing a strong gasoline odor when refueling.
- One owner reported an engine fire linked to the fuel system recall, which destroyed the vehicle.
When 2012 Ford Escape fuel system complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 13, 2012, latest Jan 28, 2026.
Fuel System recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 16V777000Oct 26, 2016Fuel System329,265 vehicles
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 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 16S41.
Fuel System 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 fuel system problems in the 2012 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA lists 160 Fuel System complaints for the 2012 Escape, which is 27% of the 599 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a fuel system recall for the 2012 Ford Escape?
- Yes. Recall 16V777000, reported October 26, 2016, covers a fuel line flange that Ford replaces with a redesigned fuel supply port at no cost.
- At what mileage do fuel system problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for fuel system complaints on the 2012 Escape is 54,103 miles.
- Have fuel system issues caused crashes or fires in the 2012 Escape?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury for the 2012 Escape.