2012 Ford Escape Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 137 steering complaints for the 2012 Ford Escape, 23% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 100,000 miles. Three crashes and two injuries are tied to this component, and no related recalls are listed in this data.
- Steering complaints
- 137
- 23% of 599
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 100,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Power steering suddenly cuts out at highway speed, making the wheel hard or impossible to turn until the car is restarted.
- Steering assist fails intermittently at lower speeds, such as 23 to 40 mph, then returns to normal on its own or after shutting the engine off and on.
- The steering wheel independently pulls or steers to one side while driving, in at least one case leading to a rollover crash.
- The steering wheel locks up at random while driving, regardless of speed, and stays locked until the ignition is cycled.
- Dealers and independent mechanics diagnose defective steering columns or steering control modules, though some vehicles are reported as sent home unrepaired because the failure could not be duplicated.
When 2012 Ford Escape steering complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 8, 2011, latest May 22, 2026.
Steering recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Steering 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 steering complaints on the 2012 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA has logged 137 steering complaints for the 2012 Escape, which is 23% of the 599 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a steering recall for the 2012 Ford Escape?
- No related recall is listed in this data for the 2012 Escape's steering component.
- At what mileage does the 2012 Ford Escape steering usually fail?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 100,000 miles.
- Are the 2012 Escape steering failures dangerous?
- NHTSA data tied to this component for the 2012 Escape lists 3 crashes and 2 injuries.
- How does the 2012 Escape compare to other Escape years for steering complaints?
- The 2012 Escape's 137 steering complaints are fewer than the 422 reported for 2010 and 409 for 2011, but its 23% share of total complaints is higher than most later years, such as 11% in 2013 and 7% in 2014.