2012 Ford Escape Ford Escape 2012

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2012 Ford Escape repairs by problem area

Engine (24%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (13%)

Brakes and Traction Control (4%)

Suspension and Steering (8%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (26%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (19%)

Other (6%)

Chart based on 89 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 Ford Escape.

2012 Ford Escape repair cost distribution

$2500+ (4%)

$1000 - $2499 (7%)

$500 - $999 (7%)

$100 - $499 (23%)

< $100 (59%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 71 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2012 Ford Escape

Engine not specified

Ford Escape in British Columbia, Canada
Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013 Poor shifting in the auto trans Rear lift gate latch 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

240-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD

Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2014 - Jun 2018
Jun 2015

38440 mi
rusted area inside one fender; touched up manually 
Sep 2015

44640 mi

C $40
Fan speed resistor failed; replaced with new. 
May 2016

57340 mi

C $1500
Replaced front struts and rear shock absorbers with non-OEM components (original parts were worn, to the extent the vehicle could not be aligned). Alignment completed. 
Dec 2016

69440 mi

C $400
Hinges corroded at rear lift-glass; replaced hinges 
Mar 2017

73160 mi

C $85
Blower motor resistor failed (max speed available only) Replaced resistor Rear liftgate struts replaced Rear lift glass struts replaced 
Jun 2017

76260 mi
Rust at rear wheel wells, sanded & painted. 
Aug 2017

80414 mi

C $180
Noticed increased oil consumption; PCV valve examined and replaced 
Dec 2017

81840 mi

C $50
Fan speed resistor; replaced, but problem returned after ten days 
Mar 2018

88040 mi

C $50
Front pads and rotors worn; replaced Blower motor resistor failed, replaced 
May 2018

93000 mi

C $700
Rattle noises; shop identified worn links and replaced 
Ford Escape in Kentucky, United States
Dec 2013 - Jan 2022
Aug 2014

31000 mi
Rear hatch handle was inoperable. Dealer replaced the handle assembly under factory warranty. 
Aug 2016

57000 mi
Rust on the inside bottom seam on rear hatch. The paint is blistered along this entire seam. 
Feb 2019

88000 mi

US $1831
Rusted rear hatch (known problem with Ford) 
Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2014 - May 2017
Jan 2015

76340 mi

C $120
a/c failure , dryer pack exploded and according to ford rendered the ac system total useless and everything needed to be replaced at my cost $4000. case opened with Ford canada got them down to half $2000 but unacceptable still waiting 
Dec 2016

96100 mi

C $400
Rear window hinges crumbled and broke off common issue with escape 
Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
Feb 2013 - Dec 2017
Jul 2016

95480 mi

C $2500
Left front Strut leaking and making knocking sound and vibration on rough pavement 
Apr 2017

103540 mi

C $600
needed A/C parts replaced. can't remember which ones 
Ford Escape in Florida, United States
Mar 2012 - May 2014
Jun 2012

4000 mi
Faulty paint on lift gate, chipped off exposing the primer underneath. small spot in the corner. 
Mar 2013

16000 mi
replaced the cam positioning sensor on the left side 
Jul 2013

22000 mi
replaced the cam positioning sensor on the right side 
Ford Escape in Michigan, United States
Dec 2016 - Jun 2018
Apr 2017

76000 mi

US $100
Exhaust muffler rusted out around weld on muffler side. This was the small one after the CAT that was only a straight tube with a perforated tube inside with acoustic pack(no bends to create back pressure). Not very useful to begin with, and we replaced it with a straight pipe and can't notice a difference. 
Jun 2018

94000 mi

US $50
Liftgate glass hinge exploded apart. It had been showing signs of corrosion, and I had expected this to happen for awhile. This is something that we don't use at all, but when shutting the whole trunk door the hinge for the glass broke. Bought 2 replacement pieces and took all of 10 minutes to replace. 
Ford Escape in Ohio, United States
Jun 2021 - Jul 2022
Jul 2021

77558 mi

US $110
Serpentine belt tensioner replaced 
May 2022

89048 mi

US $600
One valve cover gasket replaced (was supposed to be both) 
Jul 2022

91536 mi

US $800
Second valve cover gasket replaced along with intake manifold gasket 
Ford Escape in Ohio, United States
Apr 2016 - Dec 2017
May 2017

93000 mi

US $200
Spark plugs 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

240-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic AWD

Ford Escape in Tennessee, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2018
May 2012

2900 mi
Passenger vanity mirror light didn't work. New visor with mirror ordered and replaced per warranty. 
Oct 2015

19200 mi
replaced battery under warranty, 36 months bumper to bumper coverage 
Oct 2017

33000 mi
Left rear and Right rear shock absorbers, the Left leaked. 
Ford Escape in New York, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2018
Oct 2015

32700 mi

US $268
Replace Blower Motor Control unit. 
Ford Escape in Virginia, United States
Apr 2018 - May 2018
May 2018

37000 mi

US $200
It has hard shifting first to second and second and third gears first to second delays and then finally shifts 
Ford Escape in Nebraska, United States
Dec 2011 - Apr 2018
Aug 2017

48000 mi

US $100
Replaced throttle body 
Mar 2018

55000 mi

US $200
Fuel leak recall. We could smell fuel outside the vehicle, not when inside, and it took a few days to realize it was our car and then we got the recall notice - it was kind of funny timing. Installed new front break pads 
Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2014 - Oct 2017
Jun 2014

26040 mi
Replaced engine under warranty. # 1 rod bearing, cam caps scored 
Sep 2016

46500 mi

C $1700
Second rust repair around rear wheel openings, September 26, 2016. First on April 15, 2015. Third will be on May 15, 2017. 
Mar 2017

50840 mi

C $113
Number 4 piston and wall scored bad. Had a knocking noise and sounded like a diesel. Installed new engine. Seems that once the engine has approximately 40,000 km; piston problems occur. 
Ford Escape in Iowa, United States
Mar 2013 - Oct 2013
Apr 2013

14000 mi
Have had a highway speed vibration since 4000 miles. Nobody can figure it out. It is only felt through the steering wheel at highway speed. Very irritating. 
Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
May 2012 - Jun 2018
Jan 2013

13480 mi
Battery needed to be boosted several time over the last month. 
Apr 2013

15500 mi
Hard and/or delayed transmission shifts. Software updated to correct problem 
Ford Escape in Maryland, United States
Dec 2011 - Nov 2012
Nov 2012

20000 mi
TPMS sensor replaced. 
Ford Escape in Indiana, United States
Mar 2012 - Feb 2015
Sep 2013

26000 mi
Remove / replace left front radio speaker Right rain gutter adhesive failure allowed trim to curl away from body. 
Dec 2013

27000 mi
License plate lamp holder broken during mfg, replaced under warranty. 
Mar 2014

32000 mi
RF radio speaker distorting like LF speaker did earlier. R2 the RF speaker. 
Jul 2014

36000 mi
Right front speaker blown--this is the third speaker. 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

171-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic FWD

Ford Escape in British Columbia, Canada
Jul 2013 - Sep 2016
May 2014

15520 mi
Navigation antenna did not acquire signal. 
Sep 2015

22320 mi

C $150
Blower Motor Resistor Replaced 
Ford Escape in Georgia, United States
Feb 2012 - Dec 2021
Feb 2016

18000 mi
Shifter would lock up and unable to get car into gear. Shifter mechanism completely replaced under the extended warranty I had purchased previously. 
Jun 2016

23000 mi

US $40
Water getting inside door but not draining out, holes at bottom were clogged. 
Ford Escape in California, United States
Jan 2021 - Oct 2023
Jan 2022

198000 mi

US $410
Electric seat adjustment motor, driver side. Used part had to be ordered as dealer, Ford, no longer carries the part as it is allegedly too old for them. This is for power driver side seat. Junk yard part ordered, installed, and one of three motors on seat did not work. Shop reordered another junk yard part to get all three motors on it. This is the first repair on the vehicle with 199,000 miles on it! 
May 2023

217000 mi

US $3400
Transmission failed by slipping with engine doing 3000 rpm and car traveling at 4 mph. 
Sep 2023

224000 mi
Drivetrain 
Ford Escape in Texas, United States
Feb 2012 - Dec 2013
Oct 2012

6700 mi
Suspension noise. Repair required 
Ford Escape in New Mexico, United States
Dec 2011 - Oct 2013
Jan 2012

12200 mi
Sunroof was not flush with roof when closed. Glass panel realigned by dealer. 
Aug 2012

9000 mi
Paint defect - left C-pillar. Dealer had to sublet to body shop for repair. Vehicle vibrates excessively at idle when in gear with A/C engaged. Ford has issued Special Service Message 22065 but as of October 2011 has not released a fix other than checking engine mounts. Technician says problem is in PCM programming. 
Apr 2013

18300 mi
While inspecting transmission during a routine service visit, technician discovered the A/T valve-body was "cooked" and needed to be rebuilt. When reassembling transmission following A/T valve-body replacement, technician failed to remove positioning tab from half-shaft gasket, resulting in transmission fluid leak. 
Oct 2013

21687 mi
Harsh shifting from recently-rebuilt transmission. Dealer could not replicate problem. Routine LOF and tire rotation. Also check harsh shifting from recently-rebuilt transmission. Dealer could not replicate problem. 
Ford Escape in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2012 - May 2020
May 2014

22320 mi
Remote key fob stopped working. The dealer replaced the remote with a new fob. 
Sep 2014

24800 mi
Heater and air conditioning blower stopped working on level 1 and 2. The dealer replaced the control reostat under warranty. 
Nov 2017

57040 mi

C $2700
Severe rust around the rear wheel wells. Rear quarter panel kit was installed. This is a common design defect with the 2009-2012 Escape 
Jul 2018

60140 mi

C $40
Air conditioning was blowing cold on the highway and then warm when in traffic and at traffic lights. All fuses were checked. Air conditioning was replaced and fixed the problem. 
Ford Escape in Florida, United States
Jun 2012 - Apr 2015
Sep 2014

35000 mi
Front passenger seat belt failing to properly retract. Seat belt replaced under warranty. 
Ford Escape in Nunavit Territory, Canada
Oct 2012 - Apr 2017
Nov 2012

6820 mi

C $425
Automatic arming. Shuts engine system down. Keys lost their programming.Had to take it to an authorized service centre for Ford but not a dealer since my location dictated such 
Mar 2017

13020 mi

C $325
battery 
Ford Escape in Virginia, United States
Mar 2012 - Oct 2014
Aug 2013

46700 mi
Grinding noise under acceleration. Dealer said it was a pulley and replaced. 
Feb 2014

59700 mi
Still sounds like a diesel. It's a "company" vehicle so we gave up, as it is going out of commission late this year. Escape 2012 is a nice vehicle, but cheap materials and poor dealer troubleshooting would be a showstopper if private owned 
May 2014

67300 mi
Pulley noise 
Oct 2014

74000 mi
Pulley noise 
Ford Escape in Alberta, Canada
Mar 2013 - Dec 2015
Aug 2015

25080 mi
Rust developed on the inner lip of the tailgate. Ford fixed it under warranty, loaner car provided free of charge. 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

171-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic AWD

Ford Escape in Saskatchewan, Canada
Jan 2012 - Mar 2016
Jul 2014

36240 mi
Driver side vanity mirror would not close completely. 
Ford Escape in Virginia, United States
Oct 2015 - Aug 2019
Dec 2015

49000 mi
replaced parts including evaporator, fan component, etc. Fan would only work at full and low speed. 
Sep 2016

54000 mi

US $150
clicking sound on rear brake shoe. cleaned and adjusted. sound mostly resolved. 
Ford Escape in Michigan, United States
Feb 2012 - Jan 2022
Sep 2013

26000 mi
Transmission was slipping, turned out to be a computer issue. The dealer took care of it. 
May 2017

43000 mi

US $1200
Rear quarter panel began rusting out, despite having been Ziebarted. Ziebart paid some, but not all for the repair. The dealer confirmed it's a serious problem on these Escapes. 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

171-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Ford Escape in Florida, United States
Nov 2013 - Mar 2016
Feb 2013

8197 mi

US $82
4 wheel alignment 
Oct 2014

22019 mi

US $113
starting battery had started to get weak replaced before total failure. 
Oct 2015

30095 mi

US $150
4 wheel alignment 3/year program 
Feb 2016

34000 mi

US $54
Fuel pump relay and Fuel Inertia cutoff switch replaced 

Return to top

2012 Ford Escape 4dr SUV

153-horsepower 2.5L I4 Hybrid CVT AWD

Ford Escape in California, United States
May 2015 - Jun 2018
Mar 2016

58000 mi

US $45
Evaporative Emissions valve (vapor vent) 
Ford Escape in Maryland, United States
Mar 2013 - Jun 2022
Sep 2015

51000 mi
throttle body replacement 
Ford Escape in Florida, United States
Nov 2016 - May 2017
Mar 2017

57000 mi

US $2000
Brake system was locking up 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Ford models.

2012 Ford Escape Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2012 Ford Escape problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.