2012 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner Complaints

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAMP FORD LOCATED AT 4869 NESCONSET HWY, PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY 11776 HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11375581

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

53,000 mi

I TURNED ON MY BACK WINDOW DEFROSTER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE WINDOW EXPLODED/SHATTERED THEREBY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11181502

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HAS RUST COVERING THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I NEVER NOTICED IT UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I NOTICED SOME RUST UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR I WAS HORRIFIED. THE RUST IS REALLY BAD AND IT'S EATING THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSELY I SAW RUST UNDER BOTH SEATS ON THE BRACKETS. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CARPET I CAN SEE THAT IT'S AFFECTING THE INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF RUST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS SIX YEARS OLD. I THINK IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CHECKED AROUND ONLINE LAST NIGHT AND IT WILL LIKELY COST A LOT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED AT ALL. LAST YEAR I DID NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS HUMID ON THE INSIDE BUT I DIDN'T THINK TO LOOK FOR RUST ON A CAR THIS NEW. THE PART THAT REALLY ANGERS ME IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I PLANNED TO DRIVE IT FOR YEARS. IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND SERVICE CONTRACT WITH FORD. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR. I REALLY THINK IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. SHOULD I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THEY WON'T FIX IT? WHAT SHOULD I DO? I WILL TAKE SOME PHOTOS IN THE DAYLIGHT AND ADD THEM TO THIS REPORT.

NHTSA ID

11130870

Incident

Sep 22, 2018

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW UP AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GAUDIN FORD (6625 W. ROY HORN WAY, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118, 702-534-3094) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11079441

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

5 WEEKS AGO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR 3 WEEKS. I WAS PLANNING ON GOING ON A VACATION AROUND THAT TIME, SO DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER I GOT BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, 2 DAYS PRIOR TO MY TRIP, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME FROM A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS DOWNSHIFTING AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF WHICH WHEN I RESTARTED IT REBOOTED THE BRAKES FOR A WHILE, ENOUGH TO GET ME TO THE FORD DEALER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS AND THEY ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP (FOR $5000.00) WHICH I AM HESITANT TO AUTHORIZE. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IN DOING RESEARCH ON LINE I HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS SIMILAR STORIES ON DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY 2008. I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE IT INVESTIGATED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER SIMILAR CASES ARE INVOLVED AND IF ANY FATALITIES HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11062898

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND COMPUTER WRENCH SIGHN 10LIGHT APPEARED AT A RED LIGHT IN THE CITY CAR DRIVE VERY SLOW PULLED OVER SHUT CAR OFF AND IT STARTED WITH WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF .

NHTSA ID

11033448

Incident

Oct 15, 2017

Mileage

145 mi

RECALL #16S41/NHTSA 16V-777 REC NOTICE IN DECEMBER 2016 HAVE CALLED DEALER AND CORP ALSO AND KEEP GETTING TOLD PART NOT DONE YET OR NO WAY TO FIX I DO SMELL GAS EVERYTIME I FILL UP AND NOW I SMELL IT ON RANDOM TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN RAINING AND GOING THRU PUDDLE SMELL OF FUMES GAS IN VEHICLE LAST CALLED TODAY 9/25/2017

NHTSA ID

11025305

Incident

Sep 25, 2017

I OWN A 2012 FORD ESCAPE AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP OVER TEN TIMES. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. MULTIPLE TIMES THEY HAVE GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND CLEANED THE SOLENOIDS. MY TRANSMISSION STILL SPUTTERS AND ONCE AGAIN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON. ONE TIME I LOST COMPLETE POWER AND WAS ALMOST KILLED IN AN INTERSECTION. IF ANYONE WANTS TO TAKE MY CAR FOR TESTING THEY CAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE AND AM SCARED THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE SITES THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME LIKE A HELICOPTER AND WHEN IT SHIFTS LIKE I AM A NASCAR DRIVER

NHTSA ID

10924867

Incident

Feb 20, 2016

Mileage

48,000 mi

TRAVELING ON 4 LANE STREET AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A 2 LANE STREET; AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN MY LOCKED DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN-TERRIFYING. JUST THAT AM HAD READ IN THE LOCAL PAPER THERE WAS A RECALL OF THESE CARS FOR THIS REASON. GOT HOME AND CALLED VISTA FORD OF OXNARD WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT BUT SCHEDULED AN APT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY-EARLIEST I COULD GET. SATURDAY AM I CALLED THE FORD 800 NUMBER AND THEY GOT ME IN RIGHT AWAY TO DCH FORD IN THOUSAND OAKS. WHEN I ARRIVED THE TECHNICIAN -RJ DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THE DOOR DIDN'T OPEN; HE REPEATEDLY SAID THE DOOR MUST HAVE BEEN OPEN AND I INSISTED THAT IT WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED WE HAD A BIT OF A SPARRING SESSION AS HE INSISTED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WANTED $150 TO TAKE IT APART. I NOTED THERE IS A RECALL BUT SINCE MINE WAS NOT LISTED HE SAID IT WOULD BE $547 TO CHANGE THE LOCK-I AM TOTALLY INCENSED AND INSISTED THAT FORD KNEW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD CHANGE IT RATHER THAN JEOPARDIZE MY SAFETY. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? HAVE A CALL IN TO AN ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS AREA BUT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE.

NHTSA ID

10905535

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

49,731 mi

WE WERE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA WHEN ON JULY 2 ,2015 WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 110 MPH, WE THEN SPUN COMPLETELY AROUND 3 TIMES AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING HEAD ON A CONCRETE SHOULDER WALL. THE DRIVER SUFFERED 3 BROKEN RIBS AND WHIPLASH. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND A BROKEN RIGHT HAND. SHE WORE A CAST FOR OVER 2 MONTHS AND IS NOW REQUIRING HAND SURGERY TO PUT IN METAL SCREWS AND A PLATE. THE PASSENGER IS RIGHT HANDED SO THIS HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO JUST SIMPLE TASK. EATING, RESTROOM, SHOWERING, DRIVING AND WRITING JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS THAT SHE CAN'T DO ALSO SHE NEEDS DENTAL WORK OVER $10,000. SHE IS IN SEVERE PAIN ALL THE TIME. SHE IS VERY LIMITED ON THE FEW THINGS SHE CAN DO. AT NO TIME DID EITHER AIR BAG DEPLOY. THE OTHER DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CHP ( CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL) COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED DO TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH LOTS OF FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES THAT OWN FORDS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING UPON IMPACT. SOME WERE IN FENDER BENDERS AND SOME MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF ANY ONE ELSE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT TURNED OFF AS THIS WAS A COMPANY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10825791

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

4/29/15 THIS ESCAPE WAS PURCHASED 8/17/12 DELIVERED WITH 35 MILES, PRESENTLY AT 17532 WAS SCHEDULED A WEEK IN ADVANCE, AND TO BE SERVICED ON 4/06/15, VERBAL/WRITTEN CONSENT TO REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE WAS 17532 AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY TO INVER GROVE FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP. PLEASE NOTE, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP'S, AND CURRENT IN SERVICE RECORDS. REAR VIEW CAMERA, (WORKS INTERMITTENTLY) WITH BLACK SQUIGGLY LINES WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE. STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOON ROOF HAS LEAKED AND 3 ATTEMPTED REPAIRS WERE MADE WITHIN MONTHS OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. THE LEAK CAUSED STAINS TO THE INTERIOR ROOF. THE MOONROOF HAS NEVER SEEDED PROPERLY AND IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ELECTRICAL DRIVER COCKPIT IS UNSTABLE AND WORKS WITH PERIODIC SHORTAGES. A FORD AUTHORIZED/FORD PART, REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED, INTERIOR ROOF COVER DOES NOT FIX PROPERLY, WAS DAMAGED WITH AT TIME OF THE FORD PART BEING INSTALLED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TORE THE FRONT HOOD, REPLACED IT WITH A NON FITTING ROOF INTERIOR COVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713581

Incident

Mar 6, 2014

Mileage

17,252 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATORS THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH SOME 2011 FORD ESCAPE MODELS MADE AT THE SAME PLANT IN KANSAS CITY AND THOSE VEHICLES WHERE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10690811

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

4,222 mi

REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAD UNLOADED WHAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN CLOSED THE HATCH AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT DID HAVE MARKS ON MY CHEST AREA FROM THE FLYING GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650581

Incident

Oct 27, 2014

Mileage

22,461 mi

IN BOTH INCIDENTS AND THERE WERE TWO I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH OR LESS WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT USING THE BRAKES. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND ONE COMING AT ME IN THE OTHER LANE TOO. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP A CURB FLATTENING THE TIRES AND DAMAGING THE WHEELS. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE JUST SLOWED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT LOU FUSZ FORD IN CHESTERFIELD , MO TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. IN THE 2ND INCIDENT I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, WHEN AGAIN THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT STRIKING A MAILBOX AND BASKETBALL UPRIGHT. AGAIN, THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN IT JUST SLOWED TO NORMAL. I CONTACTED FORD AFTER BOTH INCIDENTS AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL IT TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL AND THE VALUE IN TRADE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT IS NEXT TO NOTHING WITH THESE ACCIDENTS ON ITS RECORD. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIME THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED, HE STRUCK A BASKETBALL STAND AND A MAILBOX. BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE FRONT LAWN OF A HOME. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10605332

Incident

Aug 31, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKES. THERE ARE NO CODES WHEN EVALUATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON, THE BRAKES WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS WEEK, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BRAKES FAIL BECAUSE I AM STEPPING ON THE BRAKE BEFORE STARTING THE CAR. THEY SAY THIS RESULTS IN BLEEDING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKES WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE BRAKES FAILING. THE SOLUTION, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS TO NOT STEP ON THE BRAKES BEFORE STARTING THE CAR. THEY CLAIM THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FORD SERVICE LINE AND THEY HAVE REITERATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALERSHIP, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE IT IS NORMAL (AND NECESSARY IN SEVERAL MAKES OF CARS EG. TOYOTA, MERCEDES AND BMW) TO HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, THAT PEOPLE COULD BE INJURED SINCE FORD CONSIDERS THIS "NORMAL". THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT SAY THAT ONE SHOULD NOT STEP ON THE BRAKES BEFORE STARTING THE CAR. THE BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES OVER THE PAST 9 MONTHS. IT DID OCCUR ONCE WHEN GOING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520859

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

15,000 mi