Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Warning on the dash panel intermittently says Lift gate/back glass is ajar even though it is closed. This causes the interior lights to turn on and off. I believe this is due to a manufacturer defect in the gasket that allows water/condensation to seep into the lift gate and cause corrosion of the electrical wires
Both rear doors will not open from inside or outside. No way to take panels off to repair. Can’t exit in case of emergency.
I have a 2012 Ford Escape what the following safety malfunctions: 1. Driver's door malfunction Driver's side door failed to close/ door lock ajar even when system door lock buttons are pressed. It first began June 1, 2021. Door flung open while driving my daughter and I to school and work. I had to hold the door with one hand and steer with other as this door malfunction posed a safety risk to others. Hazzard light for door is functioning when key is in ignition. I am in the process of contacting the dealer for inspection and servicing the vehicle. 2. Steering wheel Steering wheel will sometimes lock up while key is in ignition not long after starting the car. When this vehicle is in this state of condition, it will not turn and steering wheel will lock in place while in motion. Began noticing more of the occurrences February 2021. When this happens I immediately restart the vehicle by turning it off and then on again to unlock the steering wheel to drive in the direction I need to go. This poses a major risk to others, my 9 year old daughter and myself because it happens unexpectedly while car is in motion which can lead to incidents. 3. Check engine light Car warning light appears and then disappears on any occasion. Vehicle has passed Smog testing, and has previously been serviced for tune-up and oil changes regularly. (December 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CLOSED BUT FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LATCH FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR LATCH WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,685.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED INTO THE FOLDED REAR SEAT. THE REAR SEAT WOULD NOT FOLD UPRIGHT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREAT LAKES FORD (2469 E APPLE AVE, MUSKEGON, MI 49442, (231) 777-2750) WHERE THE MECHANICS FOLDED THE SEAT DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT RAISE BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,635.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HOOD OPENED AND BLOCKED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER (MORRISTOWN FORD, 1112 W MORRIS BLVD, MORRISTOWN, TN 37813) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKED ONCE IT WAS AT THE RESIDENCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE SEATS, FLOOR BOARDS, RUGS, AND WINDOWS WERE WET AND FOGGY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING WATER FROM THE WINDOWS AND THE SEALS ON THE DOORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. .. UPDATED 09/30/15*BF
THIS DOCUMENT IS IN RESPONSE TO A FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING MAY 16, 2014 ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AT MY REQUEST I REQUESTED THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE WAS INITIATIVE AND PROBABLY HAS BEEN SINCE THE CAR WAS BUILT. PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME, MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR FORD SUV BE CONSIDERED. ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. *TR
ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DOOR LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, I'VE BEEN LOCKED IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE, MY HUSBAND IS DISABLE AND I HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE HATCH BACK TO GET DOORS TO OPEN. I AM AFRAID OF THIS VEHICLE, IF IT CATCHES FIRE WILL I GET OUT? I FEEL THIS IS A DEATH TRAP AND FORD IS JUST SOOTHING MY FEATHERS TO KEEP ME HAPPY. ALSO, I WAS SOLD A 2012 4X4 VEHICLE, HOWEVER MY VEHICLE IS NOT A 4X4. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GO BY VIN, THIS ONE IS WRONG! *TT
ON THE WAY TO WORK AT 7PM, THE BACK HATCH BEGAN RANDOMLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND OPENED SLIGHTLY. AFTER WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 8AM, THE BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD AT 10MPH. I CONTACTED AIRPORT FORD IN FLORENCE, KY AND THEY STATED NEVER HEARING OF THIS HAPPENING WITH ANOTHER ESCAPE. *TR
ON 3/23/13 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN A PERSON HIT US FROM BEHIND AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FRONT SEATS BROKE AND FELL INTO A LAYING POSITION. THIS GAVE NEITHER MY HUSBAND NOR ME ANY SUPPORT FOR OUR BACKS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND MY HUSBAND DROVE THERE. WE FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A HERNIATION ABOVE MY ALREADY FUZED BACK. MY HUSBAND WAS PERFECTLY HEALTHY BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE HAS NOW A CRACKED VERTEBRAE AND 2 HERNIATED DISKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG, SEAT BELT AND SEAT FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,595.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .