2012 Ford Escape Suspension Problems

Took my mothers car to the Ford dealership for inspection. Upon inspection the mechanic told us that the subframe is rotted out and that it is not safe to drive which is why there was issues with steering and tire leaning due to control arm coming off subframe. This vehicle has been taken care of through out the years. My 70 year old mother could have been seriously injured if not dead. Never have i seen a sub frame rot like that on a car unless it was sitting for many years. Now the dealership wants 3,000 dollars to replace sub frame.

NHTSA ID

11693844

Incident

Oct 16, 2025

I have had a multitude of issues regarding the steering and suspension of my 2012 ford escape limited. I have replaced the same parts multiple times over a short period of time. And the parts normally would not be replaced but once in a car lifetime such as control arms 4x 3x on passenger 1x on driver. But anyway this led to me finding out that my front passenger subframe is rotted. Which led me to a community chat about this vehicle where I found people that have had accidents been hurt and this is a common thing to happen with this vehicle. The subframe should not rot especially on one side I’m particularly without a reason. There is a recall for some 2012 ford escapes for this part but for some reason my car is not on that recall. My car is now a danger to drive. The recall should include all vehicles that have the issue with that part. My vehicle is unsafe to drive now. Idk how long it’s been like that. I’ve had part after part replaced because of this but no one had figured it out until my most recent mechanic. I have had my wheel fall off my vehicle while driving when my first control arm broke because the rot in the subframe is causing the rubber inside the control arm to wear fast. So when my control arm broke when I was driving luckily I was on a street rd not a highway I was not hurt but had to get it towed. My wheel dropped a second time while I was driving because of the same issue where the rot on the subframe is, is at the connection to the control arm where the rubber is. So there’s 2 times I could’ve been seriously hurt. I drive on the highway a lot. I have been very lucky. There is cases of people being hurt and having accidents because of this. I’m on a chat about this vehicle where an overwhelming amount of owners have the same exact issue with this part.

NHTSA ID

11677192

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

My sub frame on the right-side front has rusted completely out and needs to be replaced to drive it safely. It is available for inspection, it has been inspected by three different mechanics, all came to the same conclusion, the sub frame needs replacing ASAP. The car has not been inspected by anyone else. No warning lights are on, this is not a part that would activate a warning light.

NHTSA ID

11646554

Incident

Mar 5, 2025

While doing an exhaust inspection on my car, I noticed the front subframe is rusted completely through on the right hand side near the rear lower control are bushing. This is a major structural component of the vehicle and I believe it is a huge safety risk driving it. The car has around 114,000 miles on it. I feel Ford should issue a recall and replace these rusted trough front subframes. I cannot afford to replace it at the cost of $2000 including labor. Please help, thank you.

NHTSA ID

11576912

Incident

Mar 11, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle was difficult to steer, and was veering to the left independently. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the subframe was detaching the axle from the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and transferred the call to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11570790

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

120,000 mi

Passenger side front control arm mount has extreme rust that degrades the integrity of the front suspension. Many others report this same problem especially with the V6.

NHTSA ID

11490269

Incident

Oct 20, 2022

MY VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN I DRIVE FROM THE WHEEL BARREL

NHTSA ID

11191264

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

STARTED LAST YEAR . PROBLEM OCCUR FORWARD OR BACKING UP. STEERING WILL BECOME HEAVY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL GET LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL SIMULTINEOULY STOP BUT ENGINE STAYS ON. I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR TO OFF AND TURN BACK TO ON. THEN I RESUME DRIVING UNTIL IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER THEY DECLINED ANY RECALLS. THEY CLAIMED RECALLS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PRIOR YEAR 2011. THE COST TO REPAIR COULD BE UP TO $1300 AS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SYMBOL DIAGNOSIS CODE THAT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. STRTED A YEAR AGO WITH MILEAGE AROUND 135,000 AND CONTINUE TILL TODATE . WHEEL BEARING WERE EXCHANGED BY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS UNKOWING TO ME OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11152343

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

158,900 mi

WHEN I TURN IT MAKES A POP, THE TAIL GATE (TRUNK) WILL NOT OPEN AND BACK LIGHT SHORTAGE OUT AT TIMES. CAR BALLS OUT SOMETIME WHEN I'M TRYING TO GO AND WILL IDLE UP ON ITS OWN AT TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10883125

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAVING EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10724773

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

46,000 mi

PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT ~5:45PM A CLEAR DAY: OUR MOM/MOTHER IN-LAW HAD JUST DROPPED OF MY DAUGHTER AFTER SHOPPING AND WAS MAKING HER WAY HOME THRU THE WINDY BACK ROADS LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM OUR HOME. AS SHE CLIMBED A HILL A FEW BLOCKS AROUND THE CORNER FROM HER HOME AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON THE CREST OF THE HILL. THE 2012 FORD ESCAPED LURCHED/SURGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. AS FROM HER DESCRIPTION, SHE HEARD LOUD RUMBLINGS COMING FROM THE ENGINE; THE ESCAPE SHOOK AND LAUNCHED HER FORWARD WHILE SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ESCAPE PROPELLED HER UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD CRASHING INTO A LARGE BOULDER, SHE THEN RICOCHETED ACROSS TWO LANES UP HILL, OVER AN EMBANKMENT /WALL, JUST MISSING A TREE, COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE PUSHING IT APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, PASSED THAT INTO ANOTHER SMALL WALL JUST MISSING THE HOUSE. WE ARE THANKFUL ON MANY LEVELS; THAT OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT WITH HER, THAT OUR MOM WAS NOT SEVERELY INJURED AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THIS VEHICLE AT ONE TIME. A RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY INVOLVED. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED KNOWING THAT MANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DRIVE ESCAPE MODELS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE MANY PICTURES FROM THE SCENE FOR YOU TO REVIEW. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10626454

Incident

Aug 14, 2014

Mileage

15,320 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHENEVER A POTHOLE WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING SEND THE SHOCKS TO FORD'S ENGINEERS TO BE INSPECTED SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507264

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi