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2012 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 598 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

D
43/100

Buyer Beware — 2012 Ford Escape

The 2012 Ford Escape shows a notably poor reliability profile for this model year. Consider an alternative year or have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
598
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
37
Crashes + Injuries
3 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Ford Escape?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Ford Escape (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V777000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15E045000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Ford Escape

Based on 598 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Steering
137
Fuel/propulsion System
100
Power Train
61
Structure
52
Vehicle Speed Control
49
Unknown Or Other
30
Electrical System
29
Engine
27
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 2,125 complaints 2011 1,312 complaints 2012 598 complaints 2013 0 complaints 2014 2,060 complaints 2015 1,003 complaints 2016 993 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2010, 2014 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2013 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Ford Escape

Is the 2012 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Ford Escape has 2 recalls and 598 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Escape have?
The 2012 Ford Escape has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Ford Escape are: Steering, Fuel/propulsion System, Power Train, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2012 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2013. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2010, 2014.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.