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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Ford ESCAPE HYBRID problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

38,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior320.0%
Steering behavior213.3%
Transmission and shifting16.7%
Engine operation16.7%
Electrical and battery issues16.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Service Brakes
2
Steering
2
Structure:Body
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Service Brakes2
Steering2
Structure:Body2
Air Bags1
Electrical System1
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility1

Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013
1
2014
2
2015
2
2016
3
2017
2
2018
3
2019
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20131
20142
20152
20163
20172
20183
20191
20201

2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10520859 · 2013-06-20 (June 20, 2013)

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520859 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10605332 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605332 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10690811 · 2015-02-26 (February 26, 2015)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,222 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690811 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11375581 · 2020-11-20 (November 20, 2020)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375581 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10924867 · 2016-11-07 (November 7, 2016)

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 RESPONSIBL…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924867 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10713581 · 2015-04-29 (April 29, 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 M…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713581 at NHTSA ↗